Youth Sailing Camp
Our Youth Sailing Camp, on beautiful Conestogo Lake, is a unique summer sailing program for children ages 9 - 17 (birth year 2008 - 2016) that follows the CANSail program. Our program runs Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm throughout the summer and offers 4 convenient school bus pickup and drop off locations in the Region.
No sailing or boating experience is necessary to join the program. All participants, however, must be able to (a) swim 50 meters wearing a life jacket, (b) tread water, and (c) provide their own MOT approved personal flotation device (lifejacket) of the proper size.
Through a combination of games, on land activities and on water drills, program participants follow the nationally recognized CANSail curriculum.
We provide qualified coaches that are fully trained and certified by Sail Canada. All of our staff hold certification in first aid, powerboat operation, boat rescue, life saving, and coaching theory. Conestoga’s Youth Sailing Program is open to both club members and non members and is eligible for fees assistance through the Cities of Waterloo and Kitchener.
The Youth Sailing Camp is supported by the Government of Canada through the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Dates and Fees 2025
General Registration will open Nov 16. NOTE: Member rate available with 2025/26 family/household memberships only.
Please note that fee assistance is available through the City of Waterloo's fee assistance program. 
Bus Transportation
The Youth Camp is run at the Conestoga Sailing Club on Conestoga Lake. The lake is 30 minutes northwest of KW. We provide a charter bus for program participants. The bus makes stops in Kitchener, Waterloo, St. Jacobs, and Elmira - see below for bus schedule.
Things to Bring to Sailing Camp
- A government approved personal flotation device (PFD/lifejacket) suitable to child’s weight/size
- Sunscreen, SPF 30 minimum, for at least two applications – morning and after lunch
- Sun hat and sunglasses with retainers
- Swimsuit and towel
- Appropriate clothing for the forecasted weather (windproof jacket, rainwear, warm underlayers) – we sail rain or shine
- At least one complete change of dry clothes (shirt, shorts, long pants, underwear, sweatshirt)
- One pair of non-slip shoes that will get wet, preferably water shoes. All shoes should be closed and rubber soled. Flip flops, strappy or open shoes are a safety hazard and are NOT suitable.
- One pair of shoes that will stay dry for land activities & the bus ride home
- Reusable bottle with water. Potable water to drink is also available at the club. Please avoid disposable bottles if possible!
- Peanut-free lunch and snacks. There is a fridge in the club house to keep things cold.
- Label everything, and please leave non-essential electronics/toys/valuables at home. Cell phones may be left with the instructor for safekeeping in the office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
My child can’t swim – is that a problem?
While it is not essential that your child be a good swimmer, we find that children who are scared of the water do not enjoy sailing. Your child should feel comfortable around the water but regardless of swimming ability, will be wearing a lifejacket or PFD when in the boats or on the docks.
Is there an early and late program?
We do not currently offer an early or late program. Please note that bus stops will not be supervised, so we ask that participants arrange morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up’s in accordance with the scheduled stop times.
What is a typical day like at sailing camp?
A typical day starts with student’s rigging their boats when they arrive. A brief land lessons proceeds the morning on water drills. Participants get a supervised 45 minute lunch and then start the afternoon off with a camp-wide game. Another land lesson and briefing are introduced before afternoon sailing. Participants then derig the boats before cleaning up and getting ready for the bus. Throughout the day participants also play games and go swimming.
What if there is bad weather forecasted?
Our coaches constantly monitor the weather conditions and adjust lessons accordingly. If it is raining, with no severe weather, we go out sailing as per usual. Make sure your child comes prepared with appropriate clothing.
If we cannot go sailing but we can still be outside (for example if it is too windy or there is not enough wind) we continue with the on shore components (such as learning knots and other classroom instruction) of our program and play games such as capture the flag. If the weather does not allow participants to stay outside (for example, severe weather with thunder and lightning or very strong winds), we move our instruction indoors and continue with the lesson portion of our program. We also play indoor appropriate games like Pulse. In these situations it is also possible that participants will watch an age appropriate movie.
Can I drive my child to sailing camp?
Yes. Any parent driving their child to the Club should plan to arrive at Conestoga Sailing Club between 9:00 and 9:15am and return to pick them up around 4:00pm.
Can you make sure that my child is paired up with his or her friend?
Students are grouped by ability, age and size, and instructor recommendation. Placement decisions are guided by safety considerations and the skills demonstrated by the student. As a result, we will be unable to honor requests for “friends” to be placed together.
What should I do if my child will not be at sailing camp on a given day?
If you know that your child will be absent from sailing camp please let us know. You can speak directly with an instructor at the bus stop, send us an email at information@kwsailing.org, or leave us a message at 519-638-5241.
If your child is absent from class, without prior notification, the Head Instructor will try to contact you at home. It is important to understand that the program cannot be responsible for your child if he/she does not come to sailing camp; the attempt at notification is simply a courtesy to you so that you will know your child is not in attendance.
What safety measures do you have?
Our instructors are all qualified in life saving and first aid. A life jacket or PFD must be worn at all times when sailing on the water and on the club docks. We ensure that there are always an adequate number of instructors by limiting enrolment. Whenever students are on the water, there are instructors in support boats in attendance to provide assistance.
What is CANSail?
CANSail is a national curriculum designed by Sail Canada. Sail Canada’s CANSail dinghy curriculum is a progressive pathway to learn and develop fundamental dinghy sailboat handling skills. It also sets the foundation for athlete and sailor-leadership development regardless of type of dinghy being used (single handed or double handed).
CANSail programming means lots of time on the water in a safe, fun and active learning environment, with relatively less time spent in a classroom. Sailors learn the skills and enter into fun and challenging experiences suited to their age and stage of development. The programming is designed to get – and keep – sailors excited about sailing for life! 6 CANSail levels of standard promotes teaching and progressive training of core dinghy sailing skills.
What boats will the participants be using?
The sailing camp uses the following boats: Optimist, Topper Topaz, RS Zest, Club 420.