2026 KidShip Camp Offerings
Please read carefully, as we have made changes to the camp start time, course options, and age/weight requirements.
Registration is Open!
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with new course offerings, monthly events, and other exciting KidShip news!
Jump To:
Beginner Camps
Nature Camps
Intermediate Camps
Advanced Camps
Beginner Camps: Register Here
Li’l Sailors
HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY OPTION
Half-Day: The perfect course for your young sailor-to-be! Your child will love and appreciate being on the water while sailing on our stable American 14.6. Half-day Li’l Sailors focus on being safe on the water, getting comfortable on a sailboat, and having fun through games and sailing-oriented activities while on the water and on land. Li’l Sailors participate in activities such as “Water Wars,” an epic water throwdown on Wednesday, a Friday treasure hunt, optional dress-up days, and other fun-filled activities! There is an instructor on each boat and four sailors per boat, giving everyone plenty of opportunities to learn, socialize, and have fun. Our hardworking instructors are chosen for their love of sailing and their rapport with younger kids – so everyone has a great time!
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 12 pm. Age 5*. Price: $450.
*A 5-year-old may be eligible to participate in Full-Day Li’l Sailors after successful completion of Half-Day Li’l Sailors.
Full-Day: Full-Day Li’l Sailors will share the morning with the half-day campers, participating in the same fun and exciting activities, and then will spend the afternoon polishing up their skills and knowledge from their morning session. We’ll learn the basics of sailing, including parts of the boat, parts of the sail, basic sailing terminology, and much more! The afternoon provides your new sailor with ample opportunity to practice their new skills and provides more in-depth, age-appropriate instruction on the fundamentals of sailing. Li’l Sailors participate in activities such as “Water Wars,” an epic water throwdown on Wednesday, a Friday treasure hunt, optional dress-up days, and other fun-filled activities! There is an instructor and four sailors on each boat. Full-day campers will join the other full-day camps for lunch under the tent, including the pizza lunch on Wednesday and the ice cream party on Friday.
Thursday is an extra-special day. Each week, campers will have a unique experience led by an educator from the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. The Li’l Sailors class will join our nature camp for an exciting afternoon filled with nature-inspired activities, a special presentation, and more!
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages* 6 and 7. Price: $725.
*A 5-year-old may be eligible to participate in Full-Day Li’l Sailors after successful completion of Half-Day Li’l Sailors.
Junior Sailing
Junior Sailing is a full-day program where your child will learn the fundamentals of sailing, including terminology, parts of the boat, parts of the sail, knots, rigging, capsize recovery, and man-overboard procedures. All of these topics are taught through fun activities such as “Water Wars,” an epic water throwdown, River Day, when kids plan a day trip to another location, anchor their boats, swim, and have lunch, and so much more. We’ll also celebrate halfway through the week with a pizza party on Wednesday and finish off the week on Friday with an ice cream party! Aboard the American 14.6, there is an instructor and three campers per boat. After four days of hands-on learning with an instructor in each boat, sailors will have the opportunity, if they choose, to sail without an instructor on Friday. This last day helps beginner sailors build confidence and serves as a skills test to know if your child is ready for the next level camp.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 8-11*. Price: $725.
Designed for new and beginner sailors.
*Novice and beginner campers who are 11 years old can go to either Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing. We recommend you make that decision based on your child’s maturity level and consider that Juniors have an instructor in the boat, while Teens do not have an instructor in the boat.
Teen Sailing
This course is designed for beginner sailors ages 11-16. No sailing experience is required. Campers will learn basic sailing skills utilizing our Pico Lasers. Your child will learn the fundamentals of sailing, including terminology, knots, rigging, capsize recovery, and man-overboard procedures as well as weight placement in a sensitive dinghy, rules of the road, boating safety, and basic navigation. All of these topics are taught through fun activities such as “Water Wars,” an epic water throwdown, or “River Day”, when kids plan a day trip to another location where they raft up their boats, swim, and have lunch. Campers will be two to a boat in the Pico. Unlike Junior Sailing, sailors will not have an instructor in the boat; instead, the instructor will follow in a coach boat. This is an important step in becoming an independent sailor while also preparing for the next level. Campers MUST meet the weight requirements.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 11*-16. Price: $725.
Weight minimum 65 lbs. Designed for new and beginner sailors.
*Novice and beginner campers who are 11 years old can go to either Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing. We recommend you make that decision based on your child’s maturity level and consider that Juniors have an instructor in the boat, while Teens do not have an instructor in the boat.
Nature Sailing Camps: Register Here
At KidShip, we love to observe and appreciate nature! Traditionally, there is not enough time to see all of the interesting wildlife and elements of nature when we’re sailing out on the water. That’s why we’ve designed two camps for beginner sailors who love nature. These camps are an excellent option for campers who have already participated in a session of camp at KidShip or for novice sailors who are looking to learn the fundamentals of sailing. While we will go out sailing, that is not the only focus of the nature sailing camps. During the course, campers will learn to sail and explore the area by sailboat, paddleboards, and kayaks.
