ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – It’s only a few short weeks until the first Summer Sail Camp is held and the city of Orange Beach Parks and Recreation Department has added additional Beginner Classes in an effort to accommodate as many children as possible.

 “We initially had seven weeks of camps designated for summer 2012, but the demand is greater for Beginner sessions this year so we have adjusted one class to be a combined Beginner/ Intermediate Class and also added another week at the end of the program,” Sail Camp Coordinator Jeanne Fitzgibbons said. “We rarely have the chance of adding weeks but the way the calendar falls this summer has given us this opportunity.  Depending on demand we could go another week as well.”

Registration is ongoing, Fitzgibbons said, and will continue “until we are completely full.

“Even then I start keeping a waiting list in case anyone has to cancel at the last minute.”

Summer Sail Camps have been conducted by the Parks and Recreation Department since 2004.  Head Instructor, Caroline Harris, is a U.S. Sailing Certified Instructor and is also on the Tulane University Sailing Team.

She will be joined by three additional instructors as well as several Junior Sail Counselors.

 “During the past several years we have been using our older Sail Camp students as volunteers for the program,” Fitzgibbons said. “Their volunteer efforts help us to have enough ‘hands on deck’ to conduct the programs but also helps them to grow their sailing and leadership skills.

“Each of our Junior Counselors has a passion for sailing and they are able to share their enthusiasm with our younger campers.”

Sail Camp staff and campers are also looking forward to using their new location this summer. The program will be conducted from a new site behind the Orange Beach Library.

After camps are finished in August, city crews are planning to build a facility to house the Sail Camp program and other water related learning programs that Parks and Recreation will begin to offer. The new facility will be known as the Wind and Water Learning Center.

For information on Sail Camp and to check available dates, visit www.obparksandrec.com  or contact Jeanne Fitzgibbons at 251-981-1524 or jfitz@cityoforangebeach.com