Before diving into our FAQs, here’s a little context: the answers below come from over 15 years of running watersports camps, plus years of teaching best practices in paddlesports and outdoor recreation at the higher education level. As an ACA Pro School, we’ve trained hundreds of instructors, navigated every kind of weather day on Cayuga Lake, and developed a solid understanding of what helps kids thrive on (and off) the water.
These FAQs pull from real parent questions, real camper experiences, and everything we’ve learned about helping youth feel confident, capable, and excited about watersports.
For the full picture, be sure to read the Paddle-N-More Watersports Camp Comprehensive Handbook.
We offer three programs each summer:
- Wind-N-Waves (Full Day, Ages 9–15) – Myers Park
- Wind-N-Waves Junior (Full Day, Ages 6–8) – Myers Park
- Summer Splash (Half Day, Ages 9–15) – Stewart Park
Wind-N-Waves + Junior (Myers Park):
- 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Drop-Off: 8:45–9:15 AM
- Pick-Up: 3:45–4:00 PM
Summer Splash (Stewart Park):
- Morning: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Afternoon: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Drop-Off: 8:45–9:15 AM / 1:00–1:15 PM
Yes. Campers registered for both morning and afternoon Summer Splash sessions may stay onsite from 12:00–1:00 PM for supervised lunch.
Campers are expected to participate in all scheduled activities unless staff identify a safety concern. Sitting out “just because they don’t feel like it” is not an option due to group management and safety expectations.
No. Swimming ability is not required.
Campers must:
- Wear a USCG-approved lifejacket at all times on the water
- Be comfortable in deeper water
- Be willing to get their head wet
Our staff specialize in helping youth gain comfort gradually.
We work closely with campers—but they must be open to participating.
Yes, all lifejackets are provided.
Families may bring their own if they are USCG-approved (no inflatables).
Campers may not use cell phones during camp.
Phones must stay off and inside backpacks.
Attempts by campers to call or message parents during the day cause significant disruption. If a parent arrives unannounced after being contacted by their child, they may be turned away if the group is engaged elsewhere.
All communication must go through camp staff.
Camp pricing varies by program and is listed on each program page. Our camps are priced higher than traditional day camps because watersports require smaller camper-to-staff ratios, specialized training, and more intensive supervision.
We invest in highly trained staff, ACA Paddlesports instruction, safety certifications, quality equipment, and best practices for on-water youth programming. These factors increase operational costs but ensure a high-quality, well-supervised watersports experience.
For specific tuition and payment details, please visit each program page.
No. Electronics, including phones, tablets, and smartwatches, must remain in backpacks.
Paddle-N-More is not responsible for lost, wet, or damaged devices.
Yes—if needs are discussed in advance.
We must know before camp starts if your child:
- Has a school aide
- Needs sensory breaks
- Has behavioral or emotional support needs
- Tends to wander
- Has difficulty staying with groups
We can arrange an aide for an additional fee or approve a family-provided trained aide.
No. Aides must:
- Be age 18 or older
- Be trained in youth support roles
- Remain fully engaged throughout the day
We have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying.
We take covert behaviors seriously—whispering, exclusion, eye-rolling, or subtle meanness is still bullying.
We run camp rain or shine.
High winds, lightning, or poor conditions may shift us temporarily to land activities.
There are no refunds if weather affects on-water time.
We use:
- Wind meters
- Lightning detection apps
- Air quality monitoring
- Blue-green algae alert systems
Our leadership makes weather decisions based on safety and experience.
Campers move to sheltered areas, pavilion spaces, or safe indoor locations when required.
Yes. Payment plans are available at no additional cost.
A deposit is required, and the remaining balance is divided into monthly payments billed automatically on the 1st of each month.
A valid credit card must be on file.
Yes, but only one discount applies:
- Holiday Discount (15% before Jan 2)
- Early Bird Discount (10% Jan 2–May 1)
- Sibling/Multi-Camp Discount (5% starting May 2)
Discounts cannot be combined.
- 60+ days before camp: Full refund or credit
- 31–59 days: Refund minus a 15% administrative fee
- 30 days or less: No refund
Medical/emergency refunds may be considered case-by-case with documentation and Executive Director approval.
No. Weather is a natural part of watersports. When conditions keep us off the lake, we provide meaningful land-based programming.
Yes.
NYS Health Department requires a signed immunization record or approved medical exemption. No other exemptions are allowed.
