SYS Summer
Camp
2025
JOIN US and LEARN TO SAIL this summer on beautiful Sarasota Bay!
Dates: June 2nd – August 1st, 2025
Full Day – One Week session M-F 9-4
OR
Half Day – Two Week session M-F 9-12
Sarasota Sailing Squadron- 1717 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL
Welcome to Summer Camp at Sarasota Youth Sailing!
We are gearing up for yet another amazing season! Our summer camp is the longest running water sports camp in Sarasota with many of our parents, grandparents, and instructors growing up in the program. Please know that we do hold camp rain or shine. If there is inclement weather, we host activities within our sheltered areas. Our summer camp is held during the hurricane season. If we are forced to close due to hurricane or tropical storm conditions, there will be no refunds, or make-up sessions.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us via e-mail, at sarasotayouthsailing@gmail.com
What to bring to every class:
Coast Guard approved Life jacket that fits properly with a whistle attached to it, closed toed shoes, insulated water bottle with a clip or feature that allows your sailor to tie it to their boat, hat and/or sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel. Change of clothes is recommended. Participants should also wear bathing suits, rash guards, and any other sporty clothes that can get wet. Life jackets are not provided, and sailors will not be able to participate without a life jacket. We recommend water sport helmets for all of our sailors.
Full day campers need to pack lunches as well as snacks for the day. Refrigeration is not currently available. We require a WASTE-FREE lunch. This means no plastic zip lock bags, disposable food bags (like bags of chips), no candy or granola bar wrappers, juice boxes, anything that gets thrown in the garbage is not permitted. Here at SYS we are striving to be more eco-conscious, and are taking more responsibility for being the best stewards of the earth that we can be. Considering we have lunch OVER the water on the dock every day, we just can no longer take the risk of sailors using a large amount of trash all at once over our beautiful Sarasota Bay. Tuperware and paper bags are acceptable, any disposable plastics including straws are not.
REFUND POLICY
Sarasota Youth Sailing will provide a Partial refund up to 24 hours before the class session’s start date for these select reasons
- documented injury that prevents participation. A credible note from a medical professional will need to be provided.
- other personal Situations can be determined on a case by case situation.
No refunds will be provided once the registered session begins.
All refunds will incur a $50 cancellation fee.
All refund requests must be submitted to the Program Administrator of SYS via e-mail at sarasotayouthsailing@gmail.com
If SYS decides to Cancels the class in question, then the particiants will receive a full refund.
Tadpoles
Tadpoles Pre-Beginner Program
Pre-requisite: 5 years old by the first day of the session (no students older than 6 years old allowed in the class)
Age Guidelines: 5-6 years old
Tadpoles is a “pre-beginner” program designed to introduce younger children to formal sailing instruction.The Tadpole class is designed to challenge the cognitive abilities of children five to seven years of age. Children who have reached the age of five before May 31, and who are capable of functioning within a group, will be admitted (Please read and sign SYS Camp Essential Eligiblity Requirements Document). Tadpoles introduces children to the activities of SYS, rather than providing a broader “day camp” atmosphere. Children will be introduced to boats and water activities, including swimming, sailing, and basic sailing terms. Classes are taught on the SYS Mainecat which is a 22ft sruising multihull, perfect for fun rides on the bay!
Available sessions for Tadpoles
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
Half Day – A two (2) week session 9am-12pm ($465 per session)
Level 1 Optimist
Level 1 Optimist- Beginner
Pre-requisite: 7 years old by the start of the session – (Please read and sign SYS Camp Essential Eligiblity Requirements Document)
Student Age Recommendation: 7-12 years old.
The goal of the Level 1 Optimist- Beginner class is for each child to have positive early experiences on the water and while sailing. Building confidence, ensuring safety, demonstrating respect, courtesy to others, and good teamwork are primary goals. Novice sailors learn basic nomenclature, seamanship, and sailing skills.
Optimist Cubes are used for instruction. Fun sailing games and other skill-related activities are incorporated into the course. Upon completion students, should feel comfortable sailing alone in an Optimist cube.
