Founded over twenty years ago, the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association provides affordable sailing lessons and affordable access to sailing for the youth and adults of the Mid-Michigan area.
Sailing Lessons, Summer Camps & Boat Building with the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association
Founded over twenty years ago, the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association provides affordable sailing lessons and affordable access to sailing for the youth and adults of the Mid-Michigan area. They promote interest in sailing as a life-long sport and develop teamwork, sportsmanship, and self-confidence in their students through experiential learning. Sailing lessonsSailing lessons introduce newcomers to the sport of sailing and provide training in basic sailing skills and safety on the water. Lessons consist of a combination of dockside instruction followed immediately by on-the-water practice. Only students sail the boats but the instructors are always nearby in outboard-powered safety boats. Five levels of lessons are offered each season: Youth Introduction to Sail I & II, Intermediate Youth Sailing, Advanced Youth Sailing, and Adult Introduction to Sailing. Students must be at least 8 years old, able to swim 75 yards without a lifejacket, and be able to right a capsized boat. The organization isn’t just for newcomers, though. Sailors with previous experience who are looking to improve their skills can often be found in an Adult Introduction to Sailing course or participating in weekly Open Sailing, a benefit offered exclusively to members and students. Beakers, Brushes, and Boats: A STEAM Day CampThis July will mark the second year of Beakers, Brushes, and Boats: A STEAM Day Camp Boatbuilding ClassIn the off-season, the SBCSA’s popular Boatbuilding Class spends the winter months constructing kayaks, canoes, and other wooden boats by hand at the Gougeon Brother’s boat shop. If you enjoy working with your hands and learning a new skill, this class is for you. Registration opens in the fall and classes begin after the first of the year. Each class is limited to about 20 participants plus a handful of skilled volunteer instructors. To participate in the boatbuilding class, you must be a current SBCSA member and pay a $70 materials fee. Youth are welcome to join. Youth ages 12-15 must attend with an adult; ages 16-17 may attend alone with parent/guardian permission. The class wraps up mid-April. The boats built by the SBCSA Boatbuilding Class are put to good use as a fundraising tool for the organization. Every three years, coinciding with Tall Ship Celebration, SBCSA raffles off a wooden boat hand built by the Boatbuilding Class. This years’ boat is a 20-ft. long triple cockpit kayak. Raffle tickets are available from any SBCSA board member, by calling 989-922-7245, or by visiting the SBCSA booth at upcoming events like the Riverside Art Festival and Tall Ship Celebration. The drawing will take place on Sunday, July 21, during Tall Ship Celebration, at 3:00 p.m. at the SBCSA docks in Wenonah Park. The winner does not need to be present to win. Learning to sail can be a life-changing experience for youth and adults alike and the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association has the tools and expertise to help you become confident on the water, strike up a new hobby, and develop an interest in the life-long sport of sailing. If you’re looking for a first-hand account of the confidence building found in learning to sail, check out this article by Lea Maxwell called “How sailing helps navigate life.” Then visit www.sbcsa.org to learn more about the affordable lessons and access to sailing the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association has to offer. |
Another sailing season is quickly approaching and if you’re like us, you can’t wait to get back out on the water! 
launched through a collaborative partnership between the Saginaw Bay Community Sailing Association, BaySail, and Studio 23. Kids in 3