Full Recap of Sail Her Dreams
- Bianca Kreusel
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
Our last week of Sail Her Dreams has finally passed and as our second season closes out, we wanted to reflect on all the material learned, friends made, and memories created.
When Erica Trejo launched the Sail Her Dreams initiative at Great Lakes Sailing, the goal was never just to teach teenage girls how to sail. She wanted to smash the persistent gender gaps in both nautical sports and STEM fields by proving that the water belongs to girls, too.
Over six weeks, a cohort of ambitious young women proved that when you blend seamanship, hands-on science, and women mentoring women, magic happens. Here is a look back at how their journey unfolded on Lake Michigan.
Orientation: Aquatic Ecosystems & Bioindicators
Before setting a full course, the sailors turned their attention to the waters beneath their hulls. The girls investigated how aquatic insects act as bioindicators of ecosystem health and explored how land-based pollution makes its way into local waterways.
Guided by Natalia Szklaruk, Janice Milanovich,, and Kristin TePas the girls did hands-on activities including looking at the local plant species right in Montrose Harbor.
Session 1: Engineered Support for Athletes
Sailing requires endurance, body awareness, and physical exertion. This session brought human biology, technology, and sports science together.
The girls explored how health, wellness, and technology intersect to support athletic performance and everyday movement. They studied engineered innovations—such as tools that assist with joint health and hearing—to see how technology keeps people active and connected.
This week was guided by Noma Shields, Founder and CEO of the Youth Sports Science Institute (YSSI), who introduced the cohort to data analytics, gamified sports learning, and emerging tech in athletics.
Session 2: The Power of Pollinators & Native Plants
A healthy lake ecosystem relies heavily on the shoreline habitat surrounding it.
The cohort studied coastal ecology, exploring how native plant species and pollinators stabilize shorelines, protect freshwater habitats, and maintain environmental balance along the Great Lakes basin. The girls learned how even the smallest native plants make a big impact on the local ecosystem, and specifically the ecosystem that makes up Montrose Harbor and the Bird Sanctuary.
This week was guided by Daisy Villarreal, the Assistant Operations Manager at Chicago Harbors/Suntex Marinas. Daisy discussed how all the Chicago Harbors are working together to create more resourceful recycling initiatives to keep the harbors clean, including the trash skimmer.
Session 3: Data Collection for the Health of the Great Lakes
Understanding Lake Michigan requires real-time information from across the basin.
The girls learned how sensors and digital applications test water quality and interpret environmental metrics. By analyzing live data streams using a sonde, they gained insights into Great Lakes health and brainstormed real-world solutions.
Guided by Shelby Brunner from the Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), and Jessie Grow, who brought her expertise from UW-Milwaukee both shared how field research and novel observing technologies help monitor the great lakes.
Shelby and Jessie accompanied the girls to Navy Pier, where they met with Rory Rubin, Founder and CEO of S.I. Container Builds, where she discussed the importance of sustainable living and minimizing the carbon footprint with her shipping container builds.
Session 4: Archaeological Discovery & Conservation Science
Sailing above the lake bed opened a door to the historical artifacts resting beneath it.
The girls stepped into the world of conservation science to uncover what happens to objects submerged underwater for decades. They explored the physics and chemistry behind protecting history—from preventing decay to restoring fragile materials exposed to water, salt, and time.
This week, the girls visited Madeline Crispell, Curator of the Chicago Maritime Museum, who highlighted the intersection of STEM, environmental history, and the humanities. She gave the girls an extensive tour of the museum and discussed how Chicago became a bustling port city.
Session 5: Become a Biologist Led by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
The final stretch brought the focus back to Chicago’s local water management and urban ecology.
The students explored how Chicago manages its vast water infrastructure, protects aquatic ecosystems, and safeguards public health through technological innovation via engineers, scientists, and environmental specialists.
The final week was guided by Erica Spiess and Paula Brinkman Lowe, who shared their hands-on work surveying fish populations and monitoring the heavily engineered Chicago Area Waterway System.
In a world driven by science, technology, engineering, and math, women remain vastly underrepresented—making up less than one-third of the STEM workforce and representing just 16% of sailors. Changing those statistics requires more than just encouragement; it requires access, mentorship, and real-world experience.
Through Sail Her Dreams, these young women proved that those spaces belong to them.
Over the course of the program, our sailors didn't just study STEM concepts in isolation—they lived them. They saw how science operates out in the world and how women are leading the way across every field.
On deck, they learned boat mechanics, navigation, and teamwork. On shore, they stood side-by-side with female scientists, researchers, curators, and founders who showed them what a career in STEM truly looks like.
As our sailors step off the docks and back into their schools, labs, and communities, they carry more than just new skills—they carry the certainty that they belong at the helm. Whether navigating Lake Michigan or charting a course through a future STEM career, these young women are ready to lead the way.
Here’s to the next generation of scientists, engineers, and captains—steering their own dreams, wherever the wind takes them. ⚓✨
SAIL HER DREAMS IS A 501(C)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Empower the next generation of female leaders by supporting Sail Her Dreams, our youth girls STEM sailing Academy. We provide young girls with the opportunity to combine hands-on sailing experiences with STEM education, fostering skills in science, technology, engineering, and math while building confidence and teamwork on the water. Your donation will help us provide these life-changing opportunities, creating future innovators who are prepared to excel in both STEM fields and beyond. Join us in inspiring and shaping the future of young women — together, we can make waves of change.