A cornerstone of Community Sailing New Orleans is to empower and educate young people through sailing.

We serve youth ages 8-18 through the STEM Design + Build + Sail and Crew to Captain Maritime Career Development programs; summer camps; and field trips/experiential sailing experiences. Our programs nurture leadership potential, new skill building, and positive community connections.

STEM Design + Build + Sail

Crew to Captain Maritime Career Development Program

Summer Camp

Experiential Sails

STEM DESIGN + BUILD + SAIL

Navigating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through Sailing

Our STEM Design + Build + Sail program offers a unique opportunity for participants to explore the fascinating world of STEM while experiencing the thrill of sailing. The program’s curriculum is aligned with national standards in math and science, so it reinforces what students are learning in school.

  • Who: Middle school students (grades 6-8) from the metro New Orleans area

  • Requirements: No sailing experience required. We will provide life preservers for each participant.

  • Cost: This program is free, thanks to the generous support of local and national foundations.

  • When: This is a ten-session course with weekly classes. Classes meet on Tuesdays from 4:30-7:00pm. The Spring course will meet during the months of March, April, and May.

  • Where: Community Sailing New Orleans, 101 N. Roadway, New Orleans, LA 70124

  • What to Expect: Over the course of ten (10) immersive learning experiences, students dive into the fun and fascinating world of sailing while exploring fundamental science, technology, engineering, and math concepts. From understanding the anatomy of a sailboat to designing and testing their own miniature vessels, students will experience hands-on learning both on the water and on shore.

 

Throughout the program, participants will:

  • Receive safety briefings to ensure preparedness for their sailing adventure
  • Explore sailboat design principles and concepts such as mass, displacement, and buoyancy through interactive activities
  • Enhance their sailing skills and navigation techniques
  • Explore the principles of lift and aerodynamics through upwind sailing sessions and hands-on experiments demonstrating scientific concepts.
  • Study environmental factors such as convectional currents, wind patterns, and the impact of watersheds on marine ecosystems using Lake Pontchartrain as their classroom
  • Plan and design boat models for design challenges, culminating in the highly anticipated Community Sailing Regatta, where teams compete for victory.

Registration

Join us on this exciting and fun voyage where STEM education and sailing come together to inspire learning, teamwork, and a lifelong love of science, math, and water sports.

If you’re interested in learning more, email [email protected] or call 504-233-3292.

Register here!

JORDYN
Crew to Captain Class of 2025 and STEM Design Build Sail Alumna

“I came to discover a new activity and kept coming back because of the welcoming feeling and acceptance from the sailing community.”

Jordyn didn’t know anyone who sailed while she was growing up. In her eyes, sailing wasn’t even considered an option for her. She participated in our STEM Design + Build + Sail program when she was in middle school and is now in our maritime career development program, Crew to Captain. Jordyn has become a skilled and knowledgeable sailor who takes great pride in how much she’s grown as a sailor and a person since arriving at her first class years ago. As an aspiring lawyer she hopes to attend Tulane University and has been able to make connections with individuals in the legal and competitive sailing fields.

CREW TO CAPTAIN

Maritime Career Development Program

An estimated 1 in 5 jobs in Louisiana is connected to the maritime industry, and wages in this industry pay substantially higher than the Louisiana average. Louisiana leads the nation in the number of captains, mates, pilots of water vessels, sailors, marine oilers, and ship engineers. Crew to Captain Maritime Career Development Program helps high school students identify and prepare for potential pathways to careers in the local maritime industry.

Leaders from the local maritime industry attend classes as speakers and mentors. By introducing high schoolers to the vast opportunities in the maritime industry, they are better prepared to pursue these career paths, which can lead to greater economic stability and a stronger local workforce.

At the completion of the three-year program, in addition to having learned about different maritime careers, students earn their Sailing Instructor Certification, a Louisiana Safe Boating License, Basic Keelboat Certification, and CPR/First Aid training. We encourage graduating students to return as paid, part-time sailing instructors with Community Sailing.

  • Who: 9th and 10th grade students from the metro New Orleans area

  • Requirements: No sailing experience required. We will provide life preservers for each participant.

  • Cost: This program is free, thanks to the generous support of local and national foundations.

  • When: The next cohort of Crew to Captain will begin in September 2025. Classes meet once a week from 5:00-7:00pm during the months of March-May and September- November. Students must commit to participating for three years.

  • Where: Community Sailing New Orleans, 101 N. Roadway, New Orleans, LA 70124

  • What to Expect: The first year of the program focuses on sail concepts, STEM education, and lake stewardship. Students transition from piloting keelboats to dinghies and take the US Sailing Basic Keelboat Certification test. Students earn their safe boater’s license and practice small boat handling in their second year. In the final year, students focus on their teaching skills and earning their US Sailing Level 1 certification, as well as other certifications. Leaders from the local maritime industry attend classes as speakers and mentors throughout the program.

Registration

How to apply: Interested students can apply by filling out this form. Deadline for applications is August 9, 2025.

BENJAMIN
Crew to Captain Class of 2023

“I’ve learned so much more than I was expecting.”

Benjamin was introduced to Community Sailing New Orleans through our partnership with Son of a Saint, a local nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of fatherless boys. Benjamin graduated from the inaugural Crew to Captain Class of 2023, earning his US Sailing Level 1 Instructor Certification, as well as CPR, First Aid, and Louisiana Safe Boating certifications. Since graduating from the Crew to Captain program, Benjamin has been working as a paid sailing instructor at Community Sailing. He was accepted into the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point and will start in the summer of 2024.

SUMMER CAMP

Our summer camp provides a safe, fun environment for kids to learn the basics of rigging, points of sail, sailing maneuvers, safety, and recovery. Certified instructors lead a variety of land- and water-based activities designed to promote comfort and independence.

Registration for our 2025 Summer Camp is open now! Click here for more details.

“This was my son’s first exposure to sailing and he LOVED it! Community Sailing is a very inclusive and friendly way to introduce kids to sailing. We will be back.”

– Community Sailing Summer Camp Parent

EXPERIENTIAL SAILING

We offer experiential sailing experiences to nonprofit organizations and schools that are interested in spending a day on the water and learning more about STEM, coastal restoration and preservation, and other STEM and/or marine-based topics.

We’ve learned that experiential sailing is a great opportunity to expose young people who are hesitant or nervous about being on the water to sailing. They often leave the day anticipating their next visit or asking to participate in one of our afterschool programs.

If your organization or school is interested in spending the day at Community Sailing New Orleans, please contact Khari Parrish at [email protected].

If you’re interested in any of our programs, email [email protected] or call 504-233-3292.