When Mercer Island Parks and Recreation coordinator Ryan Daly and recreation assistant Sarah Waddington went over registration numbers for this summer’s youth boating programs, they could hardly believe what they saw.

“We were at 98.5% full this year with 103 people on the waiting list,” said Daly. “Looking at the numbers, we had to double-check because there were just so many people interested. It’s almost hard to accommodate that many people. It’s our highest percentage for being a full class, it’s very popular.”

The Parks and Rec’s boating program has come a long way since it began in 2008. Offered to youth as young as 6 up to 17 years old, the 40 participants that turned out that first year has more than tripled, with 128 participating this past summer. Initially offering courses in sailing and kayaking, the program has since expanded to offer paddle boarding and keel boat cruising. The program has grown each year since 2008, with Parks and Rec adding more classes each year that fill and fill and fill.

“One of the unique things compared to a lot of our other classes is that it fills up in April,” said Daly. “When it’s pouring down rain, people are already thinking about signing up for these classes, which is amazing. Parents are planning their summer around the camp programs their kids are going to take that early in the season.”

Waddington said because the boating camps aren’t offered in many places, it makes the boating program significant and unique. For people living on an Island, there is plenty to be gained from the aquatics courses.

“The first day, [the kids] take a swim test and get used to being in the water. [The instructors] have them put on a life jacket in the water. Safety is always first,” said Waddington.

“In the Opti [sailing] classes, they flip the boats over, put the kids in the water and then they teach them how to flip the boats back over and right the boat. They’re 6 years old. It’s amazing that a kid like that can learn leverage and hop back into the boat,” said Daly.

Parks and Rec partners with Sail Sand Point and Kayak Academy to lead the programs, which provides most of the aquatics gear, including boats, paddle boards and life jackets. “We go completely with the professionals, because they know everything, they have the most up-to-date equipment and safety is their number-one priority,” said Daly.

Having a boathouse on the dock is crucial for the program, as it gives the instructors a place to leave their boats and gear, ultimately helping to minimize set-up time and allowing for more time in the water for the kids.

Waddington said with just as many people on the waiting list as registered for camps this past summer, the program is definitely looking at expansion. People have asked about adult courses, which Daly said the program will probably end up offering sometime in the future. One of the issues with expanding would be if the partner organizations would be able to provide Parks and Rec with more instructors. But Daly says having to accommodate so many interested participants is a good problem to have.

If the program is able to continue it’s growth, there certainly would be no shortage of reasons why it’d be worthwhile.

“Even at the youngest age, those kids by the end of the week could take their Opti boat, put it in the water themselves, put the sail up, sail around and come back in,” said Daly. “In my mind for that age group, that’s really impressive to be able to go out there. It really teaches water safety skills to the kids. Which living on the Island, they’re always in the water around here.”

“They have this sense of responsibility and ownership in their skills, it’s just confidence-boosting. That translates through every aspect of their life,” said Waddington. “It’s special, it’s very special and you don’t get many opportunities to have camps like these.”