Athletics & Recreation
Weekend activities vary each week and are planned by faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students. A weekend suggestion box located in the main office welcomes comments from everyone.
Weekends begin on Fridays after all academic and athletic responsibilities have been met and last until dorm meetings on Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Students may leave campus for the weekend if they have received permission from all of their teachers, their advisors, parents and the Director of Residential Life by Noon on Thursday. Although it is allowed, on average only 8-10 students choose to leave campus per weekend.
The weekend schedule is presented at Town Meeting on Thursday mornings allowing students the opportunity to plan ahead and sign up for off campus events.
Examples of our off campus events are listed below:
- Town trips - downtown Traverse City / Grand Traverse Mall / Front Street
- Movies
- Full Moon Hike
- Swimming trip to the Park Place
- Sunset Dune Hike
- Halloween Barn Dance and Bonfire
- Trips to coffee shop with free music Sunday afternoons
- Performance at Interlochen Arts Academy / Traverse City Orchestra
- Ice Skating
- Girls' nights out
- Mountain Biking VASA Trail trip
- Horseback riding at local stable
- Weekend trips to South Manitou
- Rock climbing in Marquette
There are also a number of opportunities for students who wish to remain on campus:
- Beach Volleyball
- Climbing Wall
- Beach bonfire with snacks - bring guitars, poems etc.
- New release movie in the Karman Activity Center or Auditorium
- Grape picking day in the fall
- Open Gym
- Foosball tournament
- 3 on 3 Basketball - pickup game in the gym
- Touch football
- Winter Ball
- Superbowl Party
- Earth Day
- International Dessert Classic
- Kayak/Canoe excursions on the Crystal River
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Championship Softball game
- Downhill and Cross Country Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Friday Night Movies
Physical and Health Education
The Leelanau School Health and Physical Education class is a program designed to add physical activity to students’ daily lives and to acquire knowledge about personal and community health. Students will attend class four days a week.
Physical Education
Each day will involve some form of physical activity, such as stretching, jogging, calisthenics, plyometrics, or weight training. Students will learn rules, terminology, and proper mechanics for many different sports. An effort will be made to include student interests in the curriculum. Sports they may explore include football, Ultimate Frisbee, soccer, orienteering, golf, tennis, badminton, floor hockey, basketball, baseball, kayaking, and possibly more. Students will be designing personal health programs, in which they will learn how to track their diet and exercise. Students will be graded on participation and application of learned knowledge.
Health Education
The health aspect of this program will be taught monthly. One week out of every month will be set aside for health topics, including personal and community health, sexual health, diseases, healthy relationships, goal setting, and healthy routines. It will be taught in a classroom setting, with students being tested on information through short papers and quizzes.
Athletic Program
Like our academic curriculum, our athletic program provides every child with a chance to succeed. Your student signs up to play a sport each season, choosing from a range of rigorous team and outdoor options. Leelanau offers standard competitive team sports (basketball, volleyball, soccer, and tennis), and a special outdoor recreation program called Footsteps, which includes hiking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, skiing, and snowboarding. Recreational and competitive equestrian training also runs year-round at nearby Northern Pines Farm. Every day when your student steps onto the field or into the water, onto the court or into the forest, she grows her physical abilities and her character, learning about her strengths and overcoming her limitations.
Equestrian Program
Training for equestrian students at The Leelanau School takes place at Northern Pines Farm in nearby Maple City. Led by nationally-recognized hunter/jumper trainer, Melissa Hirt, riders may board their own horse or lease one of the farm's many experienced mounts.
Built in 2000 and situated on over 40 acres, Northern Pines was designed with the competitive rider in mind: 33 12 x 12 stalls with rubber mat flooring, an 80 x 200 indoor arena, heated viewing room, hot and cold wash rack, private tack room, and foaling stalls. All turnout pastures feature automatic Nelson waters along with safe and effective HorseGuard fencing. Trails adjacent to the property give both rider and horse time to reflect and relax. While at the barn, students are taught not only the finer points of their chosen discipline, but the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, and equine care--qualities at the very heart of riding.
Those riders wishing to compete have many choices. Northern Pines offers regular "schooling shows" where riders of all abilities can practice their horse show skills in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Others may choose to travel to "rated" shows, including "AA" winter series in Florida. In 2002, Leelanau students qualified for the prestigious Capitol Challenge, Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and the Washington International Horse Show, which showcase the top-ranked riders in the country.
Hunter/jumper clinics offer another dimension to the students training at Northern Pines Farm. Weekend sessions taught by renowned trainers are held on site and some students choose additional clinics such as those taught by George Morris.
At horse shows held away from the farm, students keep up with their classwork via the Internet and daily phone conversations with Leelanau faculty. In addition, adult mentors travel with the riders, offering support and an extended sense of family.
For information about Northern Pines Farm, please feel free to contact Melissa directly at 231/228-5550.
Sports Offerings:
| Fall | Winter | Spring |
| *Equestrain (Coed) | *Equestrain (Coed) | *Equestrain (Coed) |
| Field Sports (Coed) | Basketball (boys) | *Golf (Coed) |
| Field & Stream (Coed) | *Conditioning (Coed) | Challenge Footsteps(Coed) |
| *Tennis (Coed) | *Recreational Skiing/ Snowboarding(Coed) | Volunteer Footsteps(Coed) |
| Volleyball (girls) | Baseball/Softball (Coed) | |
| Challenge Footsteps(Coed) | Field Sports (Coed) | |
| Fencing (Coed) | ||
| Boxing (Coed) |
* Indicates individual sports.