Junior Summer Week 4 Recap
This past week, July 22nd-July 26th, marked the fourth week of the Junior Summer Program. The Marine Education team explored our fourth Ocean Principal: Shapes of Life - how the Ocean made the Earth habitable. Youth Sailors used the wind to their advantage and had some great days on the water!
Marine Explorers
Bay Buccaneers
The Bay Buccaneers had an awesome week! They went on the Mothership, a 17 foot boat we all swam off of! We learned about many different animals, including clams and horseshoe crabs! We went on the Christeen and learned about plankton. We also played many games including Park Ranger and Trivia.
Bay Buccaneers crafting coral reefs
First Mates
First Mates have done a lot this week. We talked about camouflage and the four types, while creating our own hidden fish! We also made windmills to enforce the idea that wind is important in our environments, all while dredging and seining in between.
Sound Swashbucklers
Sound Swashbucklers learned about the animal kingdom and how it affects life on Earth. They observed plankton under microscopes and learned in more detail about the different animals in our waters here in Oyster Bay.
Sound Swashbucklers learning about different species of crabs we have in Oyster Bay
Skippers
This week the Skippers spent time fishing and learning about sustainable practices. We made our own windmills and learned how they help us keep our planet alive and well. We used each different creature we met to learn more about the ocean and how they help sustain the lives of our ocean creatures as well as the lives of all of us.
First Mates testing their wind mill blades to see if it will generate electricity
Skippers pulled up a crab trap down at the dock to examine the different animals that are in our waters
Catch of the Week!
First Mates caught a Pufferfish in the seining net!
Youth Sailing
Lil’ Puffs
The Little Puffs started the week out by learning parts of a Sonar and understanding how to steer. Later on in the week the Lil’ Puffs learned the points of sail (upwind and downwind) and how tell tales work! They also enjoyed lots of swimming and games on the boat and had lots of fun on the water!
Opti Beginners
The Opti Beginner class learned about steering with a tiller, tacking, jibing, and points of sail. Towards the end of the week many of the students also mastered upwind sailing. The sailors practiced these skills through drills such as the figure eight drill and games such as follow the leader. Everyone became a better sailor throughout the week!
Opti Beginners out on the water!
C420 Intermediate
The C420 Intermediate class learned how to roll tack, taking their first steps towards racing. They also learned more advanced concepts like sailing wing-on-wing downwind.
C420 Intermediates learning how to rig their boat
Adventure Sailing
Adventure Sailing class experienced sailing on Hobie Waves and Getaways during multiple high wind afternoons. The class explored Oyster Bay, visiting the “Taco Bell” mansion along with Billy Joel’s house. While they were sailing, the class practiced the skills of steering with a rudder, tacking, jibing, and points of sail.
Opti Intermediate
Opti Intermediate worked on their up and downwind sailing to different marks and changing courses. They then set up race courses to practice their drills in real life regatta scenarios!
Opti Intermediate Group
C420 Beginner
The C420 Beginner class learned how to rig, steer, trim the sails, tack, and jibe. They exceeded expectations by being able to sail upwind and downwind flawlessly. Such a rapid improvement!
Campers working together to put away sails
C420 Race Team
Our C420 Race Team spent the week preparing for JSA Race Week at Cedar Point Yacht Club. They will be competing next week against 30 other boats. To practice, they worked on light wind sailing! Good luck to our team!!
