Youth Programs

Yes! If the program you are interested in is full, click on the date in the calendar of availabilities and fill out the waitlist for that specific program.

No!

However, a float test is required for all students participating in our camp programs. The check consists of walking into the water from the beach while wearing a personal floatation device and wetsuit. This test helps ensure the safety of all our campers by allowing them to get comfortable in the cold waters of Bellingham Bay. This is the standard requirement as set forth by US Sailing. We encourage parents to sign their children up for swim lessons at a local pool to boost their confidence in the water.

Regardless of the weather and the forecast, you should prepare your child for all kinds of weather, and every day your child should be prepared to swim in the chilly waters of Bellingham Bay. The CBC provides “shorty” wetsuits, PFDs and booties, but you’ll need to provide the following to help ensure that your child has a great experience:

Swim suit

Rashguard/sunshirt

Close-toed shoes

Hat, sunglasses

Sunscreen

Towel

Water bottle, lunch and snacks

Dry clothes to change into after playing in the water

Because wind, weather, and water conditions are variable, and outside of human control, all youth campers receive instruction in both sailing and paddling. Camp instructors constantly assess the conditions to inform their outing plan for the day, and make adjustments to the day’s activities based on the conditions. For light wind or no wind days, campers will receive more intensive on-land education on sailing concepts, and may practice their knowledge of wind/water reading, and boat mechanics. Campers will also get out on the water in paddleboards and kayaks on light/no wind days, to continue to build their comfort in the marine environment. For all sailing camps, every effort is made to ensure campers receive as much sailing time on the water as possible.

For heavy wind days, instructors will assess the conditions, and if they determine that conditions are too dangerous for being on the water, they will continue with on-land activities and education.

You may find additional information on our youth programs procedures outlined below. If you have any further questions, please reach out to youth@boatingcenter.org.

Camp Location

Unless otherwise noted, all of our classes run at The Community Boating Center. The Boating Center is located immediately next to the public boat launch in Fairhaven.

555 Harris Avenue

Bellingham, WA 98225

Pick up and drop off times

Morning Half Day: 9:30am - 12:30pm

All Day: 9:30pm - 4:30pm

Afternoon Half Day: 1:30pm - 4:30pm

Late Pick Up

Please arrive and pick up your camper promptly. The CBC can be a busy place in the summertime, where tons of folks get to boat on Bellingham Bay. It’s a great thing, but it means we need to keep our programs running in ship shape! Our Youth Instructors frankly do not have the time to watch over a camper while appropriately preparing for, cleaning up after, and debriefing their program before the next begins.

If a child is not picked on time, a $5 fine will be charged for the first 15 minutes and $5 for every 5-minute period thereafter. Families will be required to pay by drop off the next day. The Director of Youth Programming and/or the Youth Programs Manager will be the sole judge of waiving fees due to any uncontrollable circumstance. Repetitive late pick-up or non-payment of late fees may result in the suspension of program participation.

What to bring

Regardless of the weather and the forecast, please arrive prepared for all kinds of elements! We provide all of the necessary equipment for your camper to safely enjoy the chilly waters of Bellingham Bay, including PFDs (life jackets), wetsuits, neoprene booties and more. We like to say, “hope for the best, plan for the worst!” Please send your camper with the following:

Required Gear

Reusable water bottle

Lunch & Snacks

Towel

Hat

Sunscreen

Swim suit

Tee shirt

Shoes that can be worn while swimming*

Dry clothes to change into

Optional Personal Gear

Sunglasses (with a leash!)

Spray/Rain gear

Snacks

Chapstick

*We provide neoprene water shoes called ‘booties’. However if your camper has appropriate footwear that will stay on their feet in the water (not flip flops), we recommend wearing them!

Our Staff

All of our lead Youth Programs staff are US Sailing level 1 certified sailing instructors, ACA level 1 instructors, or higher. In order to maintain their certification, instructors are up-to-date with their CPR and First Aid certifications. All employees over 18 are SafeSport trained. All instructors participate in annual staff training and are familiar with all pertinent CBC policies and procedures.

The CBC has a Youth Internship program wherein high school students 16 years of age and older may assist our staff in providing youth programs. Interns help our staff safely and effectively manage classrooms and on-water activities. Your internship program is a nine-week long program designed to help young adults build the range of skills necessary to become instructors in the future. The CBC rewards an Intern’s work after the season with a stipend to pursue their US Sailing Level 1 certification.

