Eternal Optimist
Women’s Open Water
Skills Camp

in the pristine waters of
Alexandria Bay, 1000 Islands, NY
August 8-11, 2025

An open water swim skills camp for women led by women

We hope you will join us in the 1000 Islands of New York on August 8-11, 2025.

Whether an experienced open water swimmer or just getting started in open water, this camp is for you. Share in the fun of being a part of this supportive and encouraging community of women who wish to learn, grow and laugh. Leave with new friends, feeling more confident and empowered in your swimming.

In this unique camp, tap into the knowledge of your two coaches, and their “surf and turf” expertise to help you propel to the next level. Receive invaluable insight, guidance and wisdom from Coach Jeannie and her wealth of experience and mastery in open water swimming, swim technique and achieving big dreams. Receive on land support to keep you swimming your best with Coach Susan and her expertise in strength, flexibility and well-being.

WHO THIS IS FOR:

Women swimmers with solid lap swimming skills; no open water experience necessary.

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

  • 6 open water swims (technique/skills and open water swimming), including a long/challenge swim Monday morning;

  • Expert swim technique and skills coaching;

  • Expert flexibility, strength, and well-being coaching;

  • A community of like-minded women who love to swim and love the adventure of open water.

    Travel, lodging, and Sat/Sun/Mon meals not included. Friday dinner included.

Tentative camp itinerary

Note: We will shuffle things around depending on weather.

Friday
4pm
Arrival swim and group welcome dinner

Saturday and Sunday
9am-5pm
Morning and afternoon swim skills and technique, open water group swims, flexibility and strength, recovery.

Our longish group swim is scheduled for Sunday am, weather permitting.

Noon break for lunch

Monday
9am-Noon
More skills + group swim, flexibility/recovery, wrap up

Camp concludes at Noon on Monday.

Note: If your travel plans make Friday or Monday difficult for you, that’s okay! Come late, or leave Sunday… we will work with your plans.

Camp logistics

We will be gathering at sights around Wellesley State Park for our swims and group sessions.

Nearby accommodation options for every budget:

Wellesley State Park - primitive camping sites 

1000 Island Campground - glamping, cabins, tenting, and RV sites, all with electric

Wooden Boat Inn 

The Clipper Inn Motel

Captain Thomsons

NOTE:

Please bring a swim buoy bag to use on open water swims, swim suits, towels, goggles, sneakers and beach shoes.

Camp registration

Camp cost (not including travel, lodging or meals):

$495 (new campers)
$445 (returning campers)

Register here and submit your payment to hold your spot in the camp.

Payment options:

  1. Check to Jeannie Zappe

  2. Venmo to @Jeannie-Zappe

For questions, please email or call Jeannie at (570) 490-2182, jeannie@eternaloptimist.me.

Cancellation policy: Registration fees are due at time of registration to hold your spot in the camp. If you must cancel, you may do so until July 15, 2025. Cancellations after that are not refundable. Transfers to another person are welcome. If camp must be rescheduled for reasons beyond our control, a full credit will be issued for a future camp.

Your Coaches

Jeannie Zappe and Susan Bianchi met at Penn State in 1987 when each needed a roommate for the summer. They knew they would remain closely connected for life. Then… 32 years later… Susan joined Jeannie’s crew for all three of her Triple Crown swims. Now they are combining their skill sets and life experiences as they partner in open water swimming camps for women.

About Coach Jeannie

I’m SURF, and Susan is TURF!

On September 14, 2022, at the “mid-life” age of 56, Jeannie completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which included 29 miles around Manhattan (2019), 21 miles across the English Channel (2021), and 21 miles across Catalina Channel (2022). In doing so, she became the 287th person to complete the Triple Crown, and very proudly, the 112th woman.

Professionally, Jeannie had a career in higher education information technology for 20 years, culminating in several high-level leadership positions. In 2010, she listened to her heart and took a leap of faith in reinventing herself as a swim coach, returning to what she loved doing in high school and college. One might say she has always been called to coach swimming. During this second career, she has coached age group, collegiate, master’s, and open water swimming. She began private technique coaching in 2010 and has had the honor of coaching both state and national level athletes, as well as many triathletes, Ironmen/women, and marathon and open water swimmers.

Jeannie holds a Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Business Analysis from Penn State and a Master of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell University. Her swim coaching and motivational speaking business, Eternal Optimist LLC, is located in Mechanicsburg, PA.

By focusing on coaching the “whole” swimmer in the pool or open water, Jeannie aims to inspire you to dream big, believe in yourself, and have the courage and confidence to challenge yourself… and, of course, remain eternally optimistic!

About Coach Susan

I’m TURF, and Jeannie is SURF!

Susan Bianchi, MS, founder of Intrinsic Health Systems, has spent her adult life empowering others to move beyond what they thought they could do, helping them be and feel their best. An entrepreneur at the age of 25 she stepped outside of the box in search of better ways. She has gathered and honed her toolbox of skills integrating it into a potent and powerful approach to flexibility, strength and optimal health. Susan has worked with elite and professional athletes from nearly every sport for the last 20 years. She is a published writer and leads certifications, workshops and retreats and is co-creator of the BAALL Process, a women’s personal development program. 

Susan has her Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Wellness, NKT, CHEK HLC, and is a student of QiGong. Her clients include players and coaches in the MLB, NFL, WTA, NBA, Formula 1, Olympians, NCAA D1 Athletes. 

Always a holistic approach, she works to blend science and energy together, understanding that good health is Intrinsic in all of us.