Youth, Squids and Sharks
What is Squids and Sharks?
Squids and Sharks (S&S) is Stewartby Water Sports Club youth program is a fun introduction to sailing and some other water activities such as Stand-up paddle boarding.
What level will they learn to?
Our Squids and Sharks work towards their RYA youth sailing scheme stages along the way.
Who can join? 7-15 year olds
Experience required? No experience is required, just enthusiasm for spending time on the water
When is it on? 5.30pm - 7.30pm Fridays
When is the season? April - October
Where? Stewartby Water Sports Club, Green Ln, Stewartby, Bedford MK43 9LY
How To Join? We like to offer a free taster first to make sure it is something your child enjoys. If they do like it but you do need to me a member of the club with is just £60 for juniors for the year (or included with family membership)
and fill in the parental consent form for he S&S:
parental consent and info form
Booking on sessions
The sessions are run by volunteers, so the number of spaces vary week to week depending on the number of volunteers and the weather. To make this manageable we use Spond which is on the google and apple app stores. You just download the app and put in our group code: TMEIS. Please register your child as a participant and yourself as their guardian.
What should my child wear?
Children need to come prepared to get wet! While the water is colder at the beginning and the end of the season so we avoid getting wet, they do need to come prepared.
Equipment list:
- Old trainers or water shoes (no wellies or flip flops
- A waterproof top to keep the wind off (preferably not lined)
- Towel
- Complete change of clothes and towel
Note: We will provide a buoyancy aid
Also recommended:
- A hat (sun or warm)
- Sun cream (you get the sun twice on the water because of the reflection so this is a very good idea even early season)
- Wetsuit (not essential but are a very good idea as they keep you warm, children will finish the session early if they fall in)
The club has a stock of wetsuits we can lend at a £20 refundable deposit, but given these are now a very cheap item to buy we suggest it's the first piece of kit you invest in.
Health and safety
Whilst we do have provision for first aid and any emergency situations. during a session our team will usually all be afloat with the group, so we do require the parent or responsible adult is required to remain on site during session, so we have someone to hand a child back to in the event of them needing to come of the water if the get cold or need the toilet for example.
How do I as a parent stay informed about S&S?
The best way is via our squids and sharks Facebook group, which is how we, do most of our day to day communication, we also encourage parents and helpers to let us know via this group if when they are attending a session as it helps us to be more organised on the day. Join here
Do you sail in all weathers?
Pretty much, we have a range of kit available to us that means we can sail in most condition, and on day with no wind we have a fleet of stand-up paddle boards we can use, and our local sea cadet group have kindly lent us their raft building kit from time to time.
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Last updated 20:31 on 26 October 2023