Changing Lives, One Lesson at a Time

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Community Sailing School At Pistakee

The Community Sailing School empowers youth through sailing education, fostering skills, confidence, and a love for the water. Our programs promote teamwork, STEM learning, and lifelong memories, making sailing accessible and enjoyable for all.

<h2 data-end="326" data-start="261" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Black Friday: Best Sailing Prices for 2026. Guaranteed!</h2><h3 data-end="376" data-start="327" fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Sail More. Spend Less. Only available Black Friday thru Giving Tuesday.</h3>Our biggest sale of the year is here&mdash;and once it&rsquo;s gone, it&rsquo;s gone. This Black Friday, the Community Sailing School @Pistakee is offering the lowest prices you&rsquo;ll see all year on our 2026 youth sailing camps and lesson packages. Lock in next summer&rsquo;s adventure with our Buy Three, Get One Free special&mdash;an incredible offer worth over $400 in savings! Whether you&rsquo;re enrolling your own young sailors or gifting an unforgettable experience, now is the time to chart your course for 2026. Choose from ten weeks of full-day sailing camps, running Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM&ndash;4:00 PM, beginning on June 1st. our students learn real sailing skills, build confidence, explore STEM concepts on the water, and create memories that last a lifetime.<h3 data-end="1198" data-start="1131" fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">&ldquo;Chart Your Course for 2026. Prices This Low Won&rsquo;t Return.&rdquo;</h3>This Black Friday promotion is only available through Tuesday, December 2, 2025&mdash;and will not be repeated. Secure your spots now to guarantee next season&rsquo;s best pricing and receive a bonus week of sailing camp when you purchase three sailing camps. You don&#39;t need to pick your sailing camp dates today. Just give us a call at 815-382-1834, or email us at <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:cssexectivedirector@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">cssexectivedirector@gmail.com</a> when you are ready to book your camps for the summer, and we will get you registered. You are also welcome to call us if you have any questions. GIVE THE GIFT OF ADVENTURE ... SAIL MORE, SPEND LESS!

Sail More, Spend Less

Join us on September 28th at the historic Pistakee Yacht Club for the 2025 Bears Squares &amp; Meat Raffle. &nbsp;The Chicago Bears travel to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders, with a 3:25 kick off. &nbsp;Join us for football on big screen TVs, specialty cocktails at the PYC bar and meat raffles and &quot;squares&quot; winners based on the game score after each quarter. &nbsp; And, the winner of the CSS@P $2,500 Lucky Star Raffle will be randomly drawn immediately following the game.&nbsp;

Bears Squares & Meat Raffle 2025

Find Your Lucky Star and sail into the sunset!&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">Chance to win $2500!</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">$100 per Star</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">Split the cost with friends</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing:inherit;" style="box-sizing:inherit;">Max of 125 Stars sold</li></ul>Purchase a Star to enter this raffle for a chance to win big while supporting our mission! Your participation is not only a chance for a big payout, but it also plays a vital role in supporting our goal to change lives, one sailing lesson at a time. Each Star you purchase directly contributes to our efforts in making a meaningful impact in our community.&nbsp; Thank you for your support. Every contribution, big or small, makes a significant difference. ✨ *Purchaser must be 18 years or older*Purchases made for raffle tickets are not tax deductible

