Start your summer planning below:

Check out our summer scholarship opportunities below!

Scholarships are processed and awarded on a rolling basis as long as there is space available.

Summer Program Offerings:

Please take a moment to look through out Program Handbook!

Bay Explorers (Full Day 8:30 am – 4:00pm) Ages 8-13

Program Cost: $300/week (Summer Sessions)

A week in the Bay Explorers program will be filled with kayaking, swimming, sailing, paddling, and exploring Onset Bay. Designed for 8-13 year old participants, this full-day, week-long session offers the best of what the Onset Bay Center has to offer. The Bay Explorers program allows for discovery, learning, and play in an outdoor setting while promoting team work, respect, and environmental awareness.

Participants are required to be comfortable in salt water while wearing a PFD.

Session 1: June 23 – June 27              Session 2: June 30 – July 3 (4-day session $240)          Session 3: July 7 – July 11

Session 4: July 14 – July 18                  Session 5: July 21 – July 25                                                Session 6: July 28 – Aug. 1

Session 7: Aug. 4 – Aug. 8                    Session 8: Aug. 11 – 15                                                          Session 9: Aug. 18 – 22

Sailing Day Program (Full Day 9:00 am – 4:00 pm) Ages 8 – 15

Program Cost: $300/week

A great option for beginners and experienced sailors alike, our Full Day Sailing program offer group lessons aboard our sailboats. Learn the basics of sailing or build upon previous experience as you hone your skills on our fleet of sailboats, specifically designed for training. Take your summer adventure to the next level as you become more comfortable and knowledgeable about sailing! Coaching, delivered by highly qualified instructors, includes sailing skills, parts of the boat, rigging, capsize recovery, basic navigation, knots, and more!

It is intended to provide the opportunity for discovery, learning, and play in a dynamic nautical environment. In addition to nautical skills, the program encourages children to develop characteristics such as team work, self-reliance, and responsibility through activities on and off the water.

Participants are required to be comfortable in salt water while wearing a PFD.

Session 1: June 23 – June 27              Session 2: June 30 – July 3 (4-day session $240)          Session 3: July 7 – July 11

Session 4: July 14 – July 18                  Session 5: July 21 – July 25                                                Session 6: July 28 – Aug. 1

Session 7: Aug. 4 – Aug. 8                    Session 8: Aug. 11 – 15                                                          Session 9: Aug. 18 – 22

Waterfront Training Academy: (8:30am-4:00pm, Ages 14-16 – By invitation only, and only open to past participants)

Our Waterfront Training Academy program provides the opportunity for older children to become leaders in our programs, working alongside Lead and Junior Instructors, in a structured, participant-focused program.

This program is designed for children ages 14-16 (As of June 1, 2025) who have previously participated in our programs. The ideal candidate is an enthusiastic and respectful role model who has a passion for and some experience in activities on the water, and an affinity for working with younger children.

WTA participants will spend their days assisting groups of younger children in their daily lessons and activities, while receiving waterfront and group management training throughout the session! Activities may include kayaking, sailing, paddleboarding, canoeing, beach exploration, and more!

This is a great opportunity to gain skills and experience for those interested in working in a waterfront role in the future! Thousands of sailing and community boating centers are looking to hire young instructors with sailing and/or waterfront experience. This program will give participants a head start in training and certification to fill those roles!

Weekly sessions (June 23-Aug. 22) run 8:30-4:00pm, and each week there will be a maximum of 6 spaces available:
2 spots with Sailing programs
4 spots with Bay Explorers

This program, free for participants, prioritizes Wareham and low-income families, and is funded by a Wareham Community Development Block Grant. Participants will need to fill out an application and be selected to participate.

Summer Scholarship & Registration Information

Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Scholarships will cover up to two sessions in the 2024 summer season. All scholarship application forms are kept strictly confidential. You can view our scholarship application here.

Preference is given:

1. First, to residents of Onset, Wareham and Buzzards Bay
2. Second, to residents of other Buzzards Bay Watershed Towns
3. Third, to residents of any town outside of the watershed

The scholarship levels include:

1. Households earning between $60,000 and $80,000 per year will receive a 75% discounted rate.
2. Households earning <$60,000 per year will receive a 100% discounted rate.

If interested in applying for a scholarship, please send your completed form to weldon@savebuzzardsbay.org prior to registering for any programs.