Is your child 12-years-old or older?
Consider our Youth programs, which are for kids bigger than can fit in a pram, and do not require prior sailing experience. Learn more here.
Prams Level 1
Prams Level 1 is often a person’s first sailing experience. Kids (8-11) who have demonstrated the ability to swim at least 25 yards can learn to sail and make new friends aboard fun and colorful “Prams” – small centerboard sailboats that are simple to rig‚ fun to sail‚ and do most everything a bigger boat can do.
Prams Level 1 students will learn how to set-up and launch their own boat‚ how to steer with a tiller and trim sails using the “mainsheet. They’ll take turns with another student driving and navigating. They’ll learn to sense where the wind is coming from and how to make the boat stop‚ turn and go while playing a variety of games. Importantly‚ they’ll learn how to be safe‚ care for one another‚ and how to recover from a capsize‚ all under the watchful eye of MCSC’s nurturing Prams teaching team.
Prams Level 2
Prams Level 2 is offered to students 8-11 years old who have completed Prams Level 1 at least 2 times‚ or who have the instructor’s recommendation to continue to Prams Level 2. The instructor’s recommendation is usually offered for older children or children who have previous sailing experience.
Prams Level 2 is designed to build on and refine sailing skills acquired in Prams Level 1‚ through active game play with one student per boat. More advanced skills are taught‚ including steering with a tiller extension and using “hiking straps” to improve balance‚ hand-eye-body coordination and awareness of wind and water.
Like sailing in general‚ which is unpredictable‚ Prams Level 2 students can expect to repeat this course — learning new things each time.