Navy Baseball National Leadership Experience

[penguin05]

Does anyone have experience with the Navy Baseball National Leadership Experience summer program? I can’t seem to find any information on this forum, my apologies if I missed it. Looking at registering DS for either the STEM or baseball program at USNA this summer. He would like to explore USNA and USAFA or ROTC . This is new ground for our family, so trying to get him exposed to various options and help us prep for 2026 applications.

DS is a high school sophomore, math/science guy but not a programmer. Weighted GPA of 4.2 in 3 semesters (sophomore year has been mostly honors classes and one AP). Three sport athlete – cross country, Nordic ski and baseball. Marching, jazz and prep band. Guidon for his HS military company. He is joining Model UN next year. Finishing his Eagle Project this spring. Leadership roles in HS, Scouts and church as well as significant volunteer time. Will work on test prep this summer in anticipation of ACT/SAT junior year.

I have been following the forums for a few months, thank you for all the information! I have read comments that by junior year everything is fairly locked in, so if you have any recommendations for mid-point sophomore year, would appreciate the counsel.

 

[Capt MJ]

The Navy sports camp and sports leadership experiences are run by the Naval Academy Athletic Assn, a non-profit that manages Div I sports and fund-raising at USNA.

The main site is www.navysports.com to find all the camps.

I think the sports camps are a great way to get a sniff of the SA early on. The campers stay in Bancroft Hall (mid form), will see mids passing by in summer programs and later in the summer, see plebes marching around. Any midshipman baseball players around over the summer often drop by the camps and are generally happy to talk about their experience.

It is fun, well managed and a worthwhile way to get a glimpse of USNA.

https://www.playacbaseball.com/documents/navy.pdf

 

[whataluckymom]

As background, my DS attended both the Navy Baseball Leadership Camp last summer as well as NASS (but not the STEM camps). He was blessed to receive an appointment January 9th and has accepted. The camp that made the most influence on his opinion of the Navy and his desire to apply at USNA was the Summer Seminar - so I highly recommend applying for NASS once your DS is in his junior year. That said, I feel the baseball camp was worthwhile. I can't compare it to the STEM, but if DS had to choose between the baseball camp and NASS, he would have definitely chosen NASS. As @Capt MJ states, the baseball camp is fun and well organized. DS was able to see the plebes around the Yard occasionally. They did a LOT of hustling from Bancroft / King Hall to the field and back at a good clip and with all their gear. For a catcher with extra gear, it was quite the workout in and of itself, but he loved it. DS felt the instruction was good and they had leadership discussions / talks in the evenings. It was a more relaxed atmosphere than NASS with less of a feel of what attending the academy would actually be like. DH and I traveled with our DS to Annapolis and hung out in the area during the camp. There are certain times during the camp that spectators can watch the scrimmages - so for an hour or so a day, we were at the field observing the fun. If you have any specific questions about the camp, feel free to send me a message.

 

[Capt MJ]

The Navy sports camp and sports leadership experiences are run by the Naval Academy Athletic Assn, a non-profit that manages Div I sports and fund-raising at USNA.

The main site is www.navysports.com to find all the camps.

I think the sports camps are a great way to get a sniff of the SA early on. The campers stay in Bancroft Hall (mid form), will see mids passing by in summer programs and later in the summer, see plebes marching around. Any midshipman baseball players around over the summer often drop by the camps and are generally happy to talk about their experience.

It is fun, well managed and a worthwhile way to get a glimpse of USNA.

https://www.playacbaseball.com/documents/navy.pdf

Edit: “mid form” = mid dorm

And, NAAA focuses on sports-related fund-raising. There is also the other independent non-profit, the USNA Alumni Assn and Foundation, which does typical development works, alumni programs and services, and the Foundation prep scholarships.