HELLO PARENTS!
We are looking forward to a summer full of learning and FUN and we are glad that your child will be joining us! It has been proven that time spent outdoors engaged in skill development – like sailing – helps kids develop their creativity, problem solving skills and even do better academically!
Sailing is a lifelong sport that can be done when you’re 8 or 80. There is a vast amount of skills to acquire, and you can learn enough to get going in one week and take a lifetime to become a master. We strive to provide a safe, fun learning experience that encourages a lifelong love of sailing.
Nashville Sail Camp is a partnership between Nashville Sailing Foundation and Leadership Academy LLC to promote the sport of sailing and provide youth a safe and fun program where they can learn the basics of sailing. Both local yacht clubs, Harbor Island and Percy Priest, host and support the sail camps.
Thank you for choosing Leadership Academy’s Nashville Sail Camp!
Our Mission
At Leadership Academy, we believe that play and exploration increases creativity, confidence, social intelligence and grit.
We do this by creating camp adventures for children to engage in the outdoors and life-long recreation that grows a love and affinity for nature and sense of belonging in it.
Nashville Sail Camp is a safe, fun learning experience that encourages a lifelong love of sailing.
Our Program
Our program emphasizes water and boating safety, skill development and building confidence in sailing. Each day campers will have on-shore classroom sessions to learn the core concepts of sailing. This fundamental knowledge must be developed along with practical skill application. On-water sessions each day will include learning to steer the boat and trim sails with a focus on teamwork. As the week progresses, the challenge level will increase to encourage a progression of learning. Camp includes some traditional activities, songs, games and crafts. Each day campers will rig and de-rig their boats and learn about the responsibilities of boat care. This will require cooperation within the group and, with the guidance of their counselors, we know that our campers will have fun, learn and thrive.
Campers are divided into learning groups based on age, size and experience. The goal is to have a group that can form lasting friendships will increasing sailing skills. All groups are led by US Sailing certified instructors and assisted by junior counselors. Campers are encouraged to participate in each level for multiple sessions within one season, or over a period of years.
Opti 1
Our youngest and smallest campers will take the helm for the first time in the Opti fleet, learning the basics of sailing safety and maneuvers in pairs on board their boats. Campers will learn basic boating safety, steering and control, capsize recovery, rigging and team work.
Opti 2
Beginning sailors ages 9 and up as well as Opti 1 graduates will increase their skill level at the helm of an Opti sailboat. Campers are encouraged to single-hand after mastering sailing in pairs. Campers will learn basic boating safety, steering and control, capsize recovery, rigging, team work and single-handed sailing.
Laser/Sunfish
Sailors ages 12 and up learn to sail on sporty lasers, which are used in Olympic sailing. Starting off in pairs to increase confidence and get practice with a friend on board, campers are encouraged to try single handing the boat by the end of the week. Laser campers spend most of their time on the water throughout the week with both morning and afternoon sailing sessions and a group raft-up.
Vanguard
The oldest and most advanced campers will set sail on the Vanguard 15, learning teamwork and sail trim with both a jib and main. Vanguard campers will participate in fleet races and other activities with the Laser fleet. Vanguard campers will also have the opportunity to try other boats available at Sail Camp.
Drop Off & Pick Up
Have your ID ready when you sign your camper out each day. Please arrive between 8:45-9:00 am for drop-off and 3:45-4:00 pm for pick-up. You must sign your child in and out each day.
We offer before and aftercare. Drop-off as early as 7:45 am and pickup as late as 5:15 pm for $50/week. A late pickup fee of $1/minute may be assessed.
Two Locations
Make note of your camp location when you register, and calculate your travel time in order to arrive on time!
Early Pick-up / Late Arrival
If a child needs to be picked up outside of the scheduled time (3:45-4pm), arrangements must be made with the camp director preferably at check-in or by calling at least 2 hours in advance to reduce disruptions to the camp program. Check-in is from 8:45-9am. Campers arriving late, after 9:30, must contact the camp director for specific drop off instructions. Please make arrangements in advance whenever possible.
What to Bring
When your camper arrives they will need to be dressed and ready for an active day of sailing on the lake. This means swimwear on with clothing over it, along with sturdy water shoes. Sunscreen (30spf or higher) should already be applied.
Here is a list of things to bring each day in your backpack:
- CGA Class III Life jacket, the full vest style
- Athletic swimwear, no bikinis and saggy board shorts. Please make sure swimsuits fit well and can handle athletic activities.
- SPF 30 sunscreen. Campers should show up with sunscreen pre-applied and bring some extra too.
- Hat: to keep the sun off of delicate faces.
- Sunglasses with a croakie. Polarized is a plus, this really helps you to see the wind!
- Rain jacket: Camp adventures will not be stopped by rain. We will get off the water/boats and seek shelter during lightning or severe weather. It also can be cooler on the lake than it is in the city.
- Extra set of clothes to change into after swimming.
