Where the Wind Leads: Lessons from the Sailing Dock
The wind doesn’t always cooperate. Sometimes it’s too strong. Sometimes it disappears completely. But that’s kind of the point. Sailing at camp isn’t about mastering the conditions — it’s about learning how to adjust.
This week on Lake Summit, the boys learned that growth doesn’t always look like pushing harder. Sometimes it looks like flipping a capsized boat. Or chasing it. Or doing your part — so the whole crew can thrive.
The Quiet Side of Camp
Sailing is one of those hidden gems. Tucked down the road on Lake Summit, the docks are just a short van ride away, but they feel like a world apart. The water is calm, the breeze steady, and there's room to breathe.
Every weekday morning or afternoon, the boys can sign up for a sailing block. Some come just to try something new. Others are chasing Warrior or Ranger achievements. But the real magic happens when they start to understand how the wind works - and how they can work with it.
It’s like you’re trying to harness something wild,” said Madden M., Winter Haven, FL.
Your whole brain is working. You have to remember where to put the sail and ropes, and tie the knots just right so you can go fast.
Independence on the Water
When the boys step off the van, they’re entering a space that feels different from the rest of camp. Here, they’re in charge. They rig their own boats, raise the sails, and take off across the lake — on their own.
Sailing gives the boys a bit of independence,” explained Santi Garcia de Villa, the Sailing Activity Head and Tsuga Linehead.
"They’re responsible for reading the wind, steering the boat, fixing problems. We’re nearby in the coach boat, but we let them do it themselves.
Sometimes the lessons are quiet. A breeze catches just right. A turn around a buoy is clean and smooth. Other times, well...the boys drive the energy on the lake!
When the Wind Wins
This week, Saxon R. from Houston, TX a Cabin 7 camper was working toward his Warrior.
I think it takes a lot of luck. You need a day full of wind. But I’m trying to get better so I can get around the buoys — wind or no wind. Reading the wind is part of the skill.
Shortly after, the wind made its presence known. Gusts tipped boats across the water. Saxon and his partner Brock L. (Charlotte, NC) found themselves upside down, the mast buried and the hull bobbing.
Grab the front. Turn it over. You take that end and I’ll take this end!"
Then came the scramble: the boat caught wind and took off — without them.
"Catch the boat! Swim fast! Get on it and sail!"
"NOOO—push it away from that guy’s boat!
Eventually, they caught up, climbed back in, and regained control.
Everything is under control," Brock announced, soaked and smiling.
The Work That Follows
The sailing block doesn’t end when the wind dies. After every session, boys de-rig their boats: sails down, rudders out, ropes coiled just so. No swimming is allowed until the chores are done.
“It’s like a reward system,” said Saxon. “We all help with clean-up, and then we get to swim.”
Even after all the activity, there’s one last detail: hang up the lifejackets—one buckle buckled. Always.
Teaching, Trying, Turning Back Around
Santi is a steady presence on the water and on land, mentoring younger campers as they learn the ropes. At one point, he calmly called out to the boys in a nearby boat, guiding them on how to read the wind — watching the ripples on the water and noticing the way the lake’s color shifts with the breeze.
“I remember how confusing it was at first,” he said.
“So now I tell them — don’t panic. Think like the wind. Make one adjustment at a time.”
That kind of leadership is a reflection of this week’s camp theme: Values.
“Some boys are scared when the boat tips,” Santi added.
“But they find the courage to flip it back, get back in, and try again. That’s how you grow. That’s how you lead.”
The Wind Doesn’t Wait
Back on shore, the sails are folded, the boats secured, and the lifejackets hung. The boys climb into the van, towel-draped, still wet from the lake, and full of stories.
They may not have conquered the wind, but they worked with it. They took responsibility. They helped each other. They did the hard things well, even when no one was watching.
And that’s what values look like in motion.