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If the sunshine and warm temperatures are spurring memories of the carefree days of your youth, here’s something to consider — summer camp isn’t just for kids. The South Shore is filled with fun activities that will get you outside and learning something new. So grab the sunscreen and your favorite pair of shades. We won’t even make you sing a camp song.
Catch a Wave
The ocean swells on the South Shore tend to be a bit smaller than at other New England surfing spots but that just makes it an ideal place to learn to hang ten. Head over to Nantasket Beach in Hull where the folks from Northeast Surfing LLC can not only teach you the correct way to paddle and “pop up” on your board but will also educate you on surfing safety and proper etiquette on the water. Lessons are conducted out of a company van parked out by the last beach bathhouse. There, students are equipped with a longboard designed to utilize the smallest amount of energy and to give riders a nice glide, even across small waves. Nantasket Beach has a flat sandy bottom that is soft under foot and with water temperatures averaging in the 60s, wetsuits are very rarely needed. Lessons begin on the beach but before long you’ll be out on the water trying to balance on your board. Students should be confident swimmers but you don’t have to be a hard body to catch a wave, and with no more than three students per class you’re guaranteed to get plenty of personal attention. Northeast Surfing offers surfing lessons from late July through September, daily, from 8:30 am to 6:00 p.m. (the months of June and July have the flattest water). Classes should be booked in advance but they are always dependent on the weather. You can check the current conditions via the company’s web cam but make sure to call the morning of the class to confirm that there are still waves. (617) 359-8900, www.northeastsurfing.com.
Tee Off
Newcomers to the sport of golf can benefit from the fun and informative lessons offered at the South Shore Country Club in Hingham. Individual as well as adult group golf instruction is lead by PGA professional Holly Taylor who teaches students of varying experience levels the key elements of the game. Classes for beginners hit on all the aspects of golf. In addition to teaching the proper grip, stance, and swing, students learn how to call up the pro shop, book a tee time, and check in the bag drop. A “girl’s night out” is another popular lesson option held on the last Wednesday of every month. Groups of friends, some who have never held a club and others who have been playing for the past 25 years, gather together for these social events that include a one-hour golf lesson followed by beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Proper golf attire is required (no tank tops or blue jeans allowed) and golfers have the option of either bringing their own golf clubs or using the ones supplied. (781) 749-1747, www.southshorecc.com.
Leash Up
Dog lovers can pick up a few helpful pet training tips from dog trainer Terry Haskins of Sit Means Sit Dog Training in Norwell. Haskins teaches pet owners proactive training techniques that will help them communicate and coexist happily with man’s best friend. Puppy education classes, which are offered for dogs from eight to 16 weeks old the first three Saturdays of every month at Old Derby Animal Hospital in Hingham, teach dog owners all the things they need to know to get their puppies off on the right paw. These lessons focus on issues like play biting and house-training and teach owners the importance of socializing their dog. For dogs 16 weeks of age and older there are customized in-home training sessions that go over basic commands and address behavior problems such as dogs that run away, pull on a leash, chase cars, or jump up on people. The goal is to teach dogs to have manners and come when called even when there are distractions. Dogs that are taking or have taken a training course are encouraged to join a dog social meet-up Saturdays at 1:00 p.m. at Bare Cove Park in Hingham. These events are controlled but also social and fun. Owners get to practice implementing the training techniques that they have learned while in the company of other dogs. (781) 706-9090, www.sitmeanssit.com.
Set Sail
Don’t know the difference between a jib and a jibe? Head to Duxbury Bay Maritime School in Duxbury for adult sailing lessons and you’ll soon know the lingo. The “sailing basics” class is an eight-hour weekend class that teaches beginner sailors such things as boating safety, how to tack and jibe, as well as how to be aware of the weather and tides. After a short lesson on shore to go over the parts of the boat and how to rig them, groups of two to three students per instructor set sail in Duxbury Bay. Sailing lessons are given using Flying Scots and Marshall catboats, which are roomy in the cockpit and perfectly comfortable for adult sailors. For individuals who aren’t absolute beginners but who still need some pointers there is a class called “beyond basics” that brings sailors to the next level. This class reinforces the skills learned in sailing basics and introduces participants to new subjects such as mooring, advanced rigging techniques, and person-over-board drills. Students who have completed a class can also sign up for “tiller time” which allows individuals to rig and sail a boat alone with an instructor supervising from a nearby boat. If a group lesson isn’t really your style private lessons with trained instructors are also available. Because the wind and tide in Duxbury Bay can be unpredictable students should expect to get wet. Dress in layers and wear sunglasses and waterproof sunscreen. Lifejackets are provided. (781) 934-7555, www.dbms.org.
Go Green
Learn the latest advances in seaside landscape design by attending a garden workshop on ecological landscaping in a coastal environment. The class takes place on July 22 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and is sponsored by the Jones River Watershed Association, the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and the South Shore Natural Science Center. Local landscape designer Kevin Doyle will take workshop participants on a guided stroll through the gardens at his seaside home in Kingston. The purpose of the walk is to help educate gardeners about the practical and ecological considerations of gardening on a seaside property. Topics discussed will include how to ecologically take care of a lawn by avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides and using water responsibly. The class will also emphasize the importance of choosing appropriate native plant species that thrive in a coastal environment. Bayberry, low bush blueberry, and beach plum bushes for example, thrive in the salty air as do native tree species like sassafras. Blueberry bushes are also very ornamental plants that have delicate blossoms and leaves that turn a brilliant red in the fall. Following the seaside garden tour the group will proceed to the beach where a naturalist will point out aspects of the natural ecosystem at low tide and discuss the great importance of environmental responsible gardening. (781) 659-2559, www.ssnsc.org.
