Junior Sailing Schools Around Lake Michigan
While sailing is for everyone, sailing is one of the best sports for children. It builds confidence and it allows youth to show off a skill to their parents they learned on their own.
All youth are required to wear life jackets full time around the water for safety. Small boats are provided. Your child needs minimal gear – hat, sunscreen, gloves, life jacket, and a windbreaker. They'll take turns being in command of their own sailboat.
Be confident you don't have to go far to find a sailing school for your children. Beware: they fill quickly! While our programs are continuing to add capacity, more and more kids are signing up.
These "day camp" like programs based on the water are affordable. We continue our campaign to let people know that sailing is accessible to and affordable for all. Check out these programs in the Lake Michigan area and join in the fun!
Kudos to Glenn McCarthy who created v.1 of Learn to Sail in 2014 in his blog on Chicago Now: Junior Sailing Schools.
Key: ASA: American Sailing Association; USCG: United States Coast Guard;
USN: United States Navy; USSA: United States Sailing Association |
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Illinois | |||||||||
City | School (clicable link) | First Sail |
Youth Lessons |
Private Lessons |
Certified By |
Timeshare | Rentals | Charters | Adaptive |
Arlington Heights | Arlington Heights Park District | √ | |||||||
Chicago | Burnham Park Yacht Club | √ | USSA | ||||||
Chicago | Chicago Corinthian Yacht Club | √ | USSA | ||||||
Chicago | Chicago Match Race Center-Endeavour | √ | USSA | ||||||
Chicago | Chicago Park District | √ | USSA | √ | |||||
Chicago | Chicago Sailing | ![]() |
√ | √ | USSA | √ | √ | √ | |
Chicago | Chicago Yacht Club | √ | √ | USSA | |||||
Chicago | Columbia Yacht Club | √ | √ | USSA | |||||
Chicago | Jackson Park Yacht Club | √ | USSA | ||||||
Evanston | City of Evanston | √ | √ | √ | |||||
Evanston | Northwestern University Sailing Center | √ | √ | ||||||
Glencoe | Glencoe Shores Sailing School | √ | √ | USSA | √ | ||||
Highland Park | North Shore Yacht Club | √ | |||||||
Johnsburg | Community Sailing School @ Pistakee | ![]() |
√ | USSA | |||||
Kenilworth | Kenilworth Sailing Club | √ | √ | ||||||
Lake Bluff | Lake Bluff Park District | √ | |||||||
Lake Forest | Lake Forest Sailing |
√ | USSA | √ | |||||
Peoria | Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club | √ | |||||||
Springfield | Island Bay Yacht Club | √ | USSA | √ | |||||
Waukegan | Chicago Sailing | ![]() |
√ | √ | USSA | √ | √ | √ | |
Waukegan | Waukegan Yacht Club Youth Foundation | √ | USSA | ||||||
Wilmette | Sheridan Shore Sailing School | √ | √ | USSA | √ | ||||
Wilmette | Wilmette Park District-Gillson Sailing | √ | √ | √ | |||||
Winnetka | Winnetka Park District | √ | |||||||
Indiana | |||||||||
City | School (clickable link) |
First Sail |
Youth Lessons |
Private Lessons |
Certified By |
Timeshare | Rentals | Charters | Adaptive |
Bloomington | Lake Monroe Sailing Association | √ | |||||||
Hammond | Hammond Marina | √ | √ | ||||||
Highland | Indiana Sailing Association | √ | |||||||
Indianapolis | Indianapolis Sailing Club | √ | |||||||
West Lafayette | Lafayette Sailing Club | √ | |||||||
Michigan | |||||||||
City | School (clickable link) | First Sail |
Youth Lessons |
Private Lessons |
Certified By |
Timeshare | Rentals | Charters | Adaptive |
Bay View | YMCA of Northern Michigan | √ | |||||||
Charlevoix | Sail Charlevoix | √ | √ | ||||||
Bay View | YMCA of Northern Michigan | √ |