MSYSP TO HOST SUMMER SEASON WITH NEW SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND REDUCED RATES FOR KEYS FAMILIES
Florida Keys Sailing Camp to Set Sail from June 15 – August 7th at the Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo
The Mark Sorensen Youth Sailing Program (MSYSP) will open up its summer season with reduced class size and a laundry list of procedures geared toward keeping all participants healthy and having fun in the sun.
With two-week sessions limited to only 24 campers in three different programs, spots filled up quickly for the 2020 Florida Keys Sailing Camp. Parents can now sign their kids up on the waiting list for the summer (form below).
To ensure everyone’s well being this summer, MSYSP will be implementing the following program changes and safety protocols:
CHANGES TO OUR PROGRAMS:
- The total number of persons allowed on property will be limited to less than 35 persons, including campers and staff and will be divided into 3 groups: Learn to Sail (LTS), Largo Conchs and C420 Sailing for Teens.
- We are staggering arrival and departure times for all 3 programs to implement necessary safety procedures upon arrival and to give staff additional time for cleaning and sanitizing at the end of each day.
- Our LTS program will be capped at a maximum of 12 campers per session and will run from 9am to 2pm daily.
- New hours for our Largo Conchs program for kids ages 5 – 7 will be from 10am to 1pm daily.
- We are expanding our C420 Sailing program for teens from two to four sessions this summer. New hours for this program will run from 10:45am to 2:45pm daily.
- We have reduced camp prices for all local Florida Keys children and are allowing families to pay on the first day of camp. See below for more information.
- We will not be having our Family Fridays this summer but will do our best to send you videos of your kids sailing. Perhaps a virtual version for summer 2020!
SAFETY PROTOCOLS:
- Hand washing stations will be added by the beach, patios and boat ramp areas.
- All campers and staff will be required to wash their hands upon arrival and regularly throughout the day.
- All campers must wear a buff around their necks at all times and must not remove them at any time during camp hours. When social distancing is not possible or practical, campers will be required to cover their nose and mouth with a buff or neck gaiter. Camp staff will be required to wear buffs covering their nose and mouth at all times when interacting with campers.
- Campers will be seated two per six-foot table and all tables will be appropriately spaced to ensure ample social distancing.
- Campers will be encouraged and supervised to maintain safe distance while engaging in beach/near-shore water activities.
- When appropriate, all snacks and lunches should be packed in lunch bags with ice packs or in small coolers. There will be no access to a refrigerator or microwave.
- As always, campers will be required to bring their own reusable water bottles clearly labeled with their names. Our 5 gallon jugs of ice water will be wiped down frequently throughout the day.
- Campers are encouraged to bring their own sunscreen bottles and life jackets labeled clearly with their names. Sharing of these items will not be allowed.
- All common areas along with boats and equipment will be cleaned and sanitized by staff daily.
- As always, daily lessons/chalk talks will be conducted outdoors.
- In case of rain or bad weather, one or more of the groups/programs may be canceled or asked to leave for the day so as to limit the number of participants inside the clubhouse.
- We have added outdoor restrooms for campers and staff.
- Use of the club’s two changing/shower stalls by campers will be prohibited.
- Parents and families are to remain inside the car to drop off and pick up their child and exit the sailing club via the Point Pleasant gate on the west side of the club.
* Please note that some of these procedures and programs may be modified to reflect changing developments and guidelines.
Session Dates:
Session 1: June 1 – 12 – CANCELLED
Session 2: June 15 – 26
Session 3: July 6 – 17
Session 4: July 20 – 31
Session 5: August 3 – 7th
ABOUT THE FLORIDA KEYS SAILING CAMP…
Are you looking for a children’s camp in the Florida Keys where your kids and teens can discover a new water sport that connects them to the marine environment, builds their self-confidence and lets them make new friends? If that’s a yes, then the Florida Keys Sailing Summer Camp at the Upper Keys Sailing Club is just the ticket for kids ages 5 through 18 looking for a fun and nature-filled outdoor summer experience. Whether you have a little one about to start kindergarten or a demanding teen, we have a sailing program suited just for them. Please take a few moments to look through our offerings and start planning your summer schedule in Key Largo!