Accommodations

The CBC is committed to accommodating our programming to be more inclusive and accessible for anyone interested in getting on the water. If your camper needs any accommodations, please contact Reed at reed@boatingcenter.org at least 2 weeks before the program start day to schedule a site visit and discuss ways we can best accommodate your camper’s needs.

Injuries and/or Emergencies

The Community Boating Center has policies in place to deal with injuries and emergencies. Staff members are knowledgeable of various emergency scenarios and know when and how to activate our emergency action plan. All staff members hold up-to-date CPR and first aid certifications.

Parents and/or guardians will be notified in the event of an emergency. Please provide two emergency contacts when you sign our waiver. If contact or communication will be difficult during the time of your participant’s program, please provide an alternate contact to the Youth Programs Manager.

Any injury to a participant will be reported in writing on the appropriate Incident Report Form (IRF). The form will be completed by the instructor involved in the incident and the Youth Program Manager. The Incident Report will establish the facts as they occurred and the actions taken by the staff while dealing with the accident. Parents and/or Guardians will be notified if their participant is involved in an incident involving an IRF.

Medications

Participants who self administer their own medications for life-threatening conditions must fill out our Parent Permission for Independent Medication Use and Carry. All medications must be in original containers with the camper’s name, dosage amounts, prescriber and instructions for use. All medication must be up-to-date. CBC staff are authorized to administer both Benadryl and Aspirin in the case of allergy and/or cardiac emergencies. If you would like to opt your participant out of this option, please let our staff know.

Behavioral Policies and Expectations

The Community Boating Center is committed to cultivating an atmosphere where all students feel emotionally, physically and socially safe. Compliance with imposed limits and policies of our programs is expected. Any bullying and/or other disruptive behavior that threatens the well-being of other participants or CBC staff will not be tolerated. Steps will be taken as follows:

Step 1: Verbal Warning. Upon observing inappropriate behavior, the participant will receive a verbal warning from the instructor or staff member, identifying the behavior and how it goes against our community goals.

Step 2: Parental Involvement. Upon second infraction, the participant's parent or guardian will be notified of, and asked to discuss, the obstructive behavior.

Step 3: Dismissal. Continued misconduct that harms oneself or others may result in removal from CBC programs and activities.

Illness

If participants are too sick to participate in our day’s activities, please keep them at home. Students with the following symptoms: vomiting, fever, active rash, stomach pain, sore throat and/or nausea will not be permitted to join. Please inform CBC staff if a student will not join us for the day. Pro rates are not available for classes missed due to illness.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your booking, we can refund course fees based on the timeline outlined below:

More than three weeks before the start of camp/class: 100% of the fee is refundable or transferable;

Between one and three weeks before the start of camp/class: 50% of the fee is refundable or transferable;

The CBC is unable to offer refunds for cancellations submitted less than one week (five business days) before the start of camp/class.

Wind Policy

Green Status - Up to 10 mph (9 knots)

Sailing dinghies must stay in dinghy-specific restricted areas.

Keelboats must stay in keelboat-specific restricted areas.

All sea kayaks, sit-on-top kayaks, paddleboards, and rowboats must stay in designated rental areas.

All rowing sculls must stay in the designated rental area.

If wind direction is West or North, resulting in waves in Harris Bay, this is considered Yellow Status

Yellow Status - 10 to 15 mph (9 - 13 knots)

All sea kayaks (experienced & w/ spray skirts) and sailing dinghies must stay in restricted area (red triangle);

Sailing dinghies must stay in restricted area.

Keelboats must stay in Bellingham Bay.

No paddleboards, SOT kayaks, rowboats, or rowing sculls allowed on the water without MOD permission.

If wind direction is West or North, resulting in waves in Harris Bay, this is considered Red Status

Red Status - 15 to 20 mph (13-17 knots)

Only sailboats, with appropriate skill levels are allowed out.

Youth and Adult Programs may run at the discretion of the instructing staff and MOD in accordance with program policies

If wind direction is West or North, no one is allowed out on the water and safety boats should not be left at the dock.

Smoke Policy

The Director of Youth Programming reserves the right to cancel youth programs anytime the local AQI is 101 or above.