Alphabet Sea Quest Camp (Ages 12-17)
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The Sea Quest sailing program offered by Alphabet International Camps is a sailing expedition around the most beautiful and famous islands off the Italian coast. The program introduces students aged 12 – 17 to core nautical skills while sailing along one of the Mediterranean’s most idyllic coastlines. Students live aboard yachts working together as a close-knit crew to learn and practice sailing skills under the careful guidance of (RYA) Royal Yachting Association certified instructors.
The Sea Quest tour includes a visit to the following islands off the west coast of Italy:
Palmarola, one of the Pontine islands, is a mostly uninhabited island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, located about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Ponza. It has an extremely rocky coast dotted with natural grottos, bays, cliffs, and crags. The island is primarily a nature reserve, but there are a handful of ports where boats can land and several restaurants that cater to tourists during the summer season, as well as a few small beaches. The famous French explorer and oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau declared Palmarola, “The most Beautiful Island in the Mediterranean.” It is home to the San Silverio Shrine, a site where miracles have been confirmed, and Cava Mazzella, a natural cave.
Zannone is also part of the Pontine Islands. It forms part of the Circeo National Park for its beauty and several rare biomes. The island is uninhabited, but supervised by the Forestry Service, which maintains a station and small educational exhibit on top of Monte Pellegrino, the island’s highest point. There are also the ruins of a Benedictine convent dating to the 13th century, and on top of those, the remains of a more recent Colonial-style villa. The island was once used as a private hunting reserve by Italian aristocracy; hundreds of mouflon wild sheep were brought there and are now a protected species.
Ventotene, another Pontine island, also includes the smaller island Santo Stefano, which houses an 18th Century Bourbon prison. Ventotene is famous for its ancient structures: a Roman port, which is still in use, the ruins of the Villa Giulia, a fishery, and the Carcerati reservoir. It is also a renowned place for birdwatching during northern migrations from Africa, and scuba diving, where it is possible to see many varieties of marine life, sunken Roman amphorae and the wreckage of a World War II ship.
Ischia, located about 30 km from Naples, is the largest of the Phlegrean Islands (along with Procida, Vivara, and Nisida) in the Gulf of Naples. It has been inhabited since the Bronze age and is famous for the Aragonese Castle and various churches and convents on a rock near the island, and on the island itself, the Gardens of la Mortella and Villa Ravino, Villa Colombaia, various beaches and an archaeological museum.
The iconic Capri is also located in the Bay of Naples, and has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic. Some of the main features of the island include the Marina Piccola (the little harbour), the Belvedere di Tragara (a high panoramic promenade lined with villas), the Faraglioni (limestone crags that project above the sea), the town of Anacapri high above town of Capri, the Grotta Azzurra “Blue Grotto,” the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas including the well preserved Villa Jovis, and fantastic, unforgettable beauty at every turn.
The Islands of Capri and Ischia are easily accessible from the Amalfi Coast, which features the towns of Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Sorrento.
ALPHABET SEA QUEST CAMP AT A GLANCE
- Departure location: Nettuno, Italy
- Age range: 12-17
- Maximum number of students: 8 per sailboat
- Daily sailing lessons by Royal Yachting Association (RYA) certified crew
- Ratio of staff to students: 1:4
- Camp duration: 1-2 weeks
- Accommodation: Sailboat cabins
Alphabet Sea Quest departure and arrival point:
Port of Nettuno, Italy
“I have been familiar with the Alphabet Camps for several years, and chose to offer them to my clients for a few reasons. In their programs on land in Umbria, they replicate the American camp experience for younger campers, meaning that many of the activities are styled after what they would find in the United States, but in a different environment to American camps (for this reason, Alphabet Camps are the only providers in Italy accredited by the American Camp Association). The program described here, the Sea Quest Camp, is truly a unique sailing experience for Italian children who want to explore the islands of Italy, many of which will still be new to them. As the nationality mix chart shows, more than half the participants are from other countries, which is unusual for English-speaking summer programs based in Italy, and offers Italian children not only the opportunity to really speak English all day, but also to make new friends from around the world. Finally, in terms of logistics, children from Italy and nearby countries will not have to travel far to reach the depature and arrival point, can possibly avoid the hassle of booking flights, and in many cases, can be easily accompanied to and from them by their parents. “
Capri and Ischia
Why choose the Alphabet Sea Quest sailing program?
