Inclusion is a significant element of the new “Mission SCCA: Driving. Motorsport.” philosophy, and inclusion was a major topic of discussion during the 2016 SCCA National Convention conducted Jan. 21-23 at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. But a portion of the inclusion conversation over three days went beyond just finding a way to court those old enough to drive.
Involving children in Sports Car Club of America activities is a great way to grow the motorsport community and ensure its longevity. There’s no shortage of current SCCA members who grew up at various race circuits kicking soccer balls in the grass with siblings or helping mom and dad with the race car. But there are even better ways to connect with kids so the SCCA grows stronger and more cohesive over time.
Brady Gill, a play consultant, helped reset the mentality of SCCA members during his “Building an SCCA Kid Culture” seminar Saturday morning. Gill shared the concept that venues where SCCA events are conducted shouldn’t simply be viewed as open spaces where children can roam free. With just a little bit of thought and planning, SCCA events can be where children experience healthy personal growth, establish friendships with peers, and grow into the Club culture in a meaningful way.
“What you want to do is create activities that will actually make kids a part of the SCCA community,” Gill said. “There are really four fundamental, core goals to consider when you’re developing a program for kids when you want them to really attach and grow.”
The first goal is to create a safe space where children can connect with themselves and feel comfortable making mistakes. Second, kids must have the opportunity to socialize with other children within a social group. Third, activities should allow children to connect with the larger community of which they are a part. And finally, youths need a path to establish a connection with something even larger than the immediate community.
A fairly abstract list? Absolutely. However, that’s done for a reason. How these objectives are achieved can vary from one Region to the next or one event to another. The concepts where simply presented as food for thought that attendees can take back to their Regions for further consideration. But a little bit of thought and creativity will go a long way in creating a stronger bond with the Club and motorsport community.
A more tangible youth program discussed during the 2016 SCCA Annual Meeting is the Club’s new association with GreenpowerUSA. Through this initiative, Club members mentor school-aged children interested in S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) by using motorsports. Students who take part in GreenpowerUSA compete in electric powered vehicles of their own making. Each team is provided a basic kit of parts to construct the racecar, with each class allowing for different enhancements to be added.
One of the benefits of this program is that it allows students to put their book knowledge to the test in a hands-on way. Students not only build the racecars, but drive and work on the cars, too. In addition, some students are tasked with promoting the activities of their team, which generates a holistic perspective on what it takes to run a motorsports enterprise. This also allows students with a diverse background the opportunity to take part in the program.
Rounding out the Club’s efforts to connect with kids is the online SCCA Clubhouse found at SCCA.com. This kid-friendly destination offers word searches, coloring pages, mazes and more with a slant toward motorsports.
