FAQ

We don’t have sailboats for rental, but they are available to Season Pass holders! A season pass holder may attend our sailing clinics, or pass a basic checkout to show us that they know how to sail.

Water, sunblock, hat, sunglasses, and clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, etc. We also have many of these items and more available for sale onsite.

Yes! As long as there is no thunder, lightning, heavy winds, heavy rain, or other weather risks we will be open. If we hear thunder, we close for 30 minutes. The 30-minute thunder clock resets each time we hear thunder. The most up-to-date info on closures can be found on our Instagram stories.

We try to open on weekends in mid-May each year. For up-to-date hours, check out each boathouse’s specific page: Natick + Nahanton.

We want everyone to love boating as much as we do. We only ask that:

• If you are age 15 and under, your parent or guardian signs the agreement form and you have an adult present on the water, even if they are in their own boat.
• If you’re an adult with a group age 15 and under, each child must have an agreement form signed by their parent/guardian and have a supervising adult on the water with the group at all times.
• If you’re age 16 or 17, you have to have an agreement form signed by your parent/guardian, but you can go onto the water on your own.
• Everyone going on the water must complete a waiver. If you’re under 18, make sure to have a parent do it in advance using the link in your confirmation email.

Reservations are highly recommended but not necessary. Many guests prefer making a reservation because they can fill out the waiver beforehand and secure their favorite boats for their preferred time. If you make a reservation, you won’t have to bring a payment method with you – so your phone and wallet can stay dry. Due to parking restrictions at Natick Boathouse, reservations are not accepted on weekends and holidays during our peak season.

Absolutely! Wearing a life jacket when you use our equipment is one of those things we won’t budge on. But we’ll give you one that fits perfectly, and our team will help you however they can with putting it on, checking the zippers, and making sure it’s safe and you’re snug as a bug!

If you are in a kayak, canoe, or pedal boat – absolutely! But if you’re in a sailboat, there is no landing for you. It can damage the hull, and we want to make sure you stay safe and the boat stays in good condition for the next person to enjoy!

Oh – and you can’t jump out or go swimming from any of the boats. It’s not because we don’t want you to have fun, but there are all sorts of other motorboats and underwater obstacles, and it’s just not safe. Check with the staff, there may be a designated swim area nearby!

Possibly, but you know what? It’s actually quite normal. The boats are very stable when you’re sitting in them, but when you stand up, you shouldn’t be surprised to find that capsizing is very likely!

But don’t worry. You will be wearing a life jacket, and if you really want to make sure capsizing is no problem, try our Kayak Orientation, Canoe Orientation, or Stand-up Paddleboard Orientation classes. If you’re concerned about your valuables, we offer dry bags for rent and waterproof phone cases for purchase.

Of course! You can’t leave your best friend behind! We even have doggie life jackets to make sure your pal is as safe as you are. Unfortunately, they are the only pet life jackets we have, so dogs only.

Yes! All our camp counselors are qualified with at least CPR and First Aid certifications, in addition to boating and water safety certifications. Many counselors are Red Cross Lifeguard certified as well, and additional training from the American Canoe Association and U.S. Sailing is available. We make sure that our camper ratio never exceeds the Board of Health requirement (1:10), but we strive to keep groups even smaller to ensure the best experience for our campers.

We love to recognize the kids for a job well done and they love it, too! We offer Achievement Awards at the end of every camp week. These are based on the skills the kids learn during camp and are completely voluntary to participate in, but the kids love being able to show off their accomplishments! These awards also help us work out the skill levels before kids sign up for more advanced camps.

Sailing Achievement Awards:

• Deck Hand
• Skipper
• Helmsman

Paddling Achievement Awards:

• Paddling
• Advanced Paddling
• Paddler Rescue

Nope! You can book your weeks throughout the entire summer, as well as mixing and matching the programs. Feel free to sign up for both sailing and kayaking!

We all hope for a perfect Summer when it comes to weather but we know that doesn’t happen. In the case of rain we will still have camp. If the rain and winds are light, campers will still go out on the water and get a little wet. If the rains are heavy or the weather looks harsh, we have shelters at all of our locations where campers can be safe. During our indoor time staff will still cover some boating lessons. This can include knots, parts of the boat and safety lessons. Please note there may be days in which the weather is sunny and warm but the winds make it unsafe to go on the water. During these days our staff will continue to work on boating techniques but in a safer environment.

At Boating Is Fun Camp we want campers to experience a variety of boating activities throughout the week. In addition to spending half of the day sailing, campers will spend time learning how to kayak both single and double, canoe and learn stand-up paddleboarding (SUP).

The first day of camp can feel overwhelming especially for our newer and younger campers. Our staff will spend a great deal of time introducing themselves and going over our camp rules and expectation. It is often our most “classroom” filled day of the week.

Our staff want to make sure that the campers’ sailing experience is fun and memorable. To accomplish this there are a number of items that must be covered before they can head out on the water safely. The campers will spend some time off the water going over these lessons before they head off in their boats. Don’t be discouraged if your camper doesn’t get a ton of sailing time their first day.

If you know that your camper will not be at camp ahead of time, please let the camp directors know. If something comes up unexpectedly please make sure to email or call us in the morning so that our directors know who to expect.

Any additional questions you have should be answered in the parent handbook located here. If you still have questions just drop us an email! We’d love to provide you with any information you’d like. Our email is [email protected]

Here you go: 01-562-6499.

Yes! Just bring your gear, and we’ll be happy to help you get out onto the water. Canoes tend to be the best for fishing, but some people also appreciate the large and stable pedal boats. At Nahanton, bass are the name of the game. At Natick, the lake is stocked twice a year with bass and other species. Due to water quality, DCR and the Board of Health advise against eating fish caught in the lake.

All rentals include Life Jackets and Paddles. We have a wide variety of life jacket sizes from infant to XXL, including various dog life jackets. If you prefer to bring your own life jacket, please make sure it is a Coast Guard Approved Type 3.