This summer camp program includes a full day of sailing and nature exploration!

Feel the wind move you along the water as you learn how to sail under the watchful eye of Lake Quassapaug Sailing Center’s certified instructors and explore the rich diversity of Flanders’ Whittemore Sanctuary on daily hikes and educational expeditions led by experienced naturalists

The sailing half of the day is an introduction to basic safety, seamanship, and boat handling on the water with a focus on developing independence and confidence. Skills taught will include understanding the parts of the boat, water safety, wind direction, rigging, knots, and sailing up and down wind. All sailing skill levels are accommodated. Younger campers will sail the Optimist dinghies and older campers will sail the 420 dinghies. Kayaks will be used on days without wind.

Campers will enjoy exploring the land around the water in the Whittemore Sanctuary and its wetland habitat. Animal tracking, scavenger hunts, fishing and investigating the plants, animals and birds in and out of the water, will be part of this nature program helping kids to make the connection of the value of open space and responsible land use to issues like water quality for recreation and daily usage.

All skill levels. For Sailors less than 110 lbs. Participants will begin their sailing experience in QSC’s Optimist dinghies, with an introduction to basic safety, seamanship, and boat handling on the water. Each boat will be sailed by only one student. Skills taught will include understanding the parts of the boat, water safety, understanding wind direction, rigging, knots, and sailing up and down wind - with a focus on developing independence and confidence.

Advance sailors will be taught more complex sailing skills like Sail Trim, position and effects of body placement and movement.

More experience sailors will be taught the basics of racing.

*If your child is 12 years old and over 5 ft. tall and over 110 lbs., they are probably better suited for the 420 program.

A great trainer for older, larger participants, the 420 Dinghy is used by high school and college sailing teams and in many youth competitions.A larger class of boat designed to be sailed by both a skipper and crew, it is best suited for sailors over 100 lbs, and with previous experience in Optimist Dinghy sailing. while also appropriate for older novice students. All Skill levels welcome. Skills taught will include rigging, efficient sailing, upwind and downwind sailing, and boat handling.

This is also a great program for experienced Sailors to advance their boat handling skills, and the use additional equipment. They will become more comfortable with the physics of sailing as well, practicing rudderless sailing, mastering roll tacking, and gybing. Advance sailors will be taught more complex sailing skills such as sail trim, position and the effects of body placement and movement.

More experienced sailors will learn to improve their racing skills, becoming more comfortable with a racing start, rules, and protest situations.

Making use of all our vessels, campers in this program will not only learn how to sail, but proper technique to kayaking as well. They will then sail and paddle to some often unseen areas of Lake Quassapaug. Investigating unique wetlands, they will discover diverse insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals that live in this wonderful wetland habitat.

Survivals skills, compass usage and orienteering are all part of this amazing expedition!

Participants will also work to expand QSC's new online nature guide. Discovering, Photographing, documenting life in and around the lake.

This program is ongoing and can be repeated through out the summer. Participants will learn leadership skills while gaining and enhancing their sailing and kayaking skills - all while enjoying and exploring the environment of the lake.

Qualifications:

Helpful certifications:

To apply for a Junior Counselor Position, please send to manager.qsc@gmail.com a resume of relevant experiences, and a short essay on why you are interested in this position and what you intend to give to it and gain from it.

Campers must bring/wear the following to camp:

Quassapaug Sailing Center provides educational scholarships to local youths to attend summer sailing classes.

The scholarships are awarded to students who have been successful in classes, have shown a spirit of community service, have an interest in sailing, but may not have the financial resources to participate in similar programs.

To be considered for a scholarship, please fill out our Scholarship Application. In a brief essay explain why you are applying for this scholarship, the benefits you hope to achieve in sailing, why you chose sailing over other sports, and any additional information that you may feel is important.

Application should be mailed to P.O. Box 231, Middlebury, CT 06762 no later than June 15th for consideration by the Board of Directors.

Refunds: QSC policy is no refunds for camp registrations. QSC will refund registration for camp cancelation due to COVID related restrictions from the Federal, State or Local goverments.