When you climb the gangway to the deck, you step away from the familiar routines of school, friends, and family, and begin your own personal voyage of discovery. Your home is a magnificent 19th century-style sailing ship, cruising the New England Coast.
You become a sailor, standing watch, tending sheets, and steering your ship with pride as she scuds along before a fresh breeze. You watch whales, seals, and dolphins in their natural habitats, and observe the ocean world through hands-on investigations led by dynamic instructors eager to share their passion for ocean stewardship.

You’ll visit historic ports along the coast and her islands, including historical sites and museums, and be submerged in maritime culture through the stories, legends, superstitions, and myths of sailing ships and the sea. The rewards are found in moonlight nights with a gentle breeze…in knowing the names of the stars… and in feeling at home in the vastness of the ocean world.

You experience this voyage with strangers who will quickly become friends – friendships born through shared adventure. You become a respected member of a close-knit community, and what you learn about yourself is the true bounty of your voyage. Welcome aboard!

Briarwood is located on the ocean, on Cape Cod. The year round marine science field station offers a summer marine science camp, including fishing, research, boating and kayaking. Briarwood also offers a sailing camp using optimists and corinthian sail boats.

The Cape Cod Sea Camps are premier children’s camps located on the shores of Cape Cod Bay. Owned an operated by the same family for over 85 years and serving campers from throughout the world.

At CCSC developing friendships are essential and integral parts of campers’ connection to and enjoyment of the experience. Counselors are sensitive to the task of helping new campers feel comfortable in their away from home surroundings as quickly as possible. Children are grouped in units by age and grade with 2, 3 or 4 cabins of approximately 12 campers in each. Campers enjoy an Elective Program with a wide variety of activities, including Sailing, Tennis, Arts, Archery, Sports, Swimming, Drama, Nature, Woodworking, Riflery, Guitar and much more.

Intentional goals for the camp experience include Independence, Exploration, Respect, Self-Confidence and Self-Reliance. Going away to camp is a big step for any age child. It is important that they want to try the experience. Familiar support of family and hometown friends is carefully supplanted by caring, engaging staff and new peer groups to create a comfort zone from which new experiences dare to be tried. The feeling of accomplishment at having mastered a new situation is a source of pride forever and a great building block for other goals. Community Core Values such as sportsmanship, conservation, integrity, compassion, community, honesty, acceptance, pride and empathy are addressed on a daily basis through morning assembly talks, cabin/unit meetings and activities.

The Briarwood Marine Science Program brings life to Environmental Science through the non-invasive study of the habitats, niches, and ecosystems of Cape Cod's animals and plants. The Marine and Environmental Science Programs have been designed to integrate life science, technology and mathematics frameworks through a relevant, stimulating and FUN course of study.

Campers in the Sailing Camp are taught theory, safety, and skills in boats ranging from 8 to 22 feet. A variety of open cockpit sailboats are available for beginners. The Optimist Dinghy is a small, gaff-rigged sailboat with a single mainsail, perfect for intermediates and for advanced sailors who want to sail solo for fun. The Corinthian is a 19-foot boat with a wide, deep cockpit and a small cuddy cabin. It can hold up to 4 sailors and an instructor. Corinthians have a full-lead keel that provides greater stability and are especially good for racing or sailing beyond Little Bay.

These one-week programs takes place on the shore of Little Bay in Monument Beach at a facility overlooking Toby Island and the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal.

Harbor Discoveries camps is a marine science camp focused on learning by discovery, exploration, and fun! Our 1 to 2 week programs have themes ranging from marine mammals, sharks, crabs, and more! One of our signature programs, Schooner Adventures, is a special program that offers marine science with a twist. After a week of preparation and terrestrial exploration, our crew of young explorers will board a Grand Banks schooner and set sail for a five-day, four-night excursion exploring Massachusetts Bay. Campers will study the rich biodiversity of Stellwagen Bank. In addition, they will take part in all the activities that keep the ship afloat, from setting the sails to steering at the helm and even some daily chores. This program is run in cooperation with the Ocean Classroom Foundation.