First Day of Junior Summer!

The First Day!

Well, it’s that time of the year again: water bottles packed and ready to go, wearing a fresh layer of sunscreen and a brand new bathing suit, smiling and ready to get wet - that’s how the WFC’s group of campers arrived this morning, on the very first day of the Junior Summer Program! The kids spent the day getting to know one another, and learning the basic rules and safety regulations that will guide their summer, all while having a blast in the water and kicking their summer off to a great start!

Gareth high-fives sailors during their swim check this morning.

Sailors eagerly await their chance to jump in and do their swim check!

For our young sailors, the First Mates, this meant a refreshing dip in the bay as they learned how to properly capsize their boats, and a rigging competition to reinforce their new knowledge of how to get the boats set up. Divided into two teams, the campers worked together to rig their respective boats, and gained points for safety, teamwork, and accuracy. The atmosphere was tense and exciting as they rushed to get their Optis rigged properly, but they were jumping at the chance to prove just how fast they could get their boats rigged! Capsizing, on the other hand, was a refreshing way to practice water safety, and the kids had a blast tipping their boats over off of the dock and carefully righting them.  

Top: Helping set up the boat by putting the rudder in

Bottom: Taylor assists a sailor as he rights his boat during the capsize drills.

In the afternoon, the High School program set out to refresh their sailing skills on Sonars with Taylor and Patrick, their instructors, and enjoyed their first sail of the summer! Instructor Patrick said of the afternoon, “They battled through the challenging conditions with a big smile.” Meanwhile, an enthusiastic group of Sound Swashbucklers set out for their own sailing adventure with instructors, and learned the basics of rigging and sail trim on Sonars (all while smiling beautifully for the camera, of course).

Patrick helps his sailors learn how to rig Sonars.

The Sound Swashbucklers head out on Sonars for the afternoon.

Overall, it was a fun first day of camp that reminded us all just how much fun summer is! With everyone out on the water, enjoying the bay and learning lots of new things about sailing and the environment, even the heat failed to stop anyone from enjoying themselves to the fullest. It’s sure to be a jam-packed week full of new activities, and I’m sure the campers are anxious to see what else is in store!

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