Grab a Paddle
Explore the South Shore’s beautiful coastline via ocean kayak and you’ll get a unique perspective that few people get to see. If you’ve never been in a kayak before, or even if you have, it’s a good idea to take a class from a kayaking expert like Crosby’s New England Kayak Tours in Hingham. Group ocean kayaking lessons are offered on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for groups of four to six people. The timing of these trips is flexible but dependent on the weather and the tides. Beginners are taught about kayaking gear and clothing, how to fit themselves to a boat, and how to use the paddles properly, feathering and steering. The class will also teach paddlers about boat safety, how to fall out of the boat, and how to do a self-rescue. Lessons usually leave from Hingham Bay and once paddlers have mastered kayaking techniques they can choose the area of the coast that they would like to explore. Groups of beginners can kayak out to Bumpkin Island or around the Boston Harbor Islands while more experienced kayakers can opt to go over to the Hull Gut where paddlers get to challenge themselves against a steady current with swirling eddies, large waves, and boat traffic. Crosby also leads sunset and moonlight paddles as well as overnight trips to the Boston Harbor Islands. (781) 659-8168, www.nekayak.com.
Take the Plunge
We all appreciate the ocean from the surface but if you’ve ever dreamed of going under the waves you should consider taking a few classes from North Atlantic Scuba in Marshfield. The trickiest part about scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving is getting used to hearing yourself breathe underwater. Once you’ve overcome that hurdle you’ll be ready to venture into a beautiful and rarely seen aquatic world. The entry-level scuba class transforms people with little or no snorkeling or scuba experience into fully qualified divers. The course includes three to five classroom sessions as well as three or four pool sessions, which are offered at various locations across the South Shore. After these classes have been completed scuba students will embark on four open water ocean dives, often right off Brant Rock Beach in Marshfield. Sea creatures commonly sighted in South Shore waters include lobsters and crabs, colorful sea anemones, stripers, flounders, and cod. Those who pass the open water certification test can scuba dive all over the world and more advanced classes on skills such as lobster diving and stress rescue are also available. The dive shop is also home to an active dive club whose members make trips to other regional spots as well as boat dives. (781) 834-4087, www.northatlanticscuba.com.
Reel one in
The Atlantic Ocean is the home to a wide variety of fish; some which are massive in size. Reeling in one of the big boys can be a challenge, even for an experienced fisherman. So if you’ve set your mind on a deep sea fishing adventure you should consider hiring a member of Mass Bay Guides in Scituate to help make your fishing experience a successful one. Absolutely no experience is necessary to go on a charter but individuals should be prepared to wake up early. A half -day of fishing begins at 5:00 a.m. and lasts until noon and a full day trip lasts until 3:30 p.m. Mass Bay Guides works with a coop of four deep sea boats and three shore boats each manned by experienced Scituate captains and mates. Several mates are members of Mass Maritime. The goal of these excursions is to teach people where and how to fish New England waters and the presentation is part education and part entertainment. Similar to riding on a tour bus, the boats pick up passengers at Mill Wharf and steam out to Stellwagen Bank where depending on the time of year people can fish for bass, bluefish, cod, tuna, or shark. All gear is supplied on the trip and food and drinks can be arranged for an additional cost. Several vacation packages are available with local hotels and the captains have a deal with the Mill Wharf restaurant on Scituate Harbor which allows individuals to bring in a catch and have dinner prepared for you. Corporate outings and birthday parties are available as is a mixed party trip that goes out every Thursday that is perfect for singular individuals who want to be introduced to the sport. (781) 545-6516, www.massbayguides.com.
Hitch a Ride
Perhaps you’re heading to a dude ranch for your next vacation or maybe you’ve always dreamed of riding into the sunset like Clint Eastwood. Whatever the case, horseback riding is a fun and satisfying sport that people of all ages can enjoy. The Blue Hills Riding Center in Quincy is a small stable that specializes in riding lessons for beginners. What the stable lacks in space it makes up for in spirit, and it is a great place to learn to ride a horse. The center offers a crash course for people who have never been on a horse before called “riding 101.” These lessons not only get people up and riding a horse but also spend time educating them about proper horsemanship. The course consists of three Friday evening sessions that teach beginning riders how to safely approach a horse as well as how to groom and tack a horse. Later on groups of six to eight individuals are fitted for riding helmets and introduced to the center’s resident quarter horses, appaloosas, and ponies. Each person is then taught how to mount and ride a horse and should plan to wear comfortable clothes and a pair of sturdy boots to protect their feet. The riding center’s barn community is very laid back and since nearly 75 percent of riders taking lessons are amateurs, first time riders won’t feel uncomfortable or intimidated. Private riding instruction is also available. The stable doesn’t offer public trail rides but permits its more comfortable student riders to take their horses on the trails in the adjacent Blue Hills Reservation and explore 125 miles of scenic trailside beauty. (617) 472-0649, www.bluehillsridingcenter.com.
Paint en Plein Air
Discover your inner artist at a beginner’s plein air pastel painting workshop hosted by the Scituate Arts Association. Award-winning local pastel artist Yvette Rattenbury will lead participants in outdoor (weather permitting) painting classes that will focus on the beauty of the South Shore landscape and seascape. Participants will meet at the Ellis House in Scituate on the first day and bring a sack lunch and drink. Art supplies are available for the workshop or you can bring your own if you prefer. Some drawing experience is recommended for this course but beginners are also welcome. The course will emphasize composition and color and offer students lots of one on one attention as well as group critiques. Classes will take place on August 6 and 7 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (781) 545-7613, www.scituateart.com.
