Availablity: 7 Days a Week
(Excluding sunset sails and Saturday afternoons - unless you can fill the entire boat with 48 passengers)

Minimum of 18 passengers (mix of scouts & adults)

- All other tickets, up to 48 passengers, will be sold to the general public.

How We Teach: During your two hour cruise aboard the Schooner Woodwind, we take a very interactive approach to educating the girls about sailing. As with all of our girl scout programs, we have the girls help raise the sails, then break into smaller groups to work directly with the crew members (around eight girls per crew member). The crew educates by asking questions. This enables our crew to find out the girls' level of interest and knowledge in a fun and interactive way while dispersing fun facts to them. The girls will cycle through different learning topics and then about half way through the trip, they are led back to the captain who quizzes them on their new found knowledge. The captain will ask a question about the information they just learned and when a girl raises her hand and gives a correct answer, she will take a turn helming (steering) the boat. It is our intent to offer every girl a turn at the "helm".

Curriculum:

• Permission to Board: We will have the girls ask permission before they come aboard. We will tell them where to stow their belongings and what to expect aboard.
• Staying Afloat: We have one of the girls demonstrate to the whole boat how to correctly put on a life jacket and adjust it for their size.
• All Hands On Deck: During our safety speech, before we leave the dock, we discuss personal safety, what to do if someone falls overboard, if there is a fire aboard, and how to work the boat systems safely.
• Hoist the Sails: The girls will have the chance to raise the sails (all four sails, weather permitting). Some girls MAY learn how to tack some of the sails and handle them during the cruise.
• From Bow to Stern: Nautical Terms will be discussed. They will learn the parts of the boat, sail names, correct terminology and be able to identify different types of boats on the water.
• Navigational Basics: The girls will learn how to spot navigational markers and buoys and what they mean, a short discussion about what a 'line of position' is and how to read a compass. A chart MAY be brought out depending on weather and time constraints.
• Steering the Schooner: Each girl will have a short chance to "helm" the boat. They might head for a navigational landmark or a compass course.
• 100 Years of Sailing, Boating and the Navy: The girls will learn about interesting events that happened in 1912 and how those events have shaped boating and the Navy today so they can work toward their "100 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Patch".

There is so much to see as we sail past the United States Naval Academy into the Chesapeake Bay.
Along the way, we point out the interesting sights to everyone aboard.

Great info to give to the girls before their arrival: Parts of the Boat, Terms Used by Sailors

Check out our Schooner Woodwind Sailing Video!

What to Wear: Since we sail rain or shine, bring gear so you are prepared for the conditions that are predicted ON the water - layered clothing and soft soled shoes.

Prices & Schedule:
Summer, Late May - August, Seven Days a Week
11:00 am - 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Mid-April - Mid-May & October, Tuesday - Sunday
September, Seven Days a Week
10:00 am - 12:00 pm, 12:30 - 2:30 pm, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Saturdays, Girl Scouts can only book earliest cruise time unless you have a group of 48 passengers (entire boat).

Weekday Daytime: $41 Adults, $39 Students (12 years old +), $30 Children (under 12)
Weekend trips: $45 Adults, $43 Students (12 years old +), $30 Children (under 12)
- Rates include soda, snack, tax and gratuity.
- Child & Student Tickets include Schooner Woodwind Participation Patch

We sail rain or shine. There are no refunds or exchanges unless the captain cancels the cruise due to unsafe conditions.