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

Spring Season Development Team
High School Students 13+
April 4–June 1 | Tues & Thurs 4 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. Spring development team is the introductory program for sailors interested in joining the sailing team. They sail in the spring on 420s, FJs, and Lasers. Their motto is, “Sail Fast and Have Fun!” Many team members become sailing instructors in our summer youth camps. Sailing team is split into two groups, the development for sailors new to the sport and the travel teams for sailors who are ready to compete. There will be pre-practice evening meetings for this team on Thursdays, March 16, 23, and 30 at the Northwest Maritime Center campus.
Our Summer Learn-to-Sail Camp is a suggested pre-requisite.

Spring Season Travel Team
High School Students 13+
March 13–June 2 | Mon & Wed 4 PM–6:30 PM
The program is open to sailors who have been on the team previously or have the coaches invitation to move up from the development team. There will be an pre-season info-meet for this team on Feb 24 at the Northwest Maritime Center, and a rigging work party on Feb 26. 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. There are many opportunities for the team to attend local and district-wide regattas most weekends this Spring.
The Spring Season Development Team is a pre-requisite.
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!





