Youth Maritime Programs
Our Goal
Our work with youth is at the center of our mission—to create powerful maritime experiences that educate and inspire people to adventure. We are teaching a whole new generation of sailors to appreciate our maritime heritage and preserve our traditions, while inspiring kids to discover their own adventures.
Summer Programs
Kids can experience maritime life in many ways, from rowboats and sailboats to boatbuilding and much more. We have a series of popular week-long sailing day camps for kids ages 5 to 16. Summer camps are divided into two programs—Messing About in Boats, for 5 to 10 year-olds, and Learn to Sail for 8 to 16 year-olds.
Year-Round Open-Enrollment Programs
High School Sailing Team
Fall Season Travel Team
High School Students 13+
September 18–October 27 | Mon and Wednesday 3:30 PM–6:30 PM
The Port Townsend High School Sailing team is an extremely successful and positive program that has sent some of our local sailors to district and national competitions. They sail on 420s, FJs, and Lasers, and their motto is, “Sail Fast and Have Fun!” Many team members become sailing instructors in our summer youth camps. The sailing team is split into two groups, the development for sailors new to the sport and the travel team is for sailors who are ready to compete.
High School Sailing Travel Team is a 7-week program running from September 11- October 27, and is open to sailors who have been on the team previously.
Over those seven weeks, we will be on the water as much as possible practicing in FJs and 420s. We will perfect the skills necessary to compete in fleet and team racing—ranging from perfecting a roll tack, understanding the racing rules of sailing, nailing a start, and gaining a sense of the tactics and strategy necessary to sailboat racing. At this point, our regatta schedule is not yet fully formed, but we hope to participate in a mixture of events from local scrimmages to a district-wide varsity event.
Practices for the Travel Team will run Monday and Wednesday 3:30 PM–6:30 PM. (This timing may change later in the season as our days get shorter.) We look forward to seeing you out on the water!
Participation in at least one High School Sailing Team is a pre-requisite.
Fall Season Development Team
High School Students 13+
September 18–October 25 | Mon and Wednesday 3:30 PM–6:30 PM
The Port Townsend High School Sailing team is an extremely successful and positive program that has sent some of our local sailors to district and national competitions. They sail on 420s, FJs, and Lasers. with the motto “Sail Fast and Have Fun!” Many team members become sailing instructors in our summer youth camps. The High School Sailing team is split into two groups, the Development team for sailors new to the sport and the Travel team for sailors who are ready to compete.
There will be an info-meet for this team at 6:30 pm, Monday, September 11, at the Northwest Maritime Center First Fed Commons.
The development team is a 6-week program running from September 18th through October 25th for 8th graders and other sailors who are looking to develop basic sailing and race skills.
Over the six weeks, we will be on the water as much as possible practicing in FJs and 420s. We will work on building the skills necessary to compete in fleet and team racing—ranging from perfecting a roll tack, understanding the racing rules of sailing, nailing a start, and gaining a sense of the tactics and strategy necessary to sailboat racing.
Practices for the Development Team will run Monday and Wednesday 3:30 PM–6:30 PM. (This timing may change later in the season as our days get shorter.)
We look forward to seeing you out on the water!
Girls' Boat Project

Women and Girls’ programs at Northwest Maritime Center welcome those who identify as women and girls regardless of assignment at birth. These programs also welcome people who identify as non-binary or gender nonconforming and want to be in a female-centered environment.
For girls age 11-14 (6th to 8th grade)
In the Girls' Boat Project, middle school girls gain skills and have fun in the maritime trades, both on and off the water. They learn woodworking and boat building techniques while taking advantage of nice weather days to sail and row on the water. The program culminates with a one-day sailing adventure. The program is led by female role models from the Northwest Maritime Center staff who are skilled in boat building, woodworking, and sailing. Learn more about the Girls' Project at our blog.
Contact Chrissy McLean at chrissy@nwmaritime.org or 360.385.3628 x113 if interested!
“I like being trusted, bonding with our team, and having to work a little bit. We had to figure things out for ourselves, which I really enjoy.”
—Blue Heron 7th Grader

Thank you, Wilder Auto, for sponsoring youth scholarships!





