OYC
These courses are for our more adventurous, fun loving students that want the freedom to sail across the lake rather than on a prescribed course.   Whether sailing to a destination as part of our Adventure Sailing program for a STEM based field trip or given a chance to grab a Nutty Bar at Arnold's Park in our Performance Sailing Camp, we want these students to have a chance to simply enjoy the ride while learning the sport. 

PERFORMANCE SAILING

AGES: 8-17
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This camp will introduce older, more experienced children to the Laser Radial and the BIC O’Pen dinghies. Knowledge of the points of sail and basic boat handling skills are required. Students will be assigned boat type based on their size, skill, and wind conditions. 

Typical student weight ranges: 
​BIC O’Pen: 85 – 120 lbs
Laser Radial: 121 – 150+ lbs

Goals
  • Ability to independently rig a sailboat
  • Capable of determining wind direction
  • Ability to use tiller and mainsheet together
  • Confidence in handling a sailboat alone
  • Ability to right a capsized sailboat safely
  • Successfully sail from Irons and on all points of sail
  • Able to round marks correctly and navigate a course
  • Able to dock safely

Prerequisites 
  • Prior approval is required for children that have taken Optimist Fundamentals Camp or our Intermediate Camp
  • Previous Laser/BIC Camp participants. 
  • Repeat students of the Performance Sailing 
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​Next Step Options:
  • Performance Sailing and Adventure Sailing
  • Optimist, X-Boat Racing, and Intro to Spinnaker

ADVENTURE SAILING
SCIENCE AND SAILING​


EXPLORATION THROUGH INQUIRY​
​This unique program is based in exploration!  It is  a fun combination of sailing and science and how discovery in both fields can work together in a STEM based program.
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Taught in partnership with Iowa Lakeside Laboratories and the Okoboji Sailing Center, students will be introduced to the areas of science that include limnology, physics and atmospheric studies.  Students will discover the ecosystem of West Lake Okoboji while sailing to field trip destinations around the lake.

​This camp based curriculum develops problem solving skills through critical thinking throughout a series of classes that .
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Earth, Wind and Fire:
Adventure Sailing and Science Camp!
Ages:
​Entering 8th-10th Grades
(​No Sailing Experience Required)

This is a new collaborative partnership between Iowa Lakeside Laboratory and Okoboji Sailing School where we combine scientific inquiry with sailing, adventure and… a bit of ancient Greek philosophy!

See Iowa Lakeside Laboratory's Website for
MORE INFORMATION
​and to sign up follow the link below starting March 19th.​

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Okoboji Sailing School 
​Adventure Sailing 3-Part Series
​​​Ages: 10-14
(Sailing Experience Required Camps*)

​I. What Made Our Lakes Region?
II. Who's Swimming With Us?
III. How Does That Boat Go?

Learn why they call this region the Iowa Great Lakes Area. 

This series will walk you through a STEM based program taught by Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, Iowa's Department of Archaeology and Okoboji Sailing Center that is focused on our lakes region. 

The focus will be the formation of the lakes and it's early inhabitants, what is living in these lakes, and finally how we sail around on these uniquely located resources.
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Goals
  • Gain specific knowledge of the geology and culture of northwest Iowa
  • Solve problems using scientific method
  • Understand how individual systems impact lake ecology
  • Increase youth environmental awareness and stewardship
  • Inspire student interest in the subjects of science and technology and how these areas of study work together 

*Prerequisites: ​
  • Prior approval is required for children that have taken Intermediate Camp
  • Optimist Fundamentals
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​Next Step Options:
  • Performance Sailing
  • Optimist Racing
  • X-Boat Racing