Community Sailing Center: Website
The Community Sailing Center is a non-profit dedicated to getting more people out on Lake Champlain to experience the joy and powerful life lessons that come from sailing. More inclusive than exclusive, they function as a sort of anti-yacht club.
When we began working with the organization in 2009, it was beloved by those involved, but largely unknown to the broader community. Their operations were modest – loaned garage space, porta-potties, and tents for classrooms – yet their mission was extraordinary. Our first awareness campaign led the client to say, “This is the first time anyone has captured what we really do.”
Since then, we’ve helped the CSC tell their remarkable story, dramatically increase community participation, and raise funds for a multi-million-dollar Waterfront Education Center and vastly improved lakeside infrastructure. Today, it’s recognized as a treasured institution on the Burlington, Vermont waterfront and is seen as a national example of what a community sailing organization can be.
When the time came to overhaul the website in 2025, the aim was much like that of the organization itself: make the experience immersive and meaningful – and make the access easy. Engaging video, imagery, and content is elevated by a site structure that’s simple, intuitive, and gets out of the way. We considerably streamlined the registration process, with a custom API integration of their existing SmartRec system. This enabled us to seamlessly presents program options, dates, and availability – allowing visitors to immediately take action. Less friction, more smooth sailing.
Design: Kevin Karn
Copywriting: Devon Dams-O’Connor
Development: Michael Smeal