Find Your Lucky Star

<p fr-original-style="line-height:1.8;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(15, 14, 91);" style="line-height: 1.8; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91);"><span fr-original-style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Join us at the historic&nbsp;<span fr-original-style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Pistakee Yacht Club<span fr-original-style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;to celebrate another successful season of CSS@P sailing!<p fr-original-style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(15, 14, 91);" style="line-height: 1.2; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91);"><span fr-original-style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#3d85c6;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(61, 133, 198); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">The Community Sailing School @ Pistakee presents:&nbsp;<p fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(15, 14, 91);" style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91);"><span fr-original-style="font-size:27.999999999999996pt;font-family:Spectral,serif;color:#073763;background-color:transparent;font-weight:800;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:underline;-webkit-text-decoration-skip:none;text-decoration-skip-ink:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 28pt; font-family: Spectral, serif; color: rgb(7, 55, 99); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 800; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Pistakee Palooza<p fr-original-style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(15, 14, 91);" style="line-height: 1.38; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91);"><span fr-original-style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Spectral,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Spectral, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">July 26th, 2025 at 3300 Rocky Beach Rd. Johnsburg, IL<p fr-original-style="line-height:1.8;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;width:100%;box-sizing:inherit;color:rgb(15, 14, 91);" style="line-height: 1.8; text-align: center; margin: 0pt 0px; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91);"><span fr-original-style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Spectral,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Spectral, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Festivities kick off at 4pm <span fr-original-style="font-size:13.999999999999998pt;font-family:Spectral,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:800;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: Spectral, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 800; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Pistakee Palooza<span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">&nbsp;is the premier Chain O&rsquo;Lakes family fun event of the summer!<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Live Music Featuring: The *Hit Show</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Food&nbsp;from Serna&#39;s Grill food truck</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;">Games &amp; Prizes for all ages</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Complimentary&nbsp;sailboat rides</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Bounce house</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Island Chip Challenge</li><li fr-original-style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit; color: rgb(15, 14, 91); text-align: left;"><span fr-original-style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Merriweather,serif;color:#000000;background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre;white-space:pre-wrap;" style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Merriweather, serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; box-sizing: inherit;">Fun for the whole family!</li></ul>

Pistakee Palooza 2025

At the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee, we believe that sailing is more than a sport&mdash;it&rsquo;s a pathway to&nbsp;confidence, inclusion, and transformation. Since 2012, we&rsquo;ve helped more than 1,500 students discover new skills, friendships, and opportunities on and off the water. But we can&rsquo;t do it without people like you. Every act of generosity&mdash;whether a donation, a shared message, or a gift of your time&mdash;helps us open doors for youth, adults, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, and anyone else who might otherwise never experience the life-changing power of sailing.<h3 data-end="831" data-start="791" fr-original-style="" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">How You Can Help Power Our Mission</h3><ul data-end="1291" data-start="832" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li data-end="988" data-start="832" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Donate: Every dollar makes a difference. Your monetary support helps in a multitude of ways, whether its funding scholarships, supporting our adaptive sailing program, helping us expand our programs, training our instructors, or simply helping us pay the bills. We thank you with open arms! </li><li data-end="988" data-start="832" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Volunteer: Your time and talents are just as valuable as your dollars. Consider serving on the Board, helping with a fundraiser, writing grants, organizing an event, or assisting with our classes. </li><li data-end="1144" data-start="989" fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Share: Spread the good word about our sailing school! Share your experiences with friends, family, and on social media. Your voice can multiply our reach and inspire others to give. We welcome any and all efforts on your part to help us promote our school. It is very much appreciated!</li></ul>Together, we can create a brighter, more connected community where everyone has access to the water, and the exhilaration, excitement, and educational value that go hand-in-hand with learning how to sail. The benefits and rewards go far beyond Pistakee Bay. 🙏 Thank you for supporting our mission. Your generosity is the wind in our sails.

At the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee, we believe that sailing is more than a sport—it’s a pathway to confidence, inclusion, and transformation. Since 2012, we’ve helped more than 1,500 students discover new skills, friendships, and opportunities on and off the water. But we can’t do it without people like you.Every act of generosity—whether a donation, a shared message, or a gift of your time—helps us open doors for youth, adults, minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, and anyone else who might otherwise never experience the life-changing power of sailing.How You Can Help Power Our MissionDonate: Every dollar makes a difference. Your monetary support helps in a multitude of ways, whether its funding scholarships, supporting our adaptive sailing program, helping us expand our programs, training our instructors, or simply helping us pay the bills. We thank you with open arms!Volunteer: Your time and talents are just as valuable as your dollars. Consider serving on the Board, helping with a fundraiser, writing grants, organizing an event, or assisting with our classes.Share: Spread the good word about our sailing school! Share your experiences with friends, family, and on social media. Your voice can multiply our reach and inspire others to give. We welcome any and all efforts on your part to help us promote our school. It is very much appreciated!Together, we can create a brighter, more connected community where everyone has access to the water, and the exhilaration, excitement, and educational value that go hand-in-hand with learning how to sail. The benefits and rewards go far beyond Pistakee Bay.🙏 Thank you for supporting our mission. Your generosity is the wind in our sails.

