Every year more than 2,000 children sail and learn about marine science at Piers Park Sailing Center.  Our programs are inclusive and about 1/3 of participants are sailors with a cognitive or physical disability.  PPSC primarily serves economically disadvantaged families from East Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, other neighborhoods of Boston, and Everett though some families of children with disabilities come from further away too.  Our goal in our youth programs is to foster an environment of mentorship where children increase science literacy, improve skills in problem solving and resilience, and gain confidence and esteem.  

100% of our staff participated in our youth programs as children and we consider this an important part of our continuum of services.  PPSC strives to have a staff reflective of our community and we achieve this goal through programming that begins for some youth as young as 6 years old.

Harbor Explorers Program

• Runs July & August
• Youth age 6-9
• All day program (9am-4pm M-F)
• Week long sessions

Harbor Explorers is PPSC’s marine ecology program provided in collaboration with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. Kids learn about marine life through a hands on experience.  Trapping lobsters and crabs, observing jellyfish, taking pictures with underwater cameras, and fishing off the dock are just a few of the activities they will enjoy.

Explorers rotate through a fun filled day of on-the-water and land-based activities including sailing, kayaking, yoga, marine science exploration, local history lessons and nautical crafts.

Registration for this program can be completed online or in person. 

Climate NATURE Program

• Runs September through June (school year)
• 5th Grade classrooms
• In-classroom program
• For students of the McKay K-8 School, in collaboration with Boston Public Schools

Climate NATURE (nature as teacher for urban resiliency education) is an in-school program for East Boston 5^th graders.  PPSC provides this program in partnership with Eastie Farm.  Students engage in hands on climate resiliency projects and learn from stakeholders across the City and the Commonwealth about climate and weather. Students in select classrooms at the McKay K-8 School are automatically enrolled in this program.  

Ocean Science After School

• Runs January through March
• Youth age 9-12
• After school program
• For students of the Adams Elementary School, in collaboration with Boston Public Schools

Ocean Science After School (OSAS), provides a science-based after school program for East Boston youth in the 4^th and 5^th grade.  The program takes place at the Adams Elementary School during the winter months when the boats are out of the water.  Students learn about the effects of climate change on their own neighborhoods, marine life, weather patterns, and local maritime history. The primary activities for OSAS include field trips to local water-access at PPSC’s floating classroom. Crab traps remain set on PPSC’s dock through the winter for students to pull up and examine.  Students also use an underwater remote-operated submarine to explore the harbor floor.  In the classroom, participants learn about weather patterns and navigation of their harbor by building their own simple machines to measure wind, buoyancy, and water quality that they can then use outside.  Enrollment for this program is completed in person in collaboration with the Adams Elementary STEM Teacher.  Forms are distributed in January. 

Science of Sailing Program

• Runs July & August
• Youth age 10-22
• All day program (9am-4pm M-F)
• 2-week long sessions

Science of Sailing is a unique combination of on-the-water skill building in basic keelboat sailing with principles of physics, biology, and marine science integrated into the curriculum.

The Science of Sailing program is a full day  summer program open to students ages 10-22.  Students advance through a three level curriculum in the program, earning beads to track their progress.  

Registration for this program can be completed online or in person. 

Sailing After School Program

• Runs Sept.-Oct. and May-June
• 4 PM – 6 PM Program M-Th
• Youth age 10+

Sailing After School is a great program for youth to rapidly advance through PPSC’s sailing curriculum with a 4:1 student to instructor ratio.  Many students progress toward the future leader program by participating in both summer and after school sailing.  

Registration for this program can be completed online or in person. 

Future Leaders Program

• Runs 8 weeks – July & August
• Youth age 14-16
• All day program (9am-4pm M-F)
• Must complete full 8 weeks
• Youth in the program are paid a stipend upon completion, no enrollment or registration fees

Future Leaders is an instructor in-training and mentorship program. This is the final progression for participants before they become employed as Instructors at Piers Park Sailing Center. Job training skills, professional development, the basics of racing, and working as a team are key elements of this program.

Each Future Leader will be mentored throughout the season and are expected to lead a small group through a lesson by the close of the summer program. The Future Leaders Program also offers College Preparatory resources throughout the summer to each Future Leader.

For more information and to apply to the program, please visit this page.  Applications are due May 15 each year.