Junior Summer Week 5 Recap

Aug 7

Happy August! This past week, July 29th-August 2nd, marked the fifth week of the Junior Summer Program. The Marine Education team explored our fifth Ocean Principal: Life Under The Sea - getting acquainted with marine life and their habitats.

Marine Explorers

Bay Buccaneers

Bay Buccs learned all about different sea creatures, such as horseshoe crabs, nudibranchs, sea turtles, and jellyfish. They made their own I.D. Field Guide Books

First Mates

First Mates explored life on the bay as they kayaked to crab island and observed just how many invasive species there are. They talked about invasive vs natural species, and rode Cristeen like true pirates (hats and hooks included). All while learning about how the ocean sustains life on earth, and without it, how we'd be in Deep trouble!

Sound Swashbucklers

Soundswash Bucklers learned about American eels, which are local to our stream and bay! Once they were full of knowledge, they went out and sniggled and caught eels with their dip nets. They went on a scavenger hunt and found unique shells and sea plants to take back to their classrooms to identify!

Skippers

Skippers tested buoyancy this week! They worked as a team to construct a boat made out of recycled materials to see if it could float in the bay! They were very successful at making their vessel float and cleaning up afterward! They also went on the Christeen with First Mates as pirates!

First Mates and Skippers built a human sized boat, here they are holding up the leftover pieces of it!

Events of the Week!

Sound Swashbucklers built boats and raced them during low tide down at the beach. Additionally, Skippers tested buoyancy this week by building a boat out of recycled materials.

Skippers testing if their recycled materials boat floats

Youth Sailing

Lil’ Puffs

This week, Lil' Puffs had a great time on the sonars! They learned the points of sail, which helped them when they were sailing upwind and downwind. They also learned the parts of the Sonar and were able to take turns holding the tiller and playing multiple games on the water!

Opti Beginners

Opti Beginners learned how to steer their boats and do simple maneuvers like tacks and gybes. Everyone improved a lot throughout the week to the point where some kids felt comfortable sailing on their own.

Opti Race Team

The Opti Race Team started the week with an adventure sail to assess boat handling and practice their tacking. As the wind progressed throughout the week, they were able to complete practice races and work on high-wind boat handling.

C420 Intermediate

With plenty of heavy wind, the C420 Intermediates learned how to handle tough sailing conditions. They touched on the more advanced skills required for sailing a 420. And worked on their boat-handling skills.

Adventure Sailing

Adventure Sailing learned the basics of sailing using our Hobie Catamarans. The children learned about rigging, tacking, gybing, and sailing upwind and, by the end of the week, needed little help from their instructors! Throughout the week, everyone gained more confidence and was comfortable sailing in the harbor.

Opti Intermediate

Opti Intermediates learned how to deal with the wind when sailing upwind and downwind without getting stuck in irons. They played multiple games on the water, such as 21 and tennis ball tag. On one super windy day, the Intermediates all sailed together on Sonars!

C420 Beginner

C420 Beginners had fun sailing, practicing their tacking upwind and gybing downwind, going almost as far as Bayville. By the end of the week, they were pros at rigging their boats! Many sailors have improved their skills as the weeks have progressed!

C420 Race Team

This week, the C420 race team had an awesome breeze, so they focused on trapezing and spinnaker work. This allowed them to reflect and tighten up their basic sailing skills!

Manaal Nabi

Manaal grew up in Syosset, NY and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in Business Management from Syracuse University. She has been working at The Waterfront Center for two years as a Front Desk Associate and currently as a Marketing Intern. She loves nature and the outdoors and is passionate about the environment and sustainable design practices.