QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) – The NYPD dragon-boat team held its second annual youth clinic today.
The event, which was held in partnership with the Ohana Paddling Association and patrol borough Queens North, provided an opportunity for these minors to develop skills that will help them in the future.
These young individuals came here for a water sport but were left with multiple valuable lessons.
On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, a group of young New Yorkers began this summer day in a different way. Paddling on the open water at the World Fair Marina in Corona, Queens. Children here were taught more than just the basics of dragon-boat rowing.
“It is a great water sports that all requires teamwork, and they have to paddle together in order to have the boat go faster, teaches them about teamwork,” said Sergeant Brittany Hawkrigg, President of the NYPD DRAGONBOAT.
Jaslene Tavares said she realized the importance of being a team player as soon as she got on the boat.
“The teamwork is essential because when we were doing a boat ride, everybody needed to work together to get it moving,” stated Tavares.
Many of the participants doing it for the first time, like Star, who learned about not giving up.
“At first, I was going to quit, but then my officer told not to, so I just took it as a champ and got in the boat and did what I had to do,” she explained.
It is a perfect occasion for NYPD officers to build confidence in these adolescents.
“I love the fact that we NYPD officers not only keeping the youth and community safe but also showing them the value of true sportsmanship,” stated Tania Kinsella, First deputy commissioner of NYPD.
She added that this is a very rewarding experience that these teenagers otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity.
For others like Shante Smith, it was about getting that little push to find out how courageous they are.
“I was pretty scared at first, and then someone told me don’t be scared, stay brave, and then I stopped being scared.”
The NYPD dragon-boat team was founded in 2011, and it competes in four to five races a year locally and internationally.