Li’l Critters
This course is great for young sailors who love observing and interacting with nature around them. We’ll learn about a variety of topics such as critters that live in the bay, local plant life, erosion and prevention methods, and water quality and pollution, all while participating in hands-on activities and crafts. We have an abundance of hands-on learning opportunities for your Li’l Critter, so be prepared for them to come home bursting with exciting new information! Campers will have the option to take their artwork, projects, and experiments home- unless they’d rather add them to our collection! Before heading out on the water, we’ll review sailing basics such as terminology, tacking, gybing, right-of-way, and knots. Sailors will learn and practice the same sailing fundamentals as our Junior Sailing class and will use their sailing knowledge to explore the Bay and the environment around us. With an instructor in each boat, your child will be guided through sailing basics and develop a deeper understanding of the natural world. We’d like to go sailing each day, but sometimes the wind isn’t in our favor, so we’ll choose to do on-land activities or use the paddle boards and kayaks! As a full-day camp, Li’l Critters campers will participate in our Wednesday pizza party and Friday ice cream party.
Thursday is an extra-special day. Each week, campers will have a unique experience led by an educator from the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. The Li’l Sailors class will join our nature camp for an exciting afternoon filled with nature-inspired activities, a special presentation, and more!
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 7-9. Price: $725.
Designed for beginner sailors, no experience required.
Bay Scavengers
This course is great for new and repeat KidShip campers who are interested in observing and interacting with nature via a sailboat! Our nature-themed sailing course will allow your child to learn about and explore the ecosystems and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding areas, all while participating in hands-on activities and crafts. Campers will observe the local plant and animal life, and learn about conservation efforts and protecting our watershed. This course is perfect for children who love nature and want to learn more about the world around them. Before heading out on the water, we’ll review sailing basics such as terminology, tacking, gybing, right-of-way, and knots. Sailors will learn and practice the same sailing fundamentals as our Junior Sailing class and will use their sailing knowledge to explore the Bay and the environment around us. With an instructor in each boat, your child will be guided through sailing basics and develop a deeper understanding of the natural world. We’d like to go sailing each day, but sometimes the wind isn’t in our favor, so we’ll choose to do on-land activities or use the paddle boards and kayaks! As a full-day camp, Bay Scavengers campers will participate in our Wednesday pizza party and Friday ice cream party.
Thursday is an extra-special day. Each week, campers will have a unique experience led by an educator from the Annapolis Maritime Museum and Park. The Li’l Sailors class will join our nature camp for an exciting afternoon filled with nature-inspired activities, a special presentation, and more!
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 10-13. Price: $725.
Designed for beginner sailors, no experience required.
Intermediate to Advanced Camps: Register Here
Keelboat Sailing
You asked, and we answered! Welcome to our brand-new Keelboat Sailing Course aboard the Rainbow 24, created for sailors ready to take their skills to the next level. If you’ve mastered the basics in a dinghy, this is your next adventure. This course offers a unique opportunity to sail in a larger boat while building advanced skills and confidence on the water. We’ll start the week by translating sailing fundamentals onto the larger boats before diving into what makes keelboat sailing so much fun. Campers will practice docking and anchoring, learn advanced sail trim, and explore concepts like emergency procedures, navigational markers, and chartwork. Campers can look forward to an exciting week filled with fun activities such as a cruise downtown, our Wednesday pizza party, River Day, and long-distance sails. With four sailors per boat and an instructor onboard, every camper will have the chance to take the helm, trim sails, and build confidence on the Rainbow 24.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 11-16. Price: $725.
Limited Availability: Only offered the weeks of 6/15/26 and 7/20/26.
Must have completed 1 or more sessions of Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing, or have similar sailing experience.
Hobie Sailing
Ready for your kids to take their sailing skills to the next level? Hobie Sailing is the perfect opportunity for them to have even more fun on the water. Designed for young sailors who are already familiar with the fundamentals of sailing, this camp offers an exciting and exhilarating experience aboard the fastest youth program boats in Annapolis. After mastering the basics on a monohull sailboat, it’s time to take your skills to a multi-hull sailboat- a catamaran! During their time at camp, your child will have the chance to learn and sail on our Hobie Getaway catamarans. These family-friendly boats are specifically designed to be simple and safe for kids, providing a comfortable and secure platform for their sailing adventures. Under the guidance of our skilled instructors, campers will breeze past other boats on the bay, honing their sailing skills while having a blast both on and off the water. Each boat will have 4 campers and an experienced instructor on board.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 11-16. Price: $725.
No minimum weight requirement. Must have completed 1 or more sessions of Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing, or have similar sailing experience.
