Dublin’s most exciting watersports summer camp
Kids love our summer camp and their parents do, too! We’ve been running it for over 30 years and many kids come back year after year. We know how important it is to have fun when learning a new sport and that’s what we focus on during our summer camp sessions. Children and teenagers aged 8 to 16 years can try their hand at a mix of exciting activities that is unique to Dublin.
All children taking part in our camps are split into groups of a similar age.
Our qualified instructors will make sure that the kids are having a great time in a fun and safe environment while they are with us.
Whether your kids have lots of water sports experience or none, as long as they can swim and are comfortable in the water, the camp is a great opportunity for them to learn new skills and spend time on the water with friends (old and new).
My preferred week is booked out
You can sign up to the waiting list here
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Which activities are being offered?
The core activities for the camp are stand up paddleboarding and kayaking and your kids are guaranteed to spend ample time doing those. We also add sailing and windsurfing to the mix.
All activities are weather dependent but luckily the Grand Canal Dock is a sheltered space that is perfect for beginners to learn a new sport.
What does a typical day look like?
On the first day of camp the instructors and kids will spend some time introducing themselves to each other through warm up games before they go on the water. Each day the groups head out for an activity that starts with some time spent on land for the introduction, followed by lots of time on the water practising and perfecting the skills they’ve just learned about. It’s all about fun so the sessions will be tailored differently for different age groups. After approximately 2 hours on the water the groups will head back to shore so that they can get changed and be ready to head home.
What does it cost?
The Early Bird Price for the camp is €170. This price is available until the 28th February 2023. The Early Bird Price cannot be combined with any other discounts.
For bookings after the 28th February 2023 the regular pricing applies:
- 1 child week - €185
- 2 child/week - €180 per child/week*
- 3 or more child/week - €175 per child/week*
*In order to avail of the reduced rate, all children must be booked and paid for in the same transaction.
We are running two 4 day camps (6th June / 8th August) where the Monday is a bank holiday. These are charged, pro rata, so the Early Bird price is €136 for these. Full price after the 28th February is €148.
What equipment do I need?
We provide all equipment for the activities including helmets and buoyancy aid.
Participants need to bring:
- A full-length wetsuit. If your child doesn’t have their own, a wetsuit can be hired for the week for €20. Our rental wetsuits are 5/3 winter wetsuit thickness and your child will keep it for the duration of the camp.
Note: Shorties are not allowed. - Appropriate footwear. We recommend an old pair of runners, neoprene booties or water shoes.
Note: Loose footwear like flip flops or Crocs are not allowed. - Big Towel or changing robe to get changed outside. Please treat a trip to us like a trip to the beach.
- Sunscreen, Rain Jacket, something warm to wear after the camp, snack & drink – we like to be prepared for any weather.
We offer a discount for summer camp parents in our shop on anything your kids might need for the camp.
What are the dates & times of the summer camp?
We run morning and afternoon camps for 12 consecutive weeks starting on the 6th June
- Morning camp: Drop off at 9:30am and pick up at 12:30pm
- Afternoon camp: Drop off at 1pm and pick up at 4pm
My preferred week is booked out
You can sign up to the waiting list here
FAQs
Yes, all participants have to sign a waiver before they can go on a session with us. This is attached to your booking confirmation and can be easily filled in online and shared with other people (if applicable). The text of the waiver can be found here.
This year we will have separate outdoor changing areas for boys and girls. They don’t offer 100% visual cover so we are asking you to treat a trip to us like a trip to the beach and be prepared with a big towel or changing robe. If possible, we would ask that children arrive to camp already changed into their wetsuits.
Our toilets are open as usual.
The children’s bags are in a communal locker while they are out on the water. This is closed, but we advise against bringing valuables to the camp as we cannot take liability for lost, damaged or stolen items.
You are welcome to pull in on the cobblestone area right outside the camp for drop off and pick up. Please be mindful of other drivers and pedestrians.
A booking fee of €5 is non-refundable in all instances. All cancellations made by the customer must be made in writing and submitted via email or post. In the event of a cancellation or a request to reschedule more than 14 days (for Easter and Summer Camp bookings) before a session commences, we will refund the amount paid to date minus the non-refundable booking fee of €5. In the event of cancellation/rescheduling less than 14 days (for Easter and Summer Camp bookings) before a session commences the amount paid to date is forfeited. Non-attendance will result in the entire amount paid to date to be forfeited. Please see the full terms and conditions for activity bookings here.
We are located a 10 minute walk from the Grand Canal Dock DART station and a 10-15 minute walk from The Point LUAS stop. Bus routes that stop close by on Ringsend Road are 1, 15a, 15b, 15d, 47, 56a and 77a.
The Grand Canal Dock is a sheltered and enclosed space, which means our sessions can go ahead in most conditions unless it is not safe to do so for example if there are very strong winds. Rain does not stop us from running a session. In the rare case that we need to cancel or postpone a session, we will offer you a full refund or to reschedule the session.