What to Expect in a Youth Camp

Sailing students will participate in a combination of classroom instruction and on-the-water activities. Classes begin dockside where participants will discuss safety, sailing theory, and review the skills they will be focusing on for the day. They will move on to rigging boats and go sailing to practice new skills. Instructors will be on motor powered safety boats, helping direct students how to sail properly. Students will come off the water for an hour or so around noon for lunch, to enjoy the sun, and play field games.

Please dress for the weather conditions in layers of comfortable clothing. Quick drying synthetic fabrics are best to wear and recommended for top and bottom layers. Rubber soled shoes (no flip flops please) will be worn on and off the water. Shoes will likely get wet, so students should not wear their favorite athletic shoes. Fleece is also recommended in cooler weather. Water resistant jackets and pants are encouraged. We have rain gear available to borrow. Lifejackets (PFDs) will be provided and will be worn at all times while on the docks and on/in the water. Instructors will remind campers to apply sunscreen every few hours, but please also remind your camper beforehand.

Find the required forms for the program your student is participating in:

Required Forms For youth Participants

Drop Off and Pick Up:

Please do not drop your student off more than 10 minutes before the start of their lesson. We cannot guarantee supervision before then. Students and staff will be meeting at the CWB Pavilion (south entry gate) before and after every class. If you arrive early, paid parking is available in the lot adjacent to the streetcar stop on Valley Street. There is limited parking so please plan accordingly.

At a Glance:

Parking information

Monday - Beach Day! Expect a day of dockside and beachside activities. Students will spend half the day doing float tests and capsize drills (all in PFDs). Students will also work on learning essential knots, rigging, learning parts of the boat, teamwork, and so much more!

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday- a combination of dockside and on-the-water activities to build upon sailing skills

Friday - Long sail day! Students will sail towards the north end of the lake using all the skills learned over the week

Youth Woodworking

Quick & Daring - Week at a Glance

Monday - Tour of campus, intro to tools, safety & expectations, hull & construction conversation, begin designing boats

Tuesday & Wednesday - Construction of boats

Thursday - Seal & Paint

Friday - strategize & race planning, 2 pm launch!!

What Campers Should Bring:

Sailing

Head to toe change of clothes, including shoes & undergarments
Plastic bag to put wet clothes in
Towel
Water Bottle
Sunscreen & Sunglasses/hat
Lunch & Snack
Rain jacket/layers

Woodworking

Close toed shoes!!! (required to participate)

Water Bottle
Sunscreen & sunglasses/hat
Lunch & Snack

Woodworking camps take place in the outdoor covered pavilion

Clothing/Gear: Please dress for the weather conditions in layers of comfortable clothing. Quick-drying synthetic fabrics are best to wear and are recommended for top and bottom layers. Rubber-soled shoes (no flip-flops please) will be worn on and off the water. Shoes will likely get wet, so students should not wear their favorite athletic shoes. Fleece is also recommended in cooler weather. Water-resistant jackets and pants are encouraged. We have rain gear available to borrow. Lifejackets (PFDs) will be provided and must be worn at all times while on the docks and on/in the water. Instructors will remind campers to apply sunscreen every few hours, but please also remind your camper beforehand.

Phones and other technology should stay with personal belongings while at camp. CWB is not responsible for any lost or damaged items.

**We highly recommend labeling your student’s items with a name and/or phone number

We recommend dressing in layers as it tends to warm up throughout the day

Weather:

Sailing camps will rarely be canceled due to weather. When not on the water we take the time to practice rigging & knots, review sail theory, do STEAM activities, play team building games, or learn more about maritime history.

Too Much Wind - Due to the capabilities of our youth fleet we are sometimes not able to be on the water. El toros typically do not go out in over 8 kts of wind. Lake Union Swifts will typically not go out in over 10 kts. RS Fevas will not typically go out in over 12 kts of wind.

Too Little Wind - We will (most likely) go sailing! While it may be slow we use this time to play water games, practice kinetic sailing, and enjoy the lake!

Rain - We will (most likely) go sailing! We have some rain gear to loan, but supplies are limited and may not fit perfectly, so bring your own if you have it.

Thunder/Lightning - Within 15 miles ~ Stay on the docks. Will be evaluated every 45 minutes

Air Quality - Will be evaluated each day, depending on resources and staffing may do indoor only programming.

Extreme Heat - Will be evaluated each day, depending on resources and staffing may do indoor only programming.

Behavior & Discipline Policy

Youth Code of Conduct:

Safety: Wear your PFD & Walk when on the docks, Eye & Ear protection to be used when appropriate
Responsible: Best effort, use tools & equipment properly, avoid collisions on the water!!
Respectful: Respect others, the equipment, the environment, and yourself
Inclusive: We support and encourage all people to engage in activities
Fun: We are free to find our own enjoyment and play within a supportive community

Students are expected to abide by these rules:

Listen and follow directions
Show respect to others around you, the space, and the equipment
Use appropriate language and behavior
Keep phones and other technology with personal belongings and not on their person during camp hours (CWB is not responsible for any lost or damaged technology)

Our policy in handling disruptive campers is as follows:

First/Second occurrence: The instructor will discuss the situation with the student;
Third occurrence: the instructor will talk with the student and notify parent/guardian
If the situation continues uncorrected, CWB staff will contact the parent and the student will be dismissed from the camp.