Come help us share our message of building life skills and self-confidence with the visitors at the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show!   Volunteer several hours and get a free pass to the show, which this year runs April 28- April 30th. Sign up below! ​

Gabriel Evans discovered Brendan Sailing five years ago, when his family found a camp that resonated with his needs.  He had been to other camps and really enjoyed the outdoor activities, but was really intrigued with the opportunity to learn how to sail. 

His family are kayakers and he has a natural love for being on the water.   

He started with the Brendan Sailing program the summer after fifth grade and took to it, well, like a duck to water!  He has returned for each subsequent summer to the Annapolis program.  In 2020, he even participated in the virtual Brendan-Out-of-the-Box program.  

Currently, Gabriel is in 10th grade at Wye River Upper School.  This is his second year at the school, transferring from Radcliffe Creek.  Government and Biology class are his favorites, and although he is not sure how these classes will shape his future plans, he is enjoying them now!

The last several years have had a lot of changes for Gabriel.  In addition to a new school, his family recently moved from Kent Island to Arnold.  While it is a little further to get to school each day, he is looking forward to being closer to Annapolis Sailing School, where this year he plans on becoming a Jr. Instructor for Brendan Sailing.

In addition to sailing, Gabriel enjoys basketball, badminton, and of course, video games.  He is an X Box guy and likes MineCraft.  For movies, he enjoys the Star Wars series, especially The Empire Strikes Back.

His favorite Brendan Sailing memory is the long “cruise” that the fleet would take to the beach.

Gabriel looks forward to sharing everything he’s learned from Brendan Sailing with other campers.  We look forward to having you with us this summer!

​Aaron Schmerling’s wall is adorned with many awards.  Most are from his years as a top performing Financial Planner with Prudential Advisors, ranked as a top 5 Financial Advisor/Planner for the Mid-Atlantic Financial Group encompassing Maryland, DC, Virginia and Delaware as well as being a top 100 Advisor/Planner Nationwide. 

On that wall, amongst those accolades is an innocuous but mighty award from Brendan Sailing.  

The NOGUTSNOGLORY award

This award is given in honor of Howard and Jeanne Kluttz’s sailboat of the same name; and is given to the sailor whose example, leadership and outstanding achievement contributed to the success of the Brendan Sailing Program at Annapolis Sailing school.   

How this awkward, dyslexic boy who lacked self-confidence and athleticism, turned into a high-performing, well-adjusted professional started in the year 2000.  Aaron is the third of four boys.  His brothers were athletically gifted and spent their summers enjoying Navy Basketball Camp.  Aaron did not.  While most kids look forward to summer break, Aaron dreaded it.  After one final bad experience, he and his family were looking for another option.  

While attending the Summit School, Aaron heard about Brendan.  A camp for kids like him?  Kids that need a different approach, kids that need a little more time.  So summer of 2000, first year of this millennium, at 11 years old, he gave it a try.  
 
He loved it.  Joel Bays was the Head Instructor and he immediately connected with him.  Another counselor gave him a book  “First You Have to Row a Little Boat”.  He enjoyed it so much, he returned in 2001 and back again in the Summer of 2002.  

Aaron spent three years as a camper at Brendan Sailing in Annapolis.  He was amazed at how quickly he picked up sailing.  During this time, he developed into a confident person who was able to teach others.  When he learned about the opportunities for recognition, he set his sights on earning an award.  

He worked hard and his confidence grew. Soon he was helping other kids. First, he received Camper of the Day. His leadership skills continued to develop.  The third year, he was amazed when the NOGUTSNOGLORY award was presented to him.  For the first time in his life, he had won an award. 

He advanced to a Jr. Counselor and helped with the new campers in both Annapolis and the first years of the St. Mary’s program.  It was truly a formative experience for Aaron.  Through sailing with the Brendan Approach methods, he continued to develop self-confidence, learned how to lead others and developed many life skills.  He also learned to sail, an avocation he still enjoys.   

Today, as a thriving professional with a family of his own, the NOGUTSNOGLORY plaque is still there.  On the wall surrounded by many other awards that show a successful life and career.  When adversity strikes, he looks at that award and it is a constant reminder that he can do hard things. He thanks Brendan Sailing for giving him that gift.  

Editor's Note:  If you would like to share your experience with Brendan Sailing, we would love to spotlight you!  Please contact Beth at [email protected] ​

Brendan Approach training has partnered with Spectrum Sailing to provide instruction for all the instructors delivering their program.

​  We have a very busy spring planned with sessions in Sarasota, Jacksonville, Toledo, Chicago, Park City and Charleston, SC.

We having our second annual 'Navigating Differences Symposium' this year - we hope you join us!

​Having just finished a Brendan Approach workshop in Jacksonville, Florida, I am excited about sharing the magic that is Brendan Sailing with the rest of the country.  The decades of work with youth with learning differences and the continuing search for knowledge has gone into the development of our Brendan Approach workshops.

Just last month, I attended the Learning Disabilities of America conference where, in addition to presenting about our program, I attended many sessions and spoke with professionals in the field.  Beth Berry, our marketing director also attended and made many contacts with worthy organizations. 

My other focus at this time is recruiting the great staff we need to deliver our amazing program.  I am excited to have several of our experienced campers enroll in a Sailing Counselor course on June 15-16th at our gracious host, Annapolis Sailing School.  This is the first step to becoming a Sailing Instructor for us.  If you or your camper may be interested in joining the course, please find out more at:  MORE INFO 

Our overnight camp at St. Mary’s has been re-envisioned.  We will offer two 6-day sessions.  Overnight campers will join us on Sunday night, day campers will be coming in on Monday.  The first session we will partner with Spirt of America offering other boating and water activities in addition to sailing.  The session will end on Saturday, July 22 with our traditional Parent Sail.  The second session will focus on sailing and will end on Saturday, July 29 with our volunteering at the Special Olympics regatta in the morning and Graduation in the afternoon.  The price of our St. Mary’s overnight camp has increased due to costs we have incurred.  As always, we never turn down a camper for financial reasons and thanks to grant funding from the Kahlert Foundation and the Kathy and Jerry Wood Foundation, we are able to offer scholarships to any camper of need.

We are excited about the Spring Boat Show.  If would like to get a free ticket for the show and have a couple of hours to spare, sign up to work in our booth!  Sign up here.  If I don’t see you at the boat show, I hope to see many of you this summer.

Charlie Arms
Executive Director

Dear Brendan Community,

Today marks the official start of Spring, the Equinox. I look forward to this year's Brendan Sailing programs.  The Brendan Team has been hard at work during the off season, preparing impactful programs for 2023 and spreading the word about Brendan Sailing.  

Registration opened last month for our summer programs in both Annapolis and St. Mary’s.  Applications have been brisk, please make sure to sign up soon to get your choice of programs.  The format has been changed at St. Mary’s with two sessions in July.  

One of my goals has been to expand the reach of Brendan Sailing.  The Brendan Approach workshops are making that happen.  There are several in-person workshops confirmed for this spring and summer.  It is also significant that our Executive Director presented on the Brendan Approach both at the US Sailing Leadership Forum and LDA conference.

The Second Annual Navigating Differences Symposium will take place on September 9 at American University in DC.  We have partnered with the Institute for Disability and Public Policy.  Our team is currently in the planning stages and we look forward to continuing to grow as a thought leader in the field of Learning Differences.  

Thank you again, for your support of Brendan Sailing. 

With Gratitude,

James P. Muldoon
Chairman of the Board