The Comprehensive Mom Audit
1. Program Focus & Daily Activities
Coast Guard Certified Skippers, Saltmarsh Ecology & Paddleboard Expeditions in Cos Cob. Designed for Ages 6 to 15. The sailing & marine ecology programming has real bright spots, but the daily schedule felt inconsistently paced during our visit. (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963) Sessions run 2 to 8 Weeks, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily.
2. Aquatics & Water Safety
Lifeguard staffing at Starboard Marine Biology Day Camp looked adequate on the schedule but thin in practice when we counted heads at the pool deck.
3. Staffing & Supervision Standards
Camper-to-counselor ratios sit at 1:4 (Boats), 1:6 (Shore Labs). Staffing quality at Starboard Marine Biology Day Camp varied noticeably by bunk — some counselors were excellent, others seemed undertrained for Ages 6 to 15.
4. Logistics, Transportation & Catering
Bus routes serving Cos Cob were inconsistent in our tracking, sometimes running 15-20 minutes off schedule. Lunch quality varied by day. (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
Tuition Range: $1320 – $1570 / week
👍 What We Loved
- Facilities are adequate for Ages 6 to 15, even if not impressive (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
- A few families we spoke with in Cos Cob had entirely positive experiences (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
- The best bunks we observed had genuinely excellent counselors (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
⚠️ What to Consider
- Billing questions we raised took longer than they should have to get answered (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
- Communication was inconsistent — some updates, long silences other weeks (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
- Carline and pickup logistics were disorganized during at least one visit (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)
- The advertised 1:4 (Boats) ratio didn't consistently hold up in practice (per our Cos Cob visit, est. 1963)