Baltimore’s Downtown Sailing Center has provided community sailing for three decades, and this year’s youth summer camp will be just as fun and educational as ever! In every one or two week session, youth aged 8-16 are immersed in the wonders of sailing in Baltimore Harbor from 9AM-4PM every day, and enjoy a high 4:1 camper to instructor ratio, ensuring that everyone receives individualized, high quality instruction. Programming starts at the DSC docks on the Baltimore Museum of Industry campus, surrounded by antique ships from the Chesapeake’s past. As camper’s progress, they’ll explore the history and nature of the harbor and sail past Domino Sugar and other landmarks, including Fort McHenry!
DSC’s motto is “where sailing is for everyone”, and that’s true for camp as well. DSC offers multiple levels of instruction, catering equally to those who have never sailed before and those with substantial sailing experience. With required life jackets, safety boats, and lots of attentive, professional staff, all lessons are safely conducted, and children are welcome regardless of prior experience with swimming or other water activities (and no expectation of getting wet). As an additional emphasis on “sailing for everyone”, DSC’s annual fundraising donation efforts and grant awards make it possible to provide need-based scholarships upon application.
Baltimore is a city of over 90 square miles, and close to 10 of those are water. Sailing is one of the few ways to experience that vast portion of the city often unseen and unexperienced. DSC’s sailing camp empowers kids to explore their city in a unique and unforgettable way, all while learning fundamental lessons about the physical world around them – how special it is, and how fun it can be as well. And while sailing camp may only last a week, DSC strives to make the joy and wonder last a lifetime.
In addition to summer camp, DSC offers adult education and memberships throughout the year, as well as taste of sailing reservations, corporate events, and community engagement programming, which includes our adaptive sailing program with dedicated craft. All DSC members are encouraged to give back to their community by volunteering for these and other sailing center programs, developing community along the way.
Over the years, tens of thousands of Baltimoreans have learned to love the water at DSC over the decades, and we look forward to welcoming your family as well!
