Youth Program
About
The Hoofer Youth Sailing Program is a perfect way for your camper to stay active outdoors, build friendships, and make the most of lakefront living, all while learning important life skills. Courses are open to youth ages 10-17 and include sailing, windsurfing and racing.
How to Register
Registration opens at 4:00pm CT on Wednesday, March 29.
- Sign in or create an account.
- If you have previously enrolled a participant in our Youth Program, sign in to your account.
- If you have not previously enrolled a participant in our Youth Program, please create an account. You do not need to purchase a Hoofer Sailing Club membership to create an account, but you do need to be a member of the Wisconsin Union or a UW–Madison student. You can become a Union member at any time!
- Navigate to our Hoofer event calendar. Select “Switch View” in the upper left and click “Sailing Youth Program” to see Youth events.
- Select the session that you are interested in registering your participant in and click sign up.
- Follow the prompts to fill out the questionnaires, submit payment, and complete your registration!
If your camper is 14 years old or older and interested in being a Volunteer Youth Assistant, they can view the position description and apply here: Youth Assistant Volunteering Position
Summer Programs & Dates
Beginner Sailing
This class focuses on learning the basics of sailing in a fun, positive and safety-conscious environment. Geared toward the total beginner, this class introduces students to identifying wind direction, rigging and launching, sailing a straight course, tacking and jibing around a buoy, and recovery from a capsize. In addition, students learn knots, parts of a boat, basic sail trim, and are expected to assist others and treat their equipment with respect. The goal is for students to feel comfortable sailing solo and advance their skills enough to move on to Advanced Sailing.
All Day Program | One Week | $315
10am-4pm | Monday - Thursday
- 6/19-6/22
- 6/26-6/29
- 7/5-7/7*
- 7/10-7/13
- 7/17-7/20
- 7/24-7/27
- 7/31-8/3
- 8/7-8/10
- 8/14-8/17
- 8/21-8/24
Half-Day Program | Two Weeks | $315
9:30am-12:30pm or 1:30-4:30pm | Monday - Thursday
- 6/19-6/22 and 6/26-6/29
- 7/5-7/7 and 7/10-7/13**
- 7/17-7/20 and 7/24-7/27
- 7/31-8/3 and 8/7-8/10
- 8/14-8/17 and 8/21-8/24
* $235 - Rates are prorated due to shorter schedule (Wed-Fri)
** $275 - Rates are prorated due to shorter schedule (Wed-Fri)
Advanced Sailing
Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo. In addition to continuing basic skills (see Beginner Sailing), students learn more advanced sailing theory, continue to develop skills of launching and landing, sailing in all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puffs, problem-solving, and further developing communication and teamwork skills. Repeating this course is highly recommended as students continue to develop their skills and knowledge with each subsequent session.
All Day Program | One Week | $315
10am-4pm | Monday - Thursday
- 6/19-6/22
- 6/26-6/29
- 7/5-7/7*
- 7/10-7/13
- 7/17-7/20
- 7/24-7/27
- 7/31-8/3
- 8/7-8/10
- 8/14-8/17
- 8/21-8/24
Half-Day Program | Two Weeks | $315
9:30am-12:30pm or 1:30-4:30pm | Monday - Thursday
- 6/19-6/22 and 6/26-6/29
- 7/5-7/7 and 7/10-7/13**
- 7/17-7/20 and 7/24-7/27
- 7/31-8/3 and 8/7-8/10
- 8/14-8/17 and 8/21-8/24
* $235 - Rates are prorated due to shorter schedule (Wed-Fri)
** $275 - Rates are prorated due to shorter schedule (Wed-Fri)
Beginner Windsurfing
This class focuses on the fun and basics of windsurfing including rigging, balance, launching, sailing in a straight line, beginning maneuvers, upwind sailing, and returning to the pier. We suggest students weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and be 4’10″.
Half-Day Program | Two Weeks | $315
9:30am-12:30pm or 1:30pm-4:30pm | Monday - Thursday
Morning Session | 9:30am-12:30pm
- 7/5-7/7 and 7/10-7/13**
- 7/31-8/3 and 8/7-8/10
Afternoon Session | 1:30pm-4:30pm
- 6/19-6/22 and 6/26-6/29
- 7/17-7/20 and 7/24-7/27
- 8/14-8/17 and 8/21-8/24
** $275 - Rates are prorated due to shorter schedule (Wed-Fri)
Advanced Windsurfing
This class is for intermediate to advanced windsurfers who are looking to further improve their skills. Students will pick up where they left off and become more self-sufficient. Instruction is personalized according to skill and can include things such as more advanced maneuvers, use of the harness and footstraps, shortboarding, and heavy wind sailing techniques.
Not Offered in Summer 2023
Beginner Racing
This lesson is designed for students with previous sailing experience that are interested in learning about competitive sailboat racing! Our Beginner Racing curriculum will teach sailors the basics of advanced sail trim, the Racing Rules of Sailing and how to grow as a team! It is recommended that participants have completed at least one session of Advanced Sailing, or have sailing experience on dinghy-type sailboats.
Not Offered in Summer 2023
Advanced Racing
This course is designed for students who love racing and want to take their sailing ability to the next level! This course will build on the foundation of our Beginner Racing lessons and dive further into advanced crew-work, boat tuning, boat speed, advanced boat handling, racing tactics, and more. Students will learn about dinghy and keelboat racing, and practice flying a spinnaker. It is required that participants have already taken Beginner Racing.