Our super popular Largo Conchs program for those water-loving little ones ages 5 -7 returns for another great summer. For those kids that aren’t used to being ashore, this program lets them get comfortable on the water and hooked on sailing. Our Largo Conchs will climb aboard sailboats accompanied by an instructor at all times. Through fun and games, our Largo Conchs will learn about boating safety, basic seamanship and proper sailing terminology all while exploring Buttonwood Sound. There’ll be plenty of kid-sized kayaking near shore, beach swimming and excursions to nearby islands when the weather permits. Children will be required to bring their own proper fitting life jacket, snacks and/or lunch and a reusable water bottle.
Cost for Largo Conchs Program (per child per session):
- $200 – For local children attending Florida Keys schools full time.
- $325 – For all other non resident campers.
Registration & Waiver Forms for Largo Conchs: Sign Up Here
LEARN TO SAIL – Ages 8 – 14 –
For Beginner and Intermediate Sailors (9am to 2 pm)
In this course, campers will sail on a variety of sailboat dinghies like the Opti, Sunfish, and Zuma among other boats. In addition to having a lot of on-the-water fun, the focus of this two-week program is on learning the fundamentals of sailing, boating safety, rigging and how to skipper boats upwind and downwind and all around the bay. Our property has direct beach access to Buttonwood Sound in Key Largo, so beach swimming, near-shore snorkeling (with your own mask and fins), kayaking, paddle boarding and excursions to nearby islands are all part of the program too.
Learn to Sail Program Cost (per child per session):
- $350 – For local children attending Florida Keys schools full time
- $525 – For all other non resident campers
C420 Sailing for Teens – Ages 12 – 18 (Spots Available for Session 5 Only)
For Beginner and Intermediate Sailors (10:45am to 2:45pm)
Parents, for those of you with demanding middle or high school-aged kids, sailing is the perfect sport to pick up as a teenager. You are never too old to discover sailing, so this summer have your teens drop their mobile devices and hop aboard a two-person boat with a friend or fellow camper. No sailing experience, no problem! We will pair your child with a more experienced skipper so they can comfortably ease their way into sailing. And for those teens who have outgrown an Opti or Sunfish and want to try sailing a bigger and faster boat with a friend on board, then our C420 Sailing for Teens course is the perfect solution to get your teens off the couch and on the water. The two-week course will teach sailors boat handling skills by controlling the trim of the mainsail and jib together. The C420 is the same boat raced competitively in high schools and universities all over the country.
C420 Sailing for Teens Cost (per child per session):
- $350 – For local children attending Florida Keys schools full time
- $525 – For all other non resident campers
Registration and Waiver Forms for C420 Teen Sailing: Sign Up Here
THIS YEAR’S PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY
Due to all the uncertainty related to Covid-19, pre-payment of camp will not be allowed this year. Instead, we will be offering parents the option to pay with a check, cash or credit card on the first day of camp. We are hoping this will eliminate the hassle of refunds. Checks should be made payable to MSYSP.
We are, however, requesting that parents confirm their child’s participation by no later than the Thursday prior to the start of the session for which they are enrolled by sending us an Email with the camper’s name and session date to info@msysp.org. Otherwise, the child’s spot may be given to the next camper on the waiting list.
NO REFUNDS WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THE SESSION IS IN PROGRESS. WE DO NOT PRO RATE THE COST SHOULD A CAMPER MISS ANY DAYS. SORRY, NO EXCEPTIONS.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT OUR CAMP
- All campers MUST bring their own REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE each and every day! We are big on recycling and going green so minimizing the use of plastic cups and bottles is a huge deal for us.
- Absolutely no mobile devices are allowed during camp hours. Any camper seen with an iPhone or iPad in hand will have it swiftly taken and returned to the parent at the end of the day.
- We DO NOT offer day camps. The child must attend a full session or not at all.
- We expect all campers to show up and be picked up on time each and every day. Kids can be dropped off 30 minutes before the start of the program and must be picked up no later than 30 minutes after the end of the day.
- We have plenty of rainy-day and no-wind activities in our playbook so bring your Learn to Sail camper regardless of the weather. Due to Covid-19 and current CDC restrictions limiting indoor capacity, we may have to cancel our Largo Conchs and C420 Sailing groups on a rainy days.
- Our Camp Director is always happy to take your calls, emails, and texts should you have any questions, comments or concerns.
For more information, please contact:
Rosa Lamela
Executive Director
(305) 747-2600
rosa@msysp.org