Eternal Optimist
Women’s Open Water
Camp Retreat
Grand Cayman Islands
March 21-25, 2025
An open water swim camp for women led by women
We hope you will join us in the Grand Cayman Islands from March 21-25, 2025.
Experience an integrated approach to improving and enhancing your swimming in this unique swim camp. Join in an unparalleled opportunity to strengthen your swim skills both in open water and on land while empowering the swimmer within. 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.
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 and perhaps in other areas of your life that just might surprise you.
WHO THIS IS FOR:
Smart, engaging women who:
Enjoy swimming and wish to take the next step to improve their swimming and open water swimming skill*;
Like being in a supportive community;
Are up for some adventure.
* A great deal of open water swimming experience is not required; however, solid, lap swimming ability and comfort in open water is required at a 1:45 to 2:30 pace per 100 yds.
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Open water swimming (technique/skills/group swim) at gorgeous beaches each day;
Stroke video and feedback throughout the camp;
Daily developmental topics;
Recovery and flexibility/strength sessions;
Access to your two expert coaches;
Time for inquiry and reflection;
Community and support;
Follow up coaching group call to support your goals and ongoing progress.
Travel, hotel, and meals not included.
Sample itinerary
Friday-Tuesday
Note: Sunday is modified for a free afternoon to relax or play.
8am (Friday): Check-in
8:30-10am: Morning session: Developmental work, flexibility and strength, etc.
10am-Noon: Swim skills and technique or open water group swim
Noon-2pm: Lunch and free time
2-5pm: Afternoon session: Open water group swim, recovery work, developmental work, etc.
Camp concludes Tuesday evening.
Camp logistics
Camp hotel is Hampton by Hilton Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Hotel.
Many room options from single or double occupancy to 3-5 person occupancy with the 2 Queen + sofabed option. We can help you connect with another camper or campers. All rooms include microwave and mini-fridge. Daily resort fee includes hot breakfast, bicycle rentals, afternoon poolside snack, morning refreshment cool down station.
No rental car is needed!
A grocery store is within walking distance.
The hotel is four miles from the Owen Roberts International Airport and an easy taxi ride.
We found many very affordable flights from major airports, and United still has to load their nonstop options for April.
Camp will begin on Friday morning and end Tuesday evening. Plan to travel on Thursday, 3/20 and Wednesday, 3/26.
Travel tips:
Travel insurance is recommended, and/or flights that can be turned into credit for a future camp in the unlikely event of a significant weather system affecting camp.
You are welcome to stay elsewhere, and the hotel will be home base for all sessions and meet ups.
Please bring a swim buoy bag to use on open water swims, swimsuits, towels, goggles, sneakers and beach shoes.
Camp registration
Camp cost (not including travel, lodging or meals):
Early registration before November 30: $1695; non-refundable $250 deposit due by November 30, balance due by January 31.
December 1 or after, $1950; non-refundable $250 deposit due with registration, balance due by January 31.
Jeannie and Susan will follow up regarding deposit and payment via check/Venmo (preferred), or credit card.
For questions, please email or call Jeannie at (570) 490-2182, jeannie@eternaloptimist.me.
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 training camp retreats 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 288th 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 is a leading authority on resistance stretching and is 1 of only 5 people qualified to certify practitioners in the innovative Ki-Hara Resistance Stretching technique. She has worked with elite and professional athletes from nearly every sport for the last 20 years. In addition, 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, Ki-Hara Master Trainer and Educator, NKT, CHEK HLC, and is a student of QiGong. Her clients include players and coaches in the MLB, NFL, WTA, NBA, Formula 1, Olympians, and 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.
