The goals of LOWSC’s Junior Sailing Program are to:

• Allow interested youth to learn to sail in a safe manner;
• Enhance the community of Lake of the Woods;
• Build a Junior program that will teach life skills; and
• Have a lot of FUN in the process!

Junior Program Memberships are available and benefits include discounted clinic rates and members-only Supervised Sailing times.

The Junior instructional program is based on the Optimist Pram, developed by the Optimist International organization of Clearwater Florida in 1948 specifically for youth instruction. Since then the fleet has grown internationally, with about 150,000 sailors in 95 countries. Half of all Olympic sailors started in Optis!

The Junior program has taken a leap of faith by starting the program following the “if you buy the boats, they will come” model. Six Optis were purchased privately in 2001 by families at Lake of the Woods and made available to the program. In addition, 5 LOWSC members dedicated their own time and funds to become US Sailing Level One certified instructors!

As fundraising efforts allow, the Junior Program would like to add another fleet of at least 6 slightly larger boats to accommodate the needs of older youth sailors, to teach sailing with 2-3 crew in a boat and to provide opportunities for more sailors as we anticipate demand quickly outgrowing our fleet of 6 Optis!

Contact Us for more information!

Check out the Sjogren Cup Photos!!

Self Reliance.
Self Confidence.
Strength.
The Lessons of sailing last a lifetime.


Sailing is a great sport for developing minds!
Sailing enhances mental, physical, psychological, emotional, and social fitness.1 It teaches discipline and focus - it is not a sport dominated by the most athletic, but by those who pay attention to both small details and their surroundings.
Tom Coleman, Optinews, October 2001