Junior Summer Session 4 Recap
These past 2 weeks, August 4th-August 15th, marked our fourth and final session of summer camp! The Marine Explorers ended the summer with some wild encounters with local marine life. Meanwhile, our Youth Sailors took advantage of the remaining summer weather and worked on improving their technique!
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Marine Explorers
Bay Buccaneers
This session, we focused on exploring our friend, the ocean! We sniggled for eels, seined for fish, and searched for crabs in our crab traps. We also explored ecosystems a little deeper than the bay, learning about giant squid, sharks, and whales. The weather was great this session, which we took advantage of aboard the historic CHRISTEEN sailboat! We learned about the rich history of Oyster Bay and were able to check out the crew’s quarters.
This session was filled to the brim with adventure and knowledge! This summer was packed with memories!
First Mates
This session, we spent time sailing and exploring the environment! We were introduced to some sailing basics in both the Optis and the Sonars, going over tacking and gybing. We also practiced getting out of irons (the no-go zone). We then went on a crab island adventure, learning about taxonomy and natural selection! We finished things off with a survivor game, discussing natural disasters and earthquakes, and creating skyscrapers to survive the earthquake shake table!
This was a summer full of knowledge! Everyone had such an amazing time!
Sound Swashbucklers
Our first week was filled with discoveries! We did plenty of activities by the water, like seining and sniggling, creating a field guide to identify organisms along the way. We learned about taxonomy, natural selection, and even went kayaking to celebrate Fun Friday!
Our second week started with swim checks and capsize checks for both the Optis and the Hobie cats. Throughout the week, we had chances to sail a variety of boats, learning the fundamentals of sailing and what makes each boat unique!
This session was such a fun and insightful send-off to the summer!
Skippers
This session was surely an educational one! We tested buoyancy, working in teams to construct a boat made out of recycled materials to see if it could float in the bay! We also did some fun activities on the water, learning about different elements of the Oyster Bay ecosystem! We finished things off with some fun, playing games and relaxing by the dock!
This session was an awesome end to the summer! Everyone learned so much!
Youth Sailing
Lil’ Puffs
Our first week was filled with adventure! Each day was spent out on a Sonar, where we learned about the basics of sailing and the specific functions of the different parts of the boat. We learned the points of sail and how to steer the boat, even practicing how to rig and de-rig the Sonar! It was a beautiful week on the water!
The second week had us honing in our sailing skills, practicing tacking and steering! We took advantage of the nice breezes, learning while speeding through the bay! With our newfound knowledge, we were able to sail further and better than the previous week!
This session was an amazing way to end the summer — surely a camp experience to remember!
Adventure Sailing
The first week was an amazing start to the session! Each day, we focused on getting more and more comfortable with Hobies, reviewing rigging, tacking, and gybing, and building confidence on the water. Even with some slower winds, we had plenty of fun sailing around the bay!
During the final week, we made sure that our time on the Hobies was fun! Throughout the week, we made significant improvements in upwind sailing, a difficult angle to achieve in the Hobies. Everyone handled it like pros!
This session was truly a pleasure! Everyone made such big improvements over the past 2 weeks! What a wonderful send-off to the summer!
Opti Sailing
In the first week, we went back over the basics of sailing, including the points of sail, tacking, gybing, and straight-line sailing. We also got the chance to sail on sonars, giving us an opportunity to explore other boats and what makes each one unique! The weather this week was amazing for sailing!
Week 2 kept up the action, with us learning the points of sail and how to sail upwind, downwind, and on reaches! We also continued to practice our tacking and gybing, as well as controlling our boats through practicing drills. In between sailing, we played some fun games, like tennis ball tag and follow the leader!
This session was filled with fun and learning! This summer was truly unforgettable!
Opti Race Team
This session, we prepared for the state championship regatta hosted here at The WaterFront Center! We practiced skills like roll taking, telltale usage, and windward heel on downwinds. We also did practice starts and races. At the end, we sailed 420s as a fun reward!
The weather this session was perfect for racing! Awesome job to all our sailors!
C420 Open
In the first week, we learned how to rig and derig the boats. The weather was wonderful for sailing, letting us practice basic courses in both low and high wind! We also got the chance to learn about spinnakers on both our J105 and Sonars.
In the second week, we made some awesome progress learning rigging, teamwork, and basic maneuvers, like tacking and gybing. The weather this week was perfect for sailing, allowing us to spend most of our time on the water. We wrapped up the session with some races, putting our new skills to the test!
It was a joy to work with such talented sailors this summer! Everyone improved a ton!
C420 Race Team
This session, the C420 race team enjoyed some fantastic winds! They made the most of the conditions, honing their trapezing and spinnaker skills. They hit some impressive speeds while maintaining excellent balance! Even when the wind died down, the practice continued, with everyone focusing on communication.
This was a summer full of remarkable progress and fun! We’re truly thankful to work with such a talented group of sailors!
Specialty Camps
Reel Explorers
This session, we practiced the fundamentals of fishing and how to use conventional fishing gear! We practiced baiting our own hooks and explored how different bait types and fishing techniques attract different kinds of fish. Using clam, squid, and minnow/spearing as bait, we successfully caught and released five different species: Porgies, Fluke, Bluefish, Sea Robins, and sand sharks (dogfish)! We also caught plenty of crabs in a lobster trap we set! Towards the end of the session, we even had an exciting chance encounter with a pod of dolphins! How exciting!
This was an amazing summer on the water! Everyone made some great memories catching some keeper-size fish!
Gallery
Here are some highlights from our Session 4 Photo Album! (Updated daily!)
