Story by Mikayla Pantano, Damon Pontarelli
US Sailing followed up with our friends at Freedom Sailing Camp of Florida in celebration of Disability Independence Day, recognized annually on July 26. In this conversation, we sat down with Mark Monroe (son of Bonnie, camp instructor, and media coordinator) and Ian Isles-Lee (instructor and competitive sailor) to hear their perspective on sailing and working at the Camp. Freedom Sailing Camp, founded by Bonnie Monroe in Clearwater, Florida, has been making waves in the sailing community for over a decade. With a focus on inclusivity and individualized teaching, the camp empowers high-functioning individuals with autism spectrum disorder to reach their full potential through the sport of sailing. In our talk with Mark and Ian, they share their thoughts and experiences on the transformative power of sailing. If you missed our first article, you can read about it here.
How Mark Embraces Freedom and Joy through Sailing
“You’re basically free from all the troubles out in the real world, essentially, and especially in terms of the circumstances of today,” says Mark. “When you’re on the water, you’re basically away from all that trouble. That’s what sailing is to me – you go out, have fun, and that’s it.”
Mark’s sailing journey began around age of 11 when he started sailing at Clearwater Community Sailing Center. Under Bonnie’s guidance, he learned the ins and outs of sailing a Hobie Cat, from rigging it to hoisting the sail and gliding on the water. As a teenager, he participated in some regattas, but his true passion lay in the joy of sailing itself rather than competition.
Sailing offered Mark a sense of freedom and escape from the challenges of the world around him. As a shy kid, sailing allowed him to develop social skills, eventually leading him to embrace theater in high school, where he excelled both as an actor and set designer. Today, he is not only an instructor at the camp but also a media coordinator, shooting photo and video content for the Camp’s social media and websites. Mark attributes his growth in social environments to the skills he honed while sailing.
Ian’s Perspective on Individualized Teaching
Ian Isles-Lee, an accomplished sailor (recently placing 3rd at the US Youth Championships in Bristol, RI) who has been part of Freedom Sailing Camp for more than two years, shares Bonnie’s philosophy of “seeing the individual, not the diagnosis.” As an instructor, Ian emphasizes the importance of understanding each student’s unique needs and learning style.
He believes in taking a patient and individualized approach to teaching, ensuring that every student is comfortable and engaged. Ian highlights the significance of creating a safe and supportive environment for kids on the autism spectrum.
Ian’s teaching style revolves around empowering students to conquer their fears and build confidence. “The goal is for everyone to have fun,” he says. “It’s about doing what we need to do to make sure everyone has fun and ultimately wants to keep sailing, keep enjoying being on the water, and can learn without feeling like they’re in school,” he adds.
“Everyone is different, even at high levels. Olympic athletes are all coached on an individual basis and so are kids on the autism spectrum – everyone has their own unique needs and ways of learning,” says Ian. Mark agrees, stating, “It doesn’t really matter if a person has a disability or is on the spectrum. It all stems from one’s learning style, and we all learn in different styles.”
Empowering Messages
Both Mark and Ian share an impactful story of empowerment, inspiring not just their community of sailors on the autism spectrum, but the sailing community at large.
Mark encourages individuals to find their comfort zone within sailing, including with the equipment and the people they work with. He advises sailors to explore different boats and remain open-minded to enhance their versatility and sailing skills.
Ian echoes Mark’s sentiment, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in sailing, both in the boat and in a social group. He suggests that sailing enthusiasts should not feel restricted to a single boat type but should venture into different sailing experiences to help themselves grow and become better sailors.
Their collective wisdom illustrates that sailing is an inclusive and diverse sport that caters to a broad spectrum of individuals and can help participants develop life skills that benefit them outside of sailing. Their passion for the water and their dedication to individualized teaching have positively impacted many kids and families at Freedom Sailing Camp, both on the water and in their everyday lives.
Setting Sail for the Future
Mark and Ian gave a presentation with Charlie Arms and Scott Herman titled, “Sailing Beyond the Diagnosis, Navigating Neurodiversity to Find Success” in Febuary of this year at the Sailing Leadership Forum in St. Pete Beach, FL. The presentation discussed what neurodiversity is and why inclusion is important for sailing programs. Both Mark and Ian had a lot of fun and learned a lot from other people during the experience. They noted that it was great to meet other people doing what they do at Freedom Sailing Camp, and there were great questions from the audience, showing promise for the future of inclusion. The two hope to recruit more instructors and coaches who are equipped to teach all types of sailors, especially people on the spectrum.
Freedom Sailing Camp, under the leadership of Bonnie, Mark, Ian, and their team, continues to serve as a beacon of inclusivity and growth in the sailing world, as well as a platform for kids to gain social experience and confidence. Through their dedication, they inspire sailors of all abilities to explore everything the sport has to offer.