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Explore pram sailing
An Introduction to Sailing Program for Students Ages 5-7!
The Foundry's Explore Pram Sailing After School Program offers a broad introduction to sailing designed specifically for children ages 5–7. This program gently guides young sailors from land-based instruction to hands-on experience on the water, using eight-foot, single-person sailboats called prams. Participants, referred to as “first mates”, will learn to steer and harness the wind. Instruction takes place in a safe, controlled environment; either in a pool or a protected basin on Lake Erie. Parents and guardians should plan to stay on-site and participate alongside their young sailors, making it a shared adventure. Explore Pram Sailing provides the foundation for future skill advancement in Explore Sailing Camps as early as the following summer, depending on the sailor’s age.
learning outcomes
What your child will learn through our program
Rig a pram sailboat with a partner
Steer a pram using a tiller
Identify basic sailing safety gear: life jacket, helmet, whistle
Label the parts of the boat with a partner
Recognize when a pram capsizes and explain how to right the boat
Get in and out of the boat with adult assistance
Follow the leader by sailing a pram in a straight line with a partner
Sail on a reach course and round marks with a partner
program highlights
See our students in action!
