Registration will open for 2026 in January
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, 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, build mudflat castles, water recycling, animal and crustacean habitats and make observations while we explore along the shore, to see what lives there and to learn about why this community is so important. Campers create nature collections while they learn about the many animal and plant species that call the preserve home.
A typical day for these groups are full of exploration, discovery and making friends.
Typical daily schedule (subject to change and weather permitting):
8:40 am Arrive/Drop off
8:50 am AM Gathering all camp game, announcements
9:10 am Group games, coastal exploration, coastal education with specialist
11: 45 am Lunch
12:15 pm small group games
1:00 pm preserve exploration
3:00 pm Campers choice of activities
3:30 pm Camper debrief of day
3:45 pm PM Gathering all camp game, announcements
3:50 pm Depart/Pick up
Land & Sailing Program:
Welcome to the amphibious lifestyle of Schooner’s Land
& Sailing Programs for ages 9-15
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 coastal exploration. Skimmers sail in the morning and Ospreys sail in the afternoon.
Sea Stewards: Ages 13-14
This program introduces 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 sailing program should have previous experience sailing. This program gives campers the opportunity to spend half the day on land based programs and the other half having a more in-depth experience with sailing, skippering and maneuvering sailboats. Navigation, map reading, reading the weather, advanced knot work, depth charts and mastering boat maintenance and water testing are some of the activities for this group. Weather permitting, we will go on a longer sail at the end of their 2 week session to a yet to be determined destination. This program is not a sail only program. It’s half day land based and half day sail.
A typical day for these groups are full of exploration, discovery and making friends.
Typical daily schedule (subject to change and weather permitting)
8:40 am Arrive/Drop off
8:50 am AM Gathering all camp game, announcements
9:10 am Group games, coastal exploration, coastal education with specialist, fishing, preserve
exploration
12:00 pm Lunch
12:45 pm Sailing (AM: Skimmers, PM Ospreys, and Sea Stewards)
3:30 pm Camper debrief of day
3:45 pm PM Gathering all camp game, announcements
3:50 pm Depart/Pick up
Junior Counselor Program: Ages 15-17
Schooner Camp will be seeking High School students for Junior Counselor Positions sailing and working with camper groups at camp for summer 2026.
The Junior Counselor program is an opportunity for teens, 15 and 16 to gain volunteer hours, act as a positive role model and gain experience on how to work 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 2026, JC’s can register for one or more two week sessions. The sessions do not need to be consecutive. All JCs must commit to pre camp all day trainings which will be held 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.