- School-sized backpack
- Water bottle
- Towel
- Rash guard or swim shirt
- Board shorts
- Closed-toe water shoes
- Sunscreen
- Change of clothes
- Rain jacket
- Lunch and snacks (full-day programs)
All items should be labeled.
Yes. Items are kept for one week after each session.
Unclaimed items are donated.
Our watersports programs are active, outdoors, and structured around kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, sailing, and wind-driven activities. Before registering, families should consider whether their child is prepared for the expectations and environment of a watersports camp.
Campers should be ready to participate in full-day (or half-day) outdoor programming, stay with their group, follow instructions, and engage in activities on and near the water with general independence.
Watersports camp may be a good fit if your child:
- Enjoys being active and outdoors
- Is comfortable wearing a lifejacket
- Can be in deeper water and is willing to get their head wet
- Can stay with the group and respond to staff directions
- Can participate in games, paddling activities, and transitions
- Gets along with peers and engages respectfully
- Can use the bathroom independently
- Is open to trying new experiences and working through challenges
- Handles the structure and pace of an outdoor adventure program
Campers are expected to participate in all scheduled activities unless staff determine otherwise. Sitting out simply due to preference is not possible in a group-based program.
Families must disclose any support needs during registration, including:
- School or program aides
- Sensory or quiet-time requirements
- Behavioral or emotional support needs
- Difficulty staying with a group or tendency to wander
- Challenges that may affect on-water participation
Undisclosed needs discovered during camp may require an aide to be added, and families will be responsible for any associated fees.
Watersports camp may not be the right fit if your child:
- Runs away, hides, or refuses to stay with the group
- Requires frequent one-on-one attention without an aide
- Is uncomfortable getting wet or being in deeper water
- Frequently resists instruction or struggles to follow directions
- Exhibits ongoing disruptive, aggressive, or unkind behavior
- Cannot participate safely in outdoor environments
Bullying—overt or subtle—is not tolerated. Respect, kindness, and inclusion are essential for the experience and wellbeing of all campers.
If you are unsure whether your child is ready, we encourage you to contact us.
We are happy to discuss individual circumstances and help determine the best fit.
Yes. Paddle-N-More uses a buddy system in all youth programs. Campers are paired with a buddy during bathroom breaks (staff do not assist in restrooms), transitions, walks, creek exploration, and some shoreline activities.
The buddy system helps maintain group awareness, accountability, and smooth movement throughout the day.
Campers must be able to:
- Stay with their buddy
- Follow buddy-system expectations
- Return to the group when directed
If a camper repeatedly leaves their buddy or wanders from the group, they may need additional support to participate successfully.
All Paddle-N-More camp staff complete extensive training prior to the start of the summer. Our training includes:
- American Canoe Association (ACA) Paddlesports training for on-water instruction and group management
- American Red Cross CPR/First Aid certification
- Emotional First Aid and youth behavior support
- Age-specific supervision training for working with different developmental levels
- A full week of staff training covering safety procedures, weather response, communication protocols, equipment use, emergency action plans, and daily camp operations
Our staff are prepared to support campers on the water and on land, manage dynamic outdoor environments, and uphold the expectations outlined in our Parent Handbook.
Yes. As a New York State Health Department–regulated camp, Paddle-N-More is required to conduct extensive background checks on all camp staff. This includes:
- Criminal background checks
- Sex offender registry checks
- Verification of work eligibility and identification
- Reference checks for all new hires
Background checks must be completed and cleared before any staff member is permitted to work with youth participants in our watersports youth programs.
Each day includes a rotation of on-water activities (kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing), group games, environmental exploration, and structured transitions. The exact schedule shifts based on weather, group readiness, and equipment availability. Campers stay active throughout the day with a mix of water time and land-based activities as needed.
Groups are based on camp program (Junior, Wind-N-Waves, Summer Splash), camper age, and daily staffing needs. We also consider camper experience, confidence on the water, and group chemistry. Groups may shift during the week depending on weather, equipment, or program flow.
We do our best to honor requests when possible, but we cannot guarantee specific groupings. All campers interact during transitions, lunchtime, and some activities, even if not in the same core group.
No. Activities are scheduled by staff based on safety, weather, and equipment availability. Campers rotate through all paddlesports, and staff ensure a variety of experiences throughout the week.
Group sizes vary by program, but watersports require lower ratios than typical day camps. We maintain ratios required by the NYS Health Department and ACA best practices, typically around 1:8 or lower on the water.
