Make this your Child’s Best Summer! “Operation Optimist” is the coolest summer camp in the city. Kids get outdoors into the fresh air and sunshine. They learn new skills and develop self-confidence. Operation Optimist is run by the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation and was started in 2007.
Boats: Kids learn to sail “Optimist” dinghies. These boats are used for teaching juniors in more than 110 countries around the world! Kids can sail these boats all by themselves.
Where We Sail: Optimist dinghies in the protected waters southwest of the Statue of Liberty. This is a shallow part of the harbor separated from the shipping channels by a reef. Our Optimist dinghies are stored on a floating island which is anchored in this sailing area. During lunch, the kids and instructors sometimes go ashore at Liberty State Park to sit in the shade of trees.
Ages: 8 to 13 years
The program normally sells out every summer! Sign up now while there are still spots.
Meet-Up Locations & Times: There are two meet-up locations:
Jersey City – Meet at 9 am at the Manhattan Sailing School clubhouse at the corner of Van Vorst & Dudley Streets. Kids can be picked up at 5 pm every evening.
Manhattan – Meet at 8:40 am at the Brookfield Ferry Terminal in Battery Park City at Vesey St & the Hudson River. Kids ride across the river with instructors on the Little Lady Ferry which departs at 8:45 am and meet the other kids at the clubhouse. Kids can be picked up at 5:12 pm at the ferry terminal every evening.
Once all kids arrive at the clubhouse, they ride out to the sailing island on Admiral’s Launch II, a 40-foot US Coast Guard certified launch.
Schedule: Operation Optimist runs Monday to Friday during the summer school vacation. There are nine 1-week sessions. Students may enroll in any number of sessions (2 weeks is suggested to allow kids to develop skills and gain confidence).
Week 1: June 23 – 27, 2025
Week 2: June 30 – July 4, 2025 (we teach on July 4)
Week 3: July 7 – 11, 2025
Week 4: July 14 – 18, 2025
Week 5: July 21 – 25, 2025
Week 6: July 28 – August 1, 2025
Week 7: Aug 4 – 8, 2025
Week 8: Aug 11 – 15, 2025
Week 9: Aug 18 – 22, 2025
Tuition & Discounts: The tuition is $590 per week.
Discounts are offered to students who enroll in multiple sessions using one form. You can only get this discount by signing up for the courses to begin with, not be adding additional weeks later. The discount is per student, not by combining multiple students.
- 2-3 weeks = $540 per week
- 4-10 weeks = $490 per week
Kids coming from Manhattan are also escorted over on the ferry by an instructor and there is a $50 per week charge for the Manhattan students.
We have limited spots for each week. Please only sign up if you are sure your child can participate. If you sign up and then do not use a spot, it may prevent another child from the ability to sail. You may reschedule a week up to 2 weeks in advance for a $75 rescheduling fee. You may cancel up to 2 weeks in advance for a $150 processing fee. No changes are permitted within the final 2 weeks.
Green, White & Blue Fleets: Sailors are divided into 3 fleets – Green, White & Blue. The Green Fleet is for novices who have never sailed before. They learn safety, terminology, how and why sailboats work and basic seamanship. The focus of the Green Fleet is having fun and gaining confidence in the boat. The White and Blue Fleet are for kids who are ready to take their sailing to the next level. They will already be proficient in the Optimist and are set to learn advanced maneuvering and boat handling. The Blue Fleet emphasizes racing, rules and tactics.
Race Team: If you child is really into sailing, they can join our Race Team. Each summer, we participate in several one-day regattas at neighboring yacht clubs. Our Foundation arranges for the delivery of the Optimist dinghies and kids carpool with parents. Sailing in a regatta with kids from all over is a great growing experience for your child.
Parent Fridays: On Friday afternoons, parents are invited to come out and watch their kids sail. Parents should drive to the Liberty State Park public launching ramp on the south side of Liberty State Park. Please arrive by 2 pm and our powerboat will pick you up and bring you out to the Optimist docks. You can watch until 3:00 p.m. when the kids begin putting away their boats. You can also meet the kids back at Liberty Harbor Marina on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. when we present weekly medals and trophies.
Swimming Proficiency: Life jackets are worn by all kids at all times while on the water. In addition, the NY Harbor Sailing Foundation strongly recommends that each child have a certified swimming instructor test them for proficiency. They should be able to swim one length of an Olympic size pool (50 meters) and be able to tread water for 10 minutes. The Foundation does not offer a swim test and relies on parents to determine if their child is proficient enough to take the course.
Inclement Weather: In case of bad weather or high winds, the instructors organize other activities designed to engage and educate the kids. These may include playing games or watching videos. We do not control the weather and have to opt on the side of caution whenever there is inclement weather in the area.
How to Register: Operation Optimist usually sells out several weeks in advance. Please sign up early to ensure your child has a spot.
