Click the blue box above to register your child for enrollment in the 2023 Schooner Camp program.
Session Dates: 2023
Session 1: 6/26-7/7 (closed on 7/4)
Session 2: 7/10-7/21
Session 3: 7/24-8/4
Session 4: 8/7-8/18
Land Programs: Explore the Shore
Search for Long Island Sound marine life as we explore the Long Wharf Nature Preserve! Coast Questers & Coastal Explorers campers spend most of their day on the Long Island Sound coastline, discovering horseshoe crabs, oysters and other shoreline shellfish and shorebirds in their natural habitats.
Campers play games, learn about the preserve and local coastal ecosystem while conducting fun experiments, singing songs, and getting their feet wet.
Coast Questers: Ages 6-7
Search for marine life as we explore the Long Wharf Nature Preserve! Campers spend their day exploring the Long Island Sound coastline, searching for prehistoric horseshoe crabs, discovering oysters and mussels in their natural habitats. Campers get their feet wet while learning about the local ecosystem navigate our nature preserve by creating scavenger/treasure hunts, your own maps, playing games and having fun making new people and nature friends. Mudflat castles, songs about crabs, nature journaling, and crafts makes your day a full one!
Coastal Explorers: Ages 8-9
Search for marine life as we explore the Long Wharf Nature Preserve, home to an important nursery for the ocean’s food supply. Campers spend their day exploring the coastline, searching for prehistoric horseshoe crabs, discovering oysters and mussels in their natural habitats. Campers conduct water experiments, learn knot tying and make observations while we explore along the shore, to see who lives there and to learn about why this community is so important. Campers will create nature collections while you learn about the many animal and plant species that call the preserve their home.
Land & Sailing Program:
Welcome to the amphibious lifestyle of Schooner’s Land
& Sailing Programs for ages 9-14!
Beginning & Intermediate Sailing
(no previous sailing experience necessary)
Skimmers: Ages 9-10
Ospreys: Ages 11-12
Campers in both Skimmers & Osprey spend half their day exploring the diverse habitats of the Long Island Sound from land and the other half is spent on the water learning the fundamentals of basic sailing. Campers learn how to sail a small sailboat, learning basic boat rigging, handling and safety. They will also learn knots, nomenclature, and how to work and communicate with a crew. Develop courage, focus and tenacity adventuring on the protected waters of the New Haven Harbor, while engaged in a science-based curriculum, and coastal exploration. Campers will engineer and build collectively with their group a Remotely Operated Vehicle and test it out in tanks, and engage in other STEM challenges.
Sea Scouts: Ages 12-14
This two-week program will give campers a more in-depth experience with sailing, skippering and maneuvering sailboats. Campers spend half their day exploring the diverse habitats on land and will sail during the other half! Campers learn boat safety and handling maneuvers, advanced knots and nomenclature and how to work and communicate with a crew. Learn some basic survival skills on both land and water along the way! Campers will engineer and build collectively with their group a Remotely Operated Vehicle and test it out in tanks, and engage in other STEM challenges.
Expanded Sailing
(previous sailing experience necessary)
Sea Stewards: Ages 13-14
This program framework to introduce campers to a more in-depth and applied experience navigating the waters of Long Island Sound that will carry their experience beyond Schooner. Campers who register for this expanded sailing program must have some previous experience sailing. This two-week program will give campers a more in-depth experience with sailing, skippering and maneuvering sailboats. Campers participate in longer sail times. Navigation, map reading, reading the weather, advanced knot work, rigging and de rigging boats, depth charts and mastering boat maintenance and water testing are some of the activities for this group. Weather permitting, we will go on a day longer sail to a yet to be determined destination. Campers will engineer and build collectively with their group a Remotely Operated Vehicle and test it out in tanks, and engage in other STEM challenges.
Junior Counselor Program: Ages 15-17
Schooner Camp will be seeking High School students for Junior Counselor Positions sailing and working with campers at camp for summer 2023.
Recruitment will begin in early 2023, but let us know now if you or someone you know want to be considered.
The Junior Counselor program is an opportunity for teens, 15 and up to gain volunteer hours, act as a positive role model and gain experience to working with youth. Assist staff with a small group of campers, running games, exploring nature or teaching sailing. Attending training prior to camp to learn basic youth development, camp expectations and meet staff. For 2023, JC’s can register for one or more two week sessions. The sessions do not need to be consecutive All JCs must commit to 3 pre camp all day trainings which will be held on two different weekends in June to be considered for the program. An information application to apply will be sent to those JC’s who have registered for the program. We will reach out in April regarding training dates.
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Schooner Camp is licensed by the State of Connecticut Office of Early Childhood(OEC) as a Summer Day Youth Camp, and are committed to meet and go beyond all relevant guidelines from both the OEC and CDC to keep campers and staff safe.
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Pricing Structure 2023