Focus:
- Parts of the Boat
- Steering
- Points of Sail
- Upwind/Downwind Sailing
- Rigging/De-rigging
- Capsize/Recovery
- Knots/Lines
- Safety
- Casting-off/Landing
- Having Fun
Available sessions for Level 1 Opti
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
Half Day – A two (2) week session 9am-12pm ($465 per session)
Level 2 Optimist
Level 2 Optimist – Skipper
Pre-requisite: Level 1 Optimist or Director’s Approval
Student Age Recommendation: 8-12 years old
The Level 2-Skipper class is an extension of the Level 1 Optimist class that helps students develop skills while also building knowledge and confidence. Skipper class sailors focus on refining boat control, boat handling skills, and learn more safety practices (Please read and sign SYS Camp Essential Eligiblity Requirements Document) . Sailors will be introduced to sailing around a race course. Optimist dinghies are used for single-handed sailing. As in the novice class, fun sailing games and other skill-related activities will be incorporated into the teaching.
Focus:
- Knots/Lines
- Upwind/Downwind Sailing
- Wind Direction
- Rigging/De-rigging
- Tacking/Jibing
- Points of Sail
- Casting-off/Landing
- Getting out of Irons
- Sail Trim
- Starting/Stopping
- Safety
- Man Overboard Recovery
- Having Fun
- Basic Rules of the Road
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
Half Day – A two (2) week session 9am-12pm ($465 per session)
420 Basics and Beyond
420 Basics and Beyond
Pre-requisite: Level 2 Optimist, O’Pen Skiff, or Director Approval (Please read and sign SYS Camp Essential Eligibility Requirements Document)
Student Age Recommendation: 13-18 years old
The 420 Basics and Beyond class is designed for those junior sailors who want to experience sailing a double-handed boat while having a safe, fun, and educational time on Sarasota Bay! Through demonstrations both on land and on the water, students develop an understanding of how to operate double-handed boats and work as part of a team. The class will focus on the introduction of a jib, proper sail trim, using a spinnaker, proper terminology, as well as a small introduction to sailboat racing.
Focus:
- Safety
- Teamwork
- Tacking/Jibing
- Terminology
- Using a spinnaker
- Introduction of Jib
- Proper sail trim
- Having Fun
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
Half Day – A two (2) week session 9am-12pm ($465 per session)
Adventure Sailing
Adventure Sailing -Full Day, 1 Week
Pre-requisite: 4th – 8th Grade in school
Student Age Recommendation: 9-14 years old
Group sailing on Hobie Waves small catamarans . This is a very popular offering! Sailors pack lunches, and stay all day!
This class is based off of the US Sailing STEM curriculum, called Reach. Utilizing the sport of sailing, the students will explore and apply these academics to their sailing and exploring. Particpants will have fun learning about sailing, kayaking, fishing, and so much more with this full day one week camp!
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
O’Pen Skiffs
RS ZEST SKIFFs And More
Pre-requisite: Optimist Level 2 (Please read and sign SYS Camp Essential Eligiblity Requirements Document)
Student Age Recommendation: 9-16
The RS Zest class gives experienced sailors and Optimist racers an opportunity to further their education in a fun exciting boat. this boat can be a one , two or theree person boat giving Sailors a great exirence to work on the basic points of sail while having fun and cruising around the bay! this boat is a great prercurser to our 420 as well! Sailors receive on-shore chalk talks in preparation for on-the-water activities, and they are instructed on sail trim, boat speed and rules.
Focus:
- Having Fun!
- Knots
- Upwind/Downwind Sailing
- Wind Direction
- Teamwork
- Rigging/De-rigging
- Tacking/Jibing
- Points of Sail
- Casting-off/Landing
- Getting out of Irons
- Sail Trim
- Starting/Stopping
- Safety
- Man Overboard Recovery
- Basic Rules of the Road
Full Day – A one week session 9am to 4pm ($465 per session)
Half Day – A two (2) week session 9am-12pm ($465 per session)
