Brendan Sailing Program Celebrates Success
With its biggest summer sailing camp yet, a professional symposium completed, and fall programming on the horizon, Brendan Sailing is rightfully celebrating its recent “wins.”
Summer sailing camps
This summer Brendan Sailing's staff and counselors served 66 youth with learning differences at its Annapolis and St. Mary’s College sailing camps. Thanks to two boat donations last year, organizers were able to increase capacity at the Annapolis site. Meanwhile, the St. Mary’s location hosted its biggest batch of campers yet.
At St. Mary’s College, the Brendan program residential program shared the venue for the weekend with the Special Olympics. Brendan campers served on the race committee boat, raising flags and signaling finishes. Campers also helped with setting the marks of the course and getting the boats rigged. Incorporating community service into the program reinforced the Brendan values and provided campers with some service hours.
New symposium
The inaugural, daylong Navigating Differences Symposium featured five presenters and was held at St. Mary’s College of Maryland during camp dates, allowing professionals in the field of learning differences the opportunity to view the Brendan program in action. Sharing the “Brendan Approach” to a wider audience is one of Brendan’s key goals as it expands to a national presence, spreading its methods with sailing instructors and others nationwide.
Fall sailing for youth
Staff and volunteers are excited to re-start the fall after-school program with DC Sail. For the first time, open enrollment will be offered to DC youth. Sailing will be offered in conjunction with DC Sail on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from September 27 to November 3 at Diamond Teague Park Piers. This is a special program for DC residents only. There is no fee for those accepted, but applications are due by September 15. Learn more here.
US Sailboat Show
Brendan Sailing will have a booth at the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis October 13-17. Find them located near the main entrance near the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel. Have some popcorn, visit with staff, and enter a drawing to win an amazing bag from Sea Bags.
Fall awards event
The Brendan program will recognize its wonderful community at its upcoming annual fall awards event.
More about Brendan Sailing program
The Brendan Corporation is a registered 501(3)c and parent entity to the Brendan Sailing Program, which fosters entry level sailing programs with US Sailing certified instructors with a focus on "learning by doing." Since its founding in 1985 the program has provided a foundation for success and building pathways for self-confidence and personal growth in youth with learning differences, all through individually tailored experiential instruction in sailing.