As a watersports program, we follow stricter ratios than land-based camps due to NYS Health Department rules and industry standards.
Yes. All campers wear a USCG-approved lifejacket at all times on the water. Personal lifejackets are welcome if they are USCG-approved. Inflatable devices (water wings, floaties) are not allowed.
This is expected and normal. Campers learn simple self-rescue techniques early in the program. Staff supervise closely and are trained to coach campers through getting back on their board or returning to their boat.
Our leadership team monitors wind meters, weather radar, lightning detection apps, air quality levels, and blue-green algae alerts. We make decisions based on training, experience, and safety standards. If conditions are not suitable, we shift to sheltered areas (creek, inlet) or land-based programming.
Campers move to designated shelters, pavilion spaces, or safe inland areas based on the specific conditions and site. Activities resume once conditions allow.
No. Campers must bring lunch and snacks. For Summer Splash campers attending both sessions, lunch is supervised from 12–1 PM. Refrigeration and heating are not available for any of our programs. Bring non-perishable lunch items and snacks.
There are water refill points on site. Campers should bring a filled, labeled refillable water bottle each day.
Parking instructions vary by site (Myers Park or Stewart Park). Specific directions are included in confirmation materials and the Parent Handbook.
Yes, if they are listed on your approved pick-up list and present a photo ID. For safety reasons, we cannot release a camper to anyone not listed or not carrying identification.
As a NYS Health Department–regulated camp, we are legally required to collect specific medical and safety documentation for every child. Immunization records must be signed by a physician. Medical exemptions are accepted only with a doctor’s signed letter.
You may register and submit medical forms later, but they must be uploaded and approved before your child attends.
Yes, as long as spots are available.
No. Only USCG-approved lifejackets may be used.
No. Wildlife in Cayuga Lake is generally harmless, but we cannot guarnatee. Staff teach campers how to respect natural habitats during exploration.
Yes. Campers should expect to get wet every day. Our programs are built around kayaking, paddleboarding, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, and other water-based activities. Even on calmer days, campers may get splashed, walk in shallow water, or participate in games that involve getting wet.
Please send your child in clothing appropriate for water activities and pack a towel, a change of clothes, and closed-toe water shoes. Getting wet is a normal—and essential—part of the watersports camp experience.
Wetsuits are recommended! Many campers find them helpful on cooler or windy days. Campers are welcome to bring their own wetsuit, and this is the best way to ensure proper fit and comfort.
Paddle-N-More has a limited number of wetsuits available for campers to borrow. We do our best to assign the same wetsuit to each camper throughout the week, but we cannot guarantee fit or daily availability due to sizing variations and shared use.
If having the right size is important for your child’s comfort, we strongly recommend bringing a personal wetsuit.
Stewart Park does not have the same facilities as Myers Park. We operate out of a small storage shed with limited space for rigging, staging, and equipment. Windsurfing, sailing, and canoeing require more room and additional waterfront access than Stewart Park can support.
For this reason, Summer Splash focuses on kayaking and paddleboarding, and group sizes are smaller. We hope to expand offerings in the future if facilities allow.
We monitor Cayuga Lake closely for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) throughout the summer. With 15+ years of running watersports programs—and extensive training as an ACA Pro School—our team knows what to look for, where blooms tend to form, and how to adjust programming to keep campers safe.
Our approach includes:
- Daily visual shoreline checks at both Myers Park and Stewart Park
- Monitoring official HAB reports from NYS DEC, local health departments, and community sources
- Staff trained to identify potential HAB conditions
- Avoiding any area that looks suspicious
- Changing locations or shifting to land-based activities if needed
- Keeping campers out of the water until conditions are confirmed as safe again
In addition, after any day on the water, campers who want to rinse off may do so with clean, fresh water. One of their favorite end-of-day routines is being sprayed with the hose—it’s fun, refreshing, and helps ensure everyone is rinsed off after lake activities.
If you ever have questions about water conditions or HABs, we’re always happy to talk through how we make decisions on the waterfront.
You are welcome to email us! Please do know, Paddle-N-More is a seasonal business, and many of our staff are college students or working other jobs in the off-season. Please be patient as you wait for a response—especially outside of the summer months. We check email Monday through Friday during business hours.
Email: Customer@PaddleNMore.com
Off-season: Please allow at least 48 business hours for a response.
During the summer: Responses may occur between activities or after groups return from the water.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to supporting your family.