The program offers a unique blend of hands-on sailing instruction and STEM education, utilizing the Boston Harbor as a living classroom and culminating in weekly island exploration trips.
The Science of Sailing is a full-day, two-week summer program for students aged 10-22 that combines practical sailing skills with STEM education and marine science. Participants learn to sail 23-foot Sonar Keelboats, working in crews of 5-6 students per instructor and spending approximately six hours daily on the water. The curriculum, which incorporates US Sailing's “REACH” program, covers essential sailing techniques such as rigging, points of sail, sail trim, tacking, gybing, VHF radio use, knots, and navigation. Beyond sailing, students delve into marine science topics like measuring wind, buoyancy, sail area and perimeter, simple machines on sailboats, marine debris, upwind sailing angles, and wind power. The program emphasizes confidence building, environmental stewardship, and social connection through teamwork and communication. Each week culminates in an island trip to one of the Boston Harbor Islands, where students apply their navigation skills and explore the natural environment.
A typical day involves checking in, playing a group game, and then engaging in various on-the-water activities like sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or fishing, interspersed with lessons on local ecology, boat mechanics, and environmental care. Students spend about 6 hours per day sailing.
This program is ideal for students aged 10-22 who are curious about marine science, eager to learn practical sailing skills, and interested in building confidence and teamwork in an outdoor, hands-on environment.
95 Marginal St., East Boston, MA 02128
Boston STEM Summer Camps is a free directory service that aggregates publicly available information about STEM programs, summer camps, and educational opportunities. We do not operate, sponsor, endorse, accredit, certify, or have any affiliation with the camps and programs listed here unless explicitly stated.
All program details — including pricing, session dates, instructor credentials, curriculum, safety policies, refund terms, transportation, meal arrangements, and admission requirements — are sourced from publicly available information and may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Listings are partially generated and updated using automated AI-assisted research, which can occasionally produce inaccurate details. Parents and guardians are solely responsible for independently verifying every detail directly with the camp before enrolling, paying, or relying on any information shown here.
We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness, suitability, safety, quality, availability, or fitness for any particular purpose of any camp, program, or information shown on this site. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages of any kind — including but not limited to financial loss, missed sessions, refund disputes, injury, child safety incidents, transportation issues, dissatisfaction with educational outcomes, or any other harm — arising from your use of this directory or your decision to enroll a child in any listed program. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of these terms.
If you are a camp operator and notice any inaccurate information about your program, please contact us and we will review and update it. By submitting an inquiry via this site, you consent to the camp contacting you with information about their program.