Zest Sailing
Looking to advance your skills? Zest Sailing is the perfect course, specifically designed for sailors who have completed Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing and are looking to advance their sailing skills. In this course, participants will have the opportunity to sail the RS Zests, which provide an excellent platform for developing intermediate sailing techniques. The focus of this course is to enhance sailors’ confidence on the water. Unlike Junior Sailing, where an instructor is present in the boat, in our Zest course, the instructor will be following in a coach boat, allowing sailors to practice their skills more independently. Throughout the course, sailors will learn various advanced techniques, including precision sail trim, advanced tacking and gybing, and the effective management of weight placement in a sensitive dinghy. Sail trim will be a major focus, allowing sailors to optimize their sail performance in different wind conditions. By the end of this course, sailors will have taken an essential step towards becoming advanced sailors, setting the stage for their progression into our Spinnaker Sailing course (formally known as Quest Sailing) or the exciting opportunity of solo-sailing the Radial Laser in Laser Sailing.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 11-16. Price: $725.
Weight minimum 65 lbs. Must have completed 2 or more sessions of Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing, or have similar sailing experience.
Spinnaker Sailing (Previously called Quest Sailing)
Ready to take your sailing to the next level? Spinnaker Sailing introduces campers to one of the most exciting parts of performance sailing – flying an asymmetrical spinnaker! Aboard the RS Quest, sailors will learn how to set, trim, and douse the spinnaker while balancing speed, teamwork, and control. We’ll start the week by refreshing core skills like tacking, gybing, right-of-way rules, and capsize recovery before moving into the techniques that make spinnaker sailing so exhilarating. Campers will explore advanced sailing concepts such as reading wind shifts and gusts, fine-tuning sail shape and trim, and applying racing-style strategies during longer distance sails on the Severn River. The RS Quest is fast, responsive, and perfect for sailors looking for a thrill on the water. Each boat will have three campers, with an instructor nearby in a coach boat to provide guidance and feedback. As maturing sailors, campers will be expected to assist with the daily care and maintenance of their boats and sails after a fun day of zooming around the Bay.
CITs are strongly recommended to take this course.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 12-16. Price: $725.
Weight minimum 65 lbs. Must have completed 1 or more sessions of Zest Sailing, or have similar sailing experience.
THIS IS AN ADVANCED SAILING COURSE.
Laser Sailing
Laser Sailing is the perfect course for students seeking an introduction to racing without the pressure and time commitment of a lengthy, multi-week program. In this course, we’ll review the basics before diving into fundamental racing tactics, including starts, mark rounding, right-of-way rules, and boat speed techniques. Campers in Laser Sailing can expect to go on thrilling distance races and adventures in the Severn River and participate in some healthy competition among their classmates. Using our Laser Radials, campers will have the opportunity to develop their solo sailing and racing skills under the guidance of their experienced instructors. As the campers’ skills progress, our instructors will shift into a coaching role, allowing your child to advance at their own pace while fostering a healthy sense of competition among classmates. As maturing sailors, campers will be expected to assist with the daily care and maintenance of their boat and sails after a fun day of zooming around on the Bay.
CITs are strongly recommended to take this course.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 12-16. Price: $725.
Weight minimum 100 lbs. Must have completed 2 or more sessions of Zest Sailing or Quest Sailing or have similar sailing experience.
THIS IS AN ADVANCED SAILING COURSE.
Laser Racing (Multi-Week Program)
We are excited to present our first multi-week camp for advanced Laser sailors! Ready for a bit more of a sailing commitment? This 2-week program will focus on preparing sailors for racing in local regattas. Campers will participate in the AYC Annual Junior Regatta and the SSA Annual Sandy MacVickar Junior Regatta. The first week of this multi-week program will focus on building foundational skills for sailing the Laser. After building a solid foundation, we will shift to teaching advanced racing techniques and spend time practicing drills to polish necessary skills. Campers will work towards the goal of improving their racing skills and optimizing their boat speed and sail shape to perform well. In the second week, campers will prepare for the races to participate in the AYC and SSA regattas. We’ll finish up the week reviewing the outcomes of the regattas and preparing campers for future racing. As maturing sailors, campers will be expected to assist with the daily care and maintenance of their boat and sails after a fun day of racing around on the Bay. This course is limited to 8 campers.
CITs are strongly recommended to take this course.
Campers who have previously participated in Laser Sailing are strongly encouraged to register for this multi-week program.
Monday – Friday, 8:45 am – 3 pm. Ages 12-16. Price: $1400 (regatta fees included)
Camp Session Dates: June 22 – 26 (session 1), June 29 – July 3 (session 2).
Regatta Dates: June 30 and July 1
Weight minimum 100 lbs. Must have completed 2 or more sessions of Zest Sailing or Quest Sailing or have similar sailing experience.
THIS IS A 2-WEEK ADVANCED SAILING COURSE THAT INCLUDES REQUIRED PARTICIPATION IN TWO LOCAL REGATTAS.
Come discover why KidShip Sailing and Annapolis Sailing School are consistently voted the best summer camp and best sailing school in Annapolis!