Instructional Boating is reserved for our youngest camper group. They are introduced to the basics of being in boats on the water –like wearing life-jackets, managing equipment and paying attention to others’ safety, as well as one’s own! The boats are small, dinghy row boats, easy to propel and turn. They are stable, capable of holding one to three campers and lots of fun to learn and explore in. Staff members are creative in introducing concepts, tapping into the imagination and enthusiasm of their young boating crews! It is not uncommon to hear squeals of delight as campers row on soggy sponge ball races or treasure hunts (chasing or evading beautifully dressed and amusingly dramatic ‘pirates’) or to catch them singing a song at the top of their lungs as they ease around the end of the pier and head for the ‘Rocks’ and their next great adventure! As summer draws to an end, and the young rowers have demonstrated proficiency in their boating skills, they are introduced to other types of craft – canoes, sailboats, etc. This gives them a feel for these very different (and less stable) types of craft and gets them excited about future summer choices on the waterfront!
Campers of all ages love to hop in the rowboats whenever Boating is offered as a free choice activity and they will often pair up with the younger campers who can show what they have learned to their older friends. They remember with affection their favorite boating counselors, songs or activities and cross-generational boating lore is thus exchanged!
