KidShip 2024 Camp Offerings

Please read carefully as we have many changes to the camp options and their age/weight requirements.

Registration for KidShip Sailing Camp 2024 is OPEN.

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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, 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, 9 am – 12 pm. Ages 5-7. Price: $400.

Full-Day: A new offering as of 2024! We’ve heard all your requests and suggestions and have finally made it happen! Li’l Sailors now offers a FULL-DAY camp option. 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. 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. While we’re still working out all of the details, we can tell you that Li’l Sailors will join our nature camp for an exciting afternoon filled with nature-inspired activities, a special presentation, and more!

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 5-7. Price: $650.

Junior Sailing FULL – Join Waitlist Here

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, Up the River Day, when kids plan a day trip to another location where they 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, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 8-11*. Price: $650.

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 FULL – Join Waitlist Here

A new offering as of 2023. This course is designed for beginner sailors ages 11-15. No sailing experience is required. Campers will learn basic sailing skills utilizing our new 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 Up the 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, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 11*-16. Price: $650.

Weight minimum 65 lbs. Designed for new and beginner sailors.

Nature 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 at least one session of camp at KidShip or for young sailors who are looking for a slow intro to the basics. While we will go out sailing, that is not the focus of the nature camps. During the course, we will take campers out on the water via sailboat, paddleboard, kayak, and floats.

Li’l Critters

A new offering as of 2024! 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, beach clean-up, recycling, composting, 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 display collection! Before heading out on the water, we’ll review sailing basics and use our sailing knowledge while exploring the Bay and the environment around us. With an instructor in each boat, campers will feel comfortable out on the water. As a full-day camp, Li’l Critters campers will participate in our Wednesday pizza party and Friday ice cream party. On Thursday, the Li’l Sailors class will join us in viewing a special presentation and an additional surprise visitor!

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 7-9. Price: $700.

Designed for new and beginner sailors.

Bay Scavengers

A new offering as of 2024! This course is great for new and repeat KidShip campers who are interested in observing and interacting with nature via the water! Our new nature-themed 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, learn about conservation efforts, and participate in beach clean-ups. This course is perfect for children who love nature and want to learn more about the world around them. during the week, we’ll review sailing basics before heading out on the water to sail and explore the Bay around us. With an instructor in each boat, your child will have the option to take the helm and sail or sit back and relax and take in the beautiful scenery of the Bay. As a full-day camp, Bay Scavengers campers will participate in our Wednesday pizza party and Friday ice cream party. On Thursday, the Li’l Sailors class will join us in viewing a special presentation and an additional surprise visitor!

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 10-13. Price: $700.

Designed for beginner sailors.

Intermediate Camps: Register Here

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. 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. Safety is our top priority, each boat will have 4 campers and an experienced instructor on board to ensure that your child’s growth and progress are supported throughout their week at camp.

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 11-16. Price: $700.

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 also 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 independent sailors, setting the stage for their progression into our Laser Sailing course and the exciting opportunity to handle the Laser Radial single-handedly.

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 11-16. Price: $675.

Weight minimum 65 lbs. Must have completed 2 or more sessions of Junior Sailing or Teen Sailing or have similar sailing experience.

Advanced Camps: Register Here

Laser Sailing

We are excited to present our newly upgraded program, with new boats, hull replacements, fleet upgrades, and repairs, new sails, and a redesigned curriculum- which is sure to deliver a stellar learning experience for all aspiring sailors. 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 such as tacking, gybing, right-of-way, and capsize recovery and new racers will be taught fundamental racing tactics including starts, mark rounding, right-of-way rules, and boat speed techniques. Campers in our advanced camps 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 instructor. 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, 9 am – 3 pm. Ages 12-16. Price: $675.

Weight minimum 100 lbs. Must have completed one or more sessions of Zest Sailing or have similar sailing experience.

Quest Sailing

A new offering as of 2024! The Quest has exciting features such as spinnaker attachments and is spacious enough for 4 intermediate to advanced-level sailors to move around comfortably. In this course, campers will have the opportunity to advance their teamwork sailing skills and learn how to use a spinnaker while adventuring on distance sails in the Severn River. There will be 4 campers on board each boat and the instructor will guide the students from a coach boat. Out on the water, we’ll practice the basics such as tacking, gybing, right-of-way, and capsize recovery and we’ll also learn the basics of working a spinnaker! We’ll move at everyone’s pace and ensure that campers are comfortable and feel safe while on the water. This boat is fast, responsive, and an exciting option for campers who are looking for more thrill and motion while sailing. 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.