Welcome Aboard Girl Scouts...
for a true and interactive sailing experience in Annapolis, Maryland on two, fast and fun 74-foot wooden schooners, Woodwind and Woodwind II.

2012 Sailing Season: April 21 - October 28

We have developed a 2-hour sailing cruise where we train the girls on
different aspects of sailing, as we cruise past the United States Naval Academy and then out onto the Chesapeake Bay.

Brownies

Juniors

Teens

Girl Scout Home

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouting! Learn about interesting events that happened in 1912 and how those events have shaped boating and the Navy today. (Work towards your "100 Ways to Celebrate the 100th Patch") Available on most of our 2012 cruises.

Sail Away... with a 'Mixed Age Group' cruise with 100 Years of History Goal: To educate a mixed age group using an interactive approach about sailing in a relaxed environment. We will group the girls into teams of similar ages. Depending on the interest level and knowledge of the girls aboard, we will continue to explore topics that spark their interest. In 2012, the girls will also 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".

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

2 hour cruise includes soft drink or bottled water, snack & Schooner Woodwind Participation Patch

Smaller Groups? Check out our Pre-Set Dates! 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 break into smaller groups (around eight girls each) to work directly with the crew members after they all help to raise the sails. The crew educates by asking questions. This enables our crew to find out the level of interest and knowledge in a fun and interactive way while dispersing fun facts to the scouts. The girls will cycle through different learning topics, and then about half way through the trip, the girls 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 a correct answer is given, 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). Basics of Sailing: How does a sailboat move without an engine pushing it? Why does the boat "lean" from one side to another? What are the names of the sails? What safety precautions do we have to think about? What are other types of sailboats called? Where does the water in the Chesapeake Bay come from? What other terms mean aboard a saiing vessel? Where did those names come from? Why is the bathroom called a head on board a boat? What lives in the water we are sailing in? 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". Steering the Schooner: Each girl will have a short chance to "helm" the boat. 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.

(Optional) Schooner Woodwind Geocaching Adventure Trail: We made up a Geocaching Adventure Trail through some sights of Annapolis. It is a Puzzle Cache where you will stop at different sites to retrieve information. Each site will point you to the next site where you will have to get clues to "open" your final geocache coordinates. Please bring trade items with you as there will be fun things to trade for. Drop off Travel Bugs or Trackable (and perhaps pick some up!) items to keep them moving in the geocaching way. Read more about requirements for geocaching. JUNIORS can earn their GEOCACHER badge after completing this trail.

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.

According to the Girl Scout USA Safety Checkpoints, they want all girl scouts, adults, and other children aboard a "girl scout" cruise to be outfitted in life jackets. We have purchased Type III lifejackets which are more comfortable for non-emergency use.

Girl Scout Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions about our Girl Scout Cruises

Girl Scout Participation Patches