The City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department conducts summer sailing camps. The program for junior sailors ages 9 - 14 is held at the city's Waterfront Park located on Canal Road in Orange Beach. The fee to participate in Sail Camp is $100.00 for Orange Beach residents (proof of residency required) and $125.00 for non-residents. Participation fee includes hands on sailing instruction, classroom instruction, knot tying, daily drink, and participation certificate.
Morning sessions for Beginning Sailors are held from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, Monday - Friday. Afternoon sessions for Intermediate Sailors are held from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. It is mandatory the campers be experienced, confident swimmers and be aware that this is an independent program where they will learn to handle their own boat. (Minimum age of 9 is based on maturity and usual average size of a child of that age.) Each camper must be comfortable being on the water, this is not a program for a child who is fearful of the water. This program is about learning. Those looking to just pass the time should not apply. All campers are required to bring their own life jacket, towel, water bottle and wear water shoes at all times. (Water shoes must be worn at all times and should be of a type that do not come off easily).
Registration for Orange Beach residents began on March 28, 2011 and opened to non-residents on April 26, 2011. For more information, please call the Parks & Recreation office at 251-981-6039. Please be mindful that there are only 8 participants per session. This program fills fast and typically is completely full prior to the first session.
2011 Sail Camp Dates -
Sessions for Sail Camp 2011 were basically full by the time the first session began in June. This has typically been the case since the program began in 2004. We are leaving the 2011 application accessible for reference. The application is basically the same each year with camps being held in June & July.
To be put on the mailing list for 2012, complete the form below. Applications are typically mailed in mid March. Registration for Orange Beach residents and property owners typically opens March 15th. Registration for non-residents typically begins on April 15th. Both of these dates can change based on other functions and activities being conducted by P&R staff.
Sail Camp 2011
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Junior Counselors Help With Sail Camp
For the 2011 season, we invited our older, experienced sailors to return to camp and volunteer as Junior Counselors. (Most of them started when they were 8 - 9 years old and have been participating for 6 - 7 years.) We feel the Junior Counselor Program will help them hone their sailing skills while also learning leadership skills. They will be working with our lead instructors in the set up and breakdown of camp each day and will be part of the teaching crew.
We appreciate their help this summer. Before the first session our Junior Counselors got together for a fun sail day. They spent the day sailing all over Wolf Bay, stopping to swim along the way and having lunch together back at the park.
Junior Counselors - John Howard, Daniel, Taylor, Nick R, Nick O & Tristen join lead instructors Caroline & Kevin on Fun Sail Day
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Sail Camp 2010
Due to oil moving into Perdido Pass on Wednesday, June 10, 2010 the decision was made to shut down our Sail Camp program. The health and safety of our participants and Counselors was our first priority and after much consideration we felt this was the only decision we could make.
We were able to complete three days of our first session and the kids and counselors were having an amazing week. Perfect weather and great enthusiastic sailors!
