Boating, Building & Ecology Program -- MODIFIED at Chicago Sailing

Boating, Building & Ecology Program at Chicago Sailing's Loft & Offices for up to 12 participants ages 11 - 15 years old.  Join us for this 2-week Summer Day-Camp to build a full-size, fully-functional boat and row it in Montrose Harbor.  

Program Schedule:

July 20 - Aug. 1 (2-weeks) from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday - Friday -- (Lunch provided) at Chicago Sailing, 3161 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60618

Plus - Boat Launch Day on Saturday, August 1 from 9:30am - Noon -- LOCATION - TBD -- most likely at Montrose Harbor, but we need to confirm these arrangements.  Family and friends are encouraged to join us for the teens to show off their new skills.

Program Details:

Since Covid all Chicago Maritime Arts Center (CMAC) Programs will comply with PPE and safe distancing requirements for schools in the State’s Phase IV of Reopening. Masks will be provided to students, volunteers & instructors if they do not bring their own. As much as possible we will conduct these programs outside. We will screen all participants daily through temperature checks and questions regarding exposure and virus symptoms.  Sanitizer and frequent hand washing will be also part of the programs. Class participants will work with their own set of tools and individual work stations appropriately spaced to build hands-on projects along with shared learning, group discussion, and instruction.  When using boats participants will be matched up in pairs for the durration of the program to minimize group interaction and allow better tracing should it be necessary.

The Chicago Maritime Arts Center will provide all the materials, tools, and instruction and lunches are included.  Participants should wear comfortable clothing that can get dirty (as we will be working with permanent glues and paint) and sturdy shoes (no open toes).  Participants learn teamwork, safety, basic tool use, construction, measuring, and assembly in addition to some basic boating skills, boat safety, and maritime ecology sprinkled in.  Individual projects will include building a Balsa wood model boat, knot tying & knot board, cutting and building a wood tool box, "junk-wood" paddle building, and individual project or free-form art/sculpture project.  The program will conclude with the Boat Launch Day on Saturday morning for participants to launch, row, and show off the boats they built.  Life jackets and safety boats are provided.  Family and friends are encouraged to attend the Boat Launch Day to see the results, cheer the kids on, and join in the fun. 

Program Cost: $500/participant

The Registration Fee of $50 will be applied to the program cost. The balance is due on or before the first day of the program:

CHECKS should be made out to Chicago Maritime Arts Center and mailed to 1848 W. Waveland Ave. Unit 3W, Chicago, IL 60613 or brought on the first day of the program.

-OR- paid ONLINE via Paypal to email address: support@ChicagoMaritime.org

ALTERNATIVELY, after the $50 Registration Fee participants may request a partial scholarship, or if the registration fee is a burden request a full scholarship, prior to the program start.  Applicants must submit a short essay requesting a scholarship (full or partial) and explain why they would like to take the program.  Essays should be sent to Patrick@ChicagoMaritime.org.  Please note the participant’s name, age, program, dates, and location.

Return to Events page to download the required participation Waiver form and the Social Distancing and Other Safety Protocol.