OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH

​Summer Camps
Our five day Summer Camps for kids from 10 to 17 teach kids the basics of sailing a small boat. We use our Pico fleet of small sailboats primarily for this training. By the end of this training most children will be able to sail, with some confidence, their own boat.

During this process, kids build the confidence that comes from mastering some new life skills. Many of them will learn a level of resilience that will serve them for many years to come. They will also share this experience with other kids and gain some new friends.
Fall and Spring Youth 
Beginners
​After completing a Summer Camp, children are invited to meet 9 Saturdays during the Fall and 9 Saturdays in the Spring to gain more skill as a beginning sailor.
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At the end of the Fall program a student may ask to be tested to move to the Intermediate Program.

Intermediate
Once certain skills are mastered, the student moves to Intermediate (yellow shirt). They have mastered the basic skills of sailing a small boat and may be ready to teach others at the next year's summer camp.

As an Intermediate, they will learn to rig and sail other boats in the fleet and sailing as a crew as opposed to solo sailing only.
Advanced
After another year of Summer Coaching and Fall and Spring Programs, the student can move to the final step in our program as an Advanced student (Orange Shirt). The student now masters additional skills and is able to confidently sail any boat in our fleet.

Advanced kids learn additional fundamentals such as navigation, anchoring, and other more advanced sailing techniques. They will also have more opportunity to sail on their own without coaching or instruction.

Summer Camp Coaching
After completing the Fall and Spring Programs as a Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced student, those qualified are given the opportunity to teach kids during our Summer Camps.

Those qualified will receive special training for developing coaching skills.

Coaching builds confidence and character, as it teaches responsibility and interpersonal skills.

There is no better way to learn a skill than to teach others that skill. In the process, our students get the confidence that comes from coaching others.

Racing Program
For those kids who want to master sailing, there is no better training than learning to race. It hones one's skills, ESA offers special racing programs and The Lemon Drop Regatta each year.

Coastal Cruising Program
For youth who have reached the Advanced Level, students learn on our 26' Grampion Daydreamin'.  The program is held on Saturdays in the Spring and Fall. Daydreamin' is docked in the ICW, students motor out through Stump Pass and sail on the Gulf.  The culminating activity is a three day graduation cruise on a larger sailboat.

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Click below to download Program Detail

ESA Program Detail
File Size:	190 kb
File Type:	pdf

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