2026 Schooner dates
Session 1 June 22 to July 3
Session 2 July 6 to July 17
Session 3 July 20 to July 31
Session 4 August 3 to August 14
Drop off is 8:40 am to 8: 50 am
Pick up is 3:50 pm to 4:00 pm
Camp operates Monday through Friday 8:50 am to 3:50 pm
Sessions are for 2 weeks
Extended care is available from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm daily
Group ages are as follows:
Coast Questers 6 to 7 Enrollment: 16 campers per session
Coastal Explorers 8 to 9 Enrollment: 16 campers per session
Skimmers 9 to 10 NEW FOR 2026! Enrollment: 28 campers per session
Ospreys 11 to 12 Enrollment: 14 campers per session
Sea Stewards 13 to 15 Enrollment: 14 campers per session
Junior Counselors 15 to 16 Enrollment: 6 campers per session
NEW FOR 2026
We’ve heard you!
Our Skimmers program is our most popular age group. For 2026, we’ve changed our numbers to allow for one group of 28 campers that will be together for a good part of the day. They will begin and end their day together and in between, have lunch together, some group programming together (Coastal exploration and fishing will have the group split in half) and of course, sail together at the same time.
Breakfast will not be an option this year.
Lunch is available at no fee and we will eat in the cafeteria in 2 lunch waves.
Sea Scouts and Sea Stewards are now one group. We’ve updated our programs and found that the two groups were similar. In 2026, we are opening Sea Stewards as the group for 13 to 15 year olds. In 2026, we are expanding the ages to 15 as we know some of our 15 year olds in the past wanted to be part of Schooner but not necessarily a Junior Counselor.
Explore Long Island Sound marine life on the Long Wharf Nature Preserve with us. Campers spend some of their day along the coastline, discovering horseshoe crabs, oysters, learning about the local coastal ecosystem while conducting fun experiments, and viewing shorebirds in their natural habitats. Older campers spend the other half of their day learning teamwork, leadership and sailing skills while learning how to navigate through a series of courses and sailing expeditions in the water.
Schooner aims to bring kids to the Long Island Sound coastline to explore, learn, grow, get their feet wet and above all else – have fun!
Campers have the opportunity to explore our coast in unique ways- into coastal ecology, adventure, and exploration!
Camp is for youth ages 6-16 with leadership and youth development opportunities for teens.
Shore exploration and Learn to Sail programs engage campers through a well-balanced mixture of fun coastal exploration based curriculum, team/leadership skill-building, and environmental education/stewardship activities to learn more about themselves and develop a sense of place in the natural world!
Important Camp Information
Camp Location:
Sound School, 60 S Water Street, New Haven, CT.
Drop off/Pick up location: End of Sea Street-Bayview Park green (17 Sea Street)
Off-Season Camp Contact:
Gather New Haven
495 Blake Street, Unit C
New Haven, CT 06515
(475) 331-3710
Camp Director: Karen Nelson, karen@gathernewhaven.org
This video was created by WTNH News 8, circa 2022.
Camp 2025 Highlights!
- Sailed to the Sand spit
- Sailed to Lighthouse Point Park
- Bird walks
- Animal tracking
- Built Oyster reef balls
- Built underwater robotic operational vehicles
- Sail boat races
- Crab exploration
- Pirate day
- Crab Day
- Shark Day
- Played environmental education Jeopardy
- Water sampling
- Served breakfast and lunch
- Played all camp games
- Explored the coastal inhabitants
- Learned about invasive species
- Meigs Nature Center programming at camp
- And much more!
Check out some pictures from this summer to get an inside look at what Schooner Camp is like from day to day
We look forward to having you back for Schooner Camp 2026!
COVID-19 guidelines for 2026 (if needed) will be developed closer to camp opening.
Why Choose Schooner Camp?
Learn more about the benefits of nature by clicking the link below
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(Schooner is mentioned in this Cited publication: Improving child & adolescent mental health through outdoor programming )
Prep for Camp by engaging in our free educational resources on our
Schooner Educational Resource page
(All activities are free to download and share!)
Join Us This Summer!
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