Campers who sign up for our Sailing Interest Tracks will start with learning the foundations on how how to sail and stay safe in the boat. Things like wind direction, parts of the boat, how to steer, and safely change directions.

Part of being a good sailor is knowing your knots! Part of the sailing pavilion includes step-by-step diagrams on how to tie the most common sailing knots along with attached ropes for campers to practice.

Campers gain hands-on knowledge of each part of our Mercury sailboats while learning to properly rig the boats to get ready to go out on the lake.

Our sailing interest track is a double block, meaning campers are at sailing for about 2.5 hours a day. This gives them adequate time to spend on the water (though we know it will never feel like enough!) putting into practice what they have learned! Each camper has a job onboard the boat that rotates throughout the week. Through communication and teamwork campers are able to navigate Upper Saranac Lake.

Our Skippers program is for campers ages 15-17. These campers get to sail twice a day and develop their skills on the water. By the end of their two weeks the goal is for this team to feel confident out on the water manning any station in the boat.

Campers wishing to join our sailing interest track must be able to pass a deep water swim check on the first day of camp.

Any time our sailboats are out on the water so is staff member in one of our speed boats. This staff member is able to quickly get between sailboats to check on campers, give instructions, or help guide them back to the island if needed.