Honor - Celebrate - Inspire A Tribute Donation to the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee is a meaningful way to honor someone special while creating lasting change in our community. Whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or personal milestone, or remembering a loved one who shared your love of the water, your gift ensures that their legacy continues to lift others. Each tribute gift supports programs that build confidence, character, and connection for youth, families, and individuals of all abilities. From scholarships that open doors for underserved students to adaptive sailing that empowers independence, every contribution helps shape brighter futures across McHenry County and beyond. When you make a tribute donation, CSS@P will notify your honoree or their family with a personalized message, sharing how your thoughtful gift is making an impact. It&rsquo;s a beautiful way to celebrate a life, honor a friendship, or simply say &ldquo;thank you&rdquo; in a way that truly matters. Your tribute will live on in every wave of courage, every smile on the water, and every new sailor who discovers their strength.

Honor - Celebrate - InspireA Tribute Donation to the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee is a meaningful way to honor someone special while creating lasting change in our community. Whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or personal milestone, or remembering a loved one who shared your love of the water, your gift ensures that their legacy continues to lift others.Each tribute gift supports programs that build confidence, character, and connection for youth, families, and individuals of all abilities. From scholarships that open doors for underserved students to adaptive sailing that empowers independence, every contribution helps shape brighter futures across McHenry County and beyond.When you make a tribute donation, CSS@P will notify your honoree or their family with a personalized message, sharing how your thoughtful gift is making an impact. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate a life, honor a friendship, or simply say “thank you” in a way that truly matters.Your tribute will live on in every wave of courage, every smile on the water, and every new sailor who discovers their strength.

Tribute Donation

<h2 data-end="219" data-start="131" fr-original-style="" id="isPasted" style="width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">A Transformative Gift: Powering the Future of the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee</h2>At the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee, we believe sailing is more than a sport &mdash; it&rsquo;s a life-changing journey of confidence, connection, and community. Every time a student takes the tiller for the first time, they discover courage. Every time a young sailor learns to trust the wind, they build resilience. And every time a family joins us on the Chain O&rsquo; Lakes, they find a sense of belonging that lasts far beyond the dock. Now, we stand at a defining moment. Our school has grown from a grassroots effort into a vital community anchor serving youth, veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. But to continue changing lives &mdash; and to do so sustainably &mdash; we must invest in the future: stronger infrastructure, expanded scholarships, year-round learning, and adaptive equipment for every sailor who dreams of being on the water. A transformative, one-time gift can make this vision real. Your generosity can launch new programs, secure our fleet, strengthen our staff, and ensure that no one is ever turned away because of cost or ability.When you give to CSS@P, you&rsquo;re not just supporting a sailing school &mdash; you&rsquo;re investing in people, purpose, and possibility. Together, we can keep changing lives, one lesson at a time. Join us in shaping the next generation of sailors and leaders. Your legacy will live on in every ripple we create.

A Transformative Gift: Powering the Future of the Community Sailing School @ PistakeeAt the Community Sailing School @ Pistakee, we believe sailing is more than a sport — it’s a life-changing journey of confidence, connection, and community. Every time a student takes the tiller for the first time, they discover courage. Every time a young sailor learns to trust the wind, they build resilience. And every time a family joins us on the Chain O’ Lakes, they find a sense of belonging that lasts far beyond the dock.Now, we stand at a defining moment. Our school has grown from a grassroots effort into a vital community anchor serving youth, veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. But to continue changing lives — and to do so sustainably — we must invest in the future: stronger infrastructure, expanded scholarships, year-round learning, and adaptive equipment for every sailor who dreams of being on the water.A transformative, one-time gift can make this vision real. Your generosity can launch new programs, secure our fleet, strengthen our staff, and ensure that no one is ever turned away because of cost or ability.When you give to CSS@P, you’re not just supporting a sailing school — you’re investing in people, purpose, and possibility. Together, we can keep changing lives, one lesson at a time.Join us in shaping the next generation of sailors and leaders. Your legacy will live on in every ripple we create.

Community Sailing School At Pistakee

Community Sailing School At Pistakee

Past events

Past events

Sail More, Spend Less

Bears Squares & Meat Raffle 2025

Find Your Lucky Star

Pistakee Palooza 2025

More ways to support us

Changing Lives, One Lesson at a Time

$140 of $25,000 goal

Donate today

Tribute Donation

$0 of $1,000 goal

Donate today

Be a Transformative Supporter

$0 of $250,000 goal

Donate today

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