KINGSTON — There are few days on which one feels more autonomous than the day they receive their driver’s license, but the Poulsbo Parks and Recreation summer sailing camps are likely second-best.

Imagine being 10 years old and enjoying the freedom of heading to the bay, rigging up a boat and sailing around by oneself any day of the summer.

That is precisely what the PPR camps can provide by issuing kids their figurative sailing license.

Annually held at the Port of Kingston, summer sailing lessons are being offered for ages 8-18 beginning July 10. The camp instructors — Laurel Siegenthaler, Colin Olson, Anthony DeBoer and Nic Wayland — are all returning veterans and actual products of the program.

“My sailing career started at this program when I was in sixth grade,” Olson, now a student at Western Washington University, recalled. “I know I’ll be sailing my whole life … it’s just something I’m going to do.”

The same is true for Siegenthaler, who has been involved with the camps as either a student or an instructor for nearly 10 years.

“I think (sailing) is one of those things that is easier for kids to learn how to do because it’s by the feel,” said Siegenthaler, who is entering her fourth year as an instructor. “It’s a mix between physical ability, having common visibility and paying attention to everything from what you’re doing to where the wind is coming from.”

The camps aim to teach kids sailing skills and boating safety by developing a knowledge and respect for the water, Olson said.

For Siegenthaler, when she was a student of the camp, the price of admission was well worth what she got out of it.

“I love the whole program, all of us instructors were brought up through it,” she said “We grew up sailing down there; we got so much out of the program that it’s nice to give back.”

Through the PPR program, Siegenthaler said she and a core of her friends found each other along with the lifelong pastime which she and the other camp instructors are hoping to pass on to NK youth.

“As soon as they are done with the camp, they can come back to the community and take a boat out on their own any time,” Olson said. “It is community building through sailing.”

In conjunction with the sailing camps, supervised recreational sailing will be held throughout the seven total weeks of classes at no additional charge. Supervision will be at the Port of Kingston from 5:30-8 p.m. Thursdays from July 13 through Aug. 24.