Enjoy Your Park, Your Way: Nathan Benderson Park

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | March 2022

December 2021 saw the launch of the NBP/Spirit of America Premier Youth Boating Education Camp, created in conjunction with the Spirit of America Foundation, a national organization committed to offering safe and comprehensive water-based educational and recreational programming. This unique opportunity for local kids aged 10-15 allowed them to learn boatmanship both academically and experientially. Not only did they acquire the lifelong skills of safe sailing, paddling, and powerboating, but they each earned their Florida boating license and now have the ability to confidently share what they’ve learned with others.

The park’s media and communications manager, Douglas Jessmer, says, “We’re planning to do it again over spring break and over summer, as well. We’re growing the next generation of boaters. Having capable, well-educated kids who can go safely out on the water is a great way to encourage and teach others. It’s a win/win for all of us.”

Jessmer works for Suncoast Aquatic Nature Center Associates Inc. (SANCA), a not-for-profit business created to manage Nathan Benderson Park. While the park is officially a Sarasota County Park, it’s unique in that it’s a world-class event center and team training site. SANCA helps promote that fact in addition to providing outreach programs through recreation, safety training, education, and volunteering as a service to the community. 

Miriam Ward has served as the park’s programs and aquatic manager since September, and she says no two days are the same. “One day, I could be teaching archery to 30 kids and making sure all the gas tanks are full for the boats, and the next day, it could be totally different.” 

One of the myths about the park that she’d like to dispel is that you need to know someone or be part of a group to use it. “We’re here for the entire community,” she says. “There are no prerequisites. There’s nothing you need to be a part of this family here.” Another myth she’s encountering is that people assume the park doesn’t offer what they want—it’s just rowing or sailing. The reality is that the land-based activities they offer is too long to list, but here are just some of the things one can do: walking, running, cycling, skating, bird watching, and fishing, plus there’s yoga in the park, Flex Fitness, Zumba, and radio-controlled sailboats. 

They also have camps galore beyond the new boating education camp. There’s the Water Adventure Camp, the Archery & Freshwater Fishing Camp, the Learn to Sail Camp, the NBP Ultimate Camp, and more. While fun is a clear goal with every camp, the curriculum for each is created by some of the most accomplished people in that sport or area to ensure that all participants obtain the knowledge and safety skills needed to be successful. 

The park’s training opportunities for adults are just as popular, too. A few months back, they ran a Learn to Row course, and the interest was so high that they had to raise the cap beyond the expected capacity. The youngest participant was 25, the oldest was 72, and the range of people in terms of background, career, and ethnicity was extremely diverse. Everyone had a great time and learned the basics of the rowing stroke and how to handle equipment during the six-hour session.

They’ve even got the popular five-week Camp Gladiator fitness program, which is led by certified personal fitness trainers. Each “camp” is a 60-minute, full-body workout designed to happen outdoors, but they now offer it virtually, as well. If you want to incorporate cardio and strength exercises into your workouts, this camp is for you.

If a camp or a course seems like too much of an initial commitment, there’s always the option of attending an NBP Rec Day, where people can try out paddleboats, kayaks, canoes, and sailing on their own. For a four-hour window of access, it’s just $10 for adults and only $5 for kids over six. “It’s an underutilized opportunity for people that’s also quite good for homeschool or virtual school students,” Ward says. “It’s a great way to see if it’s for you before taking a minicamp, a summer camp, or joining an adult group.” There’s a paddling team of 120 members that would be more than happy to have new members, she points out.

One of the park’s most noteworthy aspects, though, is its reputation for being the best racing course in the nation. Because of that, Olympic trials and world championships have been held there, and teams travel thousands of miles just to use this facility. “It’s because there’s a consistent three-and-a-half-meter depth along the entire 2,000-meter course,” Ward explains, “plus there’s the area to the north of it where you can turn and go back down the channel. Basically, you’re looking at about a mile and half of water that is consistent over 10 lanes. There’s also the floating concrete wave attenuator that looks like a breakwall down the middle of the lake, which keeps the waves from becoming a problem. That keeps the course fair and navigable.”

Ward notes that in Princeton, N.J., they have to hold heats as a way to determine which boat gets which lanes. “This is pretty common across the entire country. That’s because some lanes are better than others, because inconsistent water depth has a huge effect on rowing and the pressure on the oars. Here, we don’t have to race for lanes because they’re all equally set.”

Nate Benderson Park also has the widest course anywhere. When the high school championships begin in March, you’ll see eight or nine boats starting at the same time—you won’t find that anywhere else. They can also run regattas more quickly, thanks to a return channel that moves boats off the course and around to recovery docks, rather than back down the course as if they raced on a river. This frees up the course for the next race right away. Often, as boats are finishing one heat, another heat has already started.

So, if you want to get into boat racing as a fan or participant, Nathan Benderson Park is a can’t-miss place to go. But if you don’t want to get into boat racing, the park is still a great place for singles, couples, or families to visit because it has something for everyone, from walkers and runners to cyclists, anglers, and casual paddlers. And it’s right here in our own backyard. 

For more information on Nathan Benderson Park or its educational opportunities, visit www.nathanbendersonpark.com or call 941.358.7275.