- Alphabet International Camps is one of the few, if not only organizations to offer genuine American summer camps in Italy, blending education, culture and adventure for an unforgettable formative experience.
- Alphabet International Camps’ Sea Quest program, which is a sailing expedition off the western Italian coast, is one of a kind.
- The Alphabet Sea Quest camp program includes daily excursions to some of Italy’s most beautiful islands including Palmarola, Ventotene, Zannone, Ischia and Capri.
- The Alphabet Sea Quest Camp program provides lessons on core nautical skills, marine life and cultural history.
- The Alphabet Sea Quest Camp program allows participants to live aboard fully-equipped, comfortable yachts.
- The Alphabet Sea Quest Camp is entirely in English and guarantee exceptional safety and 100% involvement at all times thanks to a 1 : 4 staff-to-participant ratio.
The facilities
ALPHABET CAMPS SAILBOATS AT A GLANCE
- Two beautiful Sun Odyssey sailboats
- Each sailboat offers 4 double cabins and 2 bathrooms
- Table on deck for outdoor meals
- Bimini for protection from the sun
- Outdoor showering platform
- Spacious salon with plenty of seating
- Complete kitchen
The courses
PROGRAM CONTENT AND SAMPLE TIMETABLE
In order to understand directions and safety instructions, students are encouraged to have a minimum B1 level of English.
Sailing Program
Starting from the port of Nettuno, participants set out on an incredible sailing adventure, setting course to the Pontine Islands with Palmarola and Zannone for world-class snorkeling and Ventotene to discover the ancient Roman port. They continue their sailing expedition heading south to Ischia and Capri, for a cultural excursion to the Aragonese Castle, a visit to the renowned Blue Grotto and a night in Ischia dining in a true Neapolitan pizzeria. They will complete the week by sailing back up to Nettuno with an overnight stop in Santo Stefano to visit the famous abandoned Bourbon prison.
Academic Program
Throughout the journey, participants take part in interactive lessons on marine life and cultural history to enrich their time on and in the water and trekking on land.
End of course certification
At the end of the journey, participants are awarded a sailing certificate of achievement together with memories to last a lifetime.
Sample timetable:
SAILBOAT CABIN ACCOMMODATION
Campers will be accommodated in the Sea Quest sailboats perfectly maintained and equipped to guarantee a comfortable on board experience. A maximum of 8 participants will share double cabins. There are 2 bathrooms with showers on board.
Meals
Accommodation at Sea Quest Camp includes a full board meal plan (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Laundry
Bed linen and towels will be provided. Laundry will be done once a week for campers doing multiple weeks.
Social Welfare
Sea Quest maintains a minimum 1 : 4 staff to participant ratio to ensure high levels of interaction, learning and safety
Insurance
Insurance covering medical and travel assistance, personal liability and trip cancellation is not included in the price of the program. Marshall Language Services has a policy available through Guard.Me that covers these elements, as well as an additional policy through CareMed that covers cancellation under a wider range of circumstances, including the need to repeat school exams. A summary of these policies may be downloaded below.
Dates and Fees
Calculate your own approximate quote
The following tool will help you to get a good idea of the cost of a language course and accommodation, if requested, at this school. It may not include all the courses and accommodation options available or take into account promotional offers or costs associated with student visas, insurance, study materials or exam fees. For these reasons, the availability of any course, accommodation option (especially in the high season) and the final price of a package will always have to be verified with Marshall Language Services prior to enrolment.
Other Programs by this School
ALPHABET INTERNATIONAL CAMPS
Alphabet International Camps offer the following camps:
- Junior Discovery Camp Fun and Adventure camp with optional English lessons for children aged 6 to 12 in Umbria, Italy.
- Outdoor Exploration Camp Fun and Adventure camp with optional English lessons for teenagers aged 12 to 17 in Umbria, Italy.
- Alphabet City Camp English or Italian language and culture lessons with activities for teenagers aged 12 to 17 in Rome, Italy.
- Alphabet Day Camp for juniors aged 5 to 13 in Rome, Italy.
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