ÉCHAPPÉE BLEUE
The Échappée Bleue project, A lever for change and education
Launched in autumn 2020 by Surfrider Foundation in collaboration with the winner of the 2018 Route du Rhum, Paul Meilhat, the project aims to instil a love of water and the ocean in young people while promoting Surfrider’s projects and actions to protect aquatic environments.
The first sailing lessons and waste collection activities enabled the Surfrider Foundation to test the project and gather initial feedback, particularly from the children.
The numerous positive testimonials received confirmed the programme’s impact on their personal development and environmental awareness, making this project a real lever for change and education for future generations.
Given the enthusiasm generated by this initiative, it was renewed in 2021 with the creation of around twenty blue escapes.
The project took off in 2022, a year marked by 25 unforgettable experiences during which children from various social centres were introduced to sailing while learning the crucial importance of preserving our oceans.
The highlight of this adventure was the memorable trip to Guadeloupe, part of the Route du Rhum race.
But Les Échappées Bleues is not just about sailing. It is a deep dive into the marine world.
After meeting the skippers, true professionals in ocean racing, and visiting their boats, the children have the opportunity to sail the seas with these passionate professionals. These unique moments strengthen their connection to the ocean, inspire vocations and raise awareness of the fragility of marine ecosystems.
A year of Échappées Bleues...
25
échappées bleues
10
400
(approximately) children educated about ocean conservation
Behind the scenes of an éCHAPPÉE BLEUE
After organising the Échappée Bleue, with the help of the
nautical centre and the social centre wishing to participate in the project, the first lessons are organised for around twenty children.
They usually take place on inland waterways, such as the Créteil leisure centre, which are more easily accessible.
The children, some of whom had never been near water before, have the opportunity to take their first steps on a sailing boat. There, they learn not only the basics of sailing, but also valuable lessons about nature.
Over the course of these days, they alternate between sailing lessons and awareness workshops to learn about the importance of protecting our fragile environment.
After taking a dozen sailing lessons to master the basics, the children set sail for a unique day at sea, where they have the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice.
It is a magical moment for many of them, as they discover for the first time the immensity and, above all, the benefits of the ocean.
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