- Plastic water bottle: Proper hydration keeps our campers happy and cool. We will refill the bottles throughout the day. BPA-free water bottles are sold in our camp store.
- Lunch and snack: packed in a reusable lunchbox/bag.
Your smile and a good attitude!
*If a child forgets their lunch, the camp director will call the listed contact person(s). Lunch can be dropped off or we will provide a pre-packaged lunch for a fee of $5.00.
*Camp is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please label all of your child’s belongings. Unclaimed items will be held for 1 week, displayed at check-out, then donated to charity.
What Not to Bring
Nashville Sail Camp is a place to learn to sail, and we will spend much of our days in and around the water and boats. We ask you not to send any electronics or items that could distract from your child’s experience at camp.
This includes but is not limited to:
- cell phones
- iPods or MP3 players
- trading cards
- hand held video games
- digital cameras
Also, do not bring: pets, vehicles, drugs, alcohol, pornography, weapons, fireworks or tobacco.
*Personal sports equipment is allowed with the permission of the camp director.
Camp Behavior Policy
*Please review this with your child*
Leadership Academy’s Nashville Sail Camp wants to cultivate the sailor in your child and engage them with safe boating practices. It will be a FUN week at camp, especially if the campers already know what is expected of them. Read the guidelines below with your child.
Nashville Sail Campers are expected to be respectful to each other, their instructors and themselves. We are a camp that encourages each other and that does not tolerate put downs. We are trying to learn something that is challenging and new, so we need to have patience with the process and with each other. We always pitch in to clean up and help out. We always think about safety first! This means we make good decisions, ask questions and listen to the instructors at all times.
Camp staff will work with your child to redirect minor behavior issues with listening, cooperation or positive participation. More disruptive behavior will be brought to the attention of the camp director and the parent will be notified at check-out or called by phone.
A camper may be asked to leave camp (without a refund) if the director determines that the camper is compromising the safety of themselves or their group. This could include verbally threatening other group members or acts of aggression/violence such as hitting, kicking or biting. Also, if a camper repeatedly leaves the group unannounced and is unable to be kept safely supervised, they may be sent home without a refund.
Inclement Weather
Rain doesn’t stop the fun at camp! However, lightning and thunder will stop activities on the lake. Our staff will monitor the weather and if lightning or thunder are detected, campers will be immediately moved to shelter. We will spend these times in our on-shore classroom, learning to tie knots and/or doing camp crafts and games.
Medications
Please administer all medications before bringing your camper to Nashville Sail Camp each day. Please alert the camp director of any issues or if your child will be bringing an inhaler or Epi-Pen. We can carry these in the chase boat on the water for quick access if needed.
Boo-boos Happen Sometimes…
Our camp staff is trained in First Aid and CPR, so they are ready to help keep your child safe at camp. Sometimes scrapes, cuts, bumps and bruises happen while we play and explore. Every staff member has a first aid kit in the backpack and is ready to care for your camper as they need. For simple first aid injuries, like a band-aid fixes, we just take care of it and move on with the day. For any injury that requires a bit more attention, we will give you a call/text to let you know what is going on. We do stock a few children’s over-the counter medicines in the camp director’s first aid kit including Benadryl, Advil and Tylenol. The camp director will call you before giving these to your child.
Too sick to play?
Our camps do not have on-site health care facilities for resting or sick campers. If you suspect your child is sick, please keep them home from camp. If your child gets sick at camp, we will troubleshoot the basics first, for example, do they need more water, a shade break, a snack, a popsicle (these can work miracles on sick campers!!) or just a bit of chill time??? If these simple fixes don’t work, and your child is too sick to play, then we will give you a call to figure out when you can pick them up.
Mosquitoes, Ticks, Poison Ivy & Chiggers oh my!
Due to the outdoor location of our programming, your camper may come in contact with something that makes them itch, like bug bites, poison ivy and other stings. Our staff will educate your camper about these hazards, will help them try to avoid contact with hazards and remind campers to check themselves for ticks. We do request that you thoroughly check your camper when they arrive home as ticks will often hide under clothing in areas that will not be checked by our staff. In addition we stock our first aid kits with Calamine Lotion, hydrocortisone cream and Neosporin for basic relief of these symptoms. All camp staff are trained in first aid and CPR, so they are ready to help keep your child safe at camp.
Emergency Communication Plan
Although we do our best to stay safe and prevent injuries and accidents, sometimes accidents happen. In the case of an injury or an emergency, we will do our best to communicate with parents (or emergency contacts) as soon as possible. Please note that Nashville Sail Camp does not provide any transportation. In case of an injury or emergency, the camp staff will assess the situation and call emergency services as appropriate. Once the nature of the injury/emergency has been established, parents will be notified by the camp director or the CEO. If the child’s parents cannot be reached, the designated emergency contacts will be called. If the injury or emergency is not life-threatening but requires further medical attention, the parents or emergency contacts will need to provide transportation to seek care.
Additional Questions?
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Camp Director or text/call at 615-856-4772.
