The profiles of the schooners Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage dominate Boothbay Harbor from their berths along Wotton's Wharf, where forty Proctor students boarded Wednesday.
The students' excitement--after months of anticipation and preparation--is beyond words. Parents and friends crowded the decks late in the afternoon to tour the ships and examine the cramped living quarters that will be home for these kids over the next nine weeks.
They set sail on the adventure of a lifetime. It's a physical voyage, with educational stops carefully planned along the route to San Juan, and it is a spiritual adventure as well. The lessons of life at sea are truly transformational. Greg Samaha '71 congratulates Tommy '10 in advance.
We know, from fifteen years of experience, that every student will grow as an individual. They will grow by facing hardships, enjoying beauty and by working as a team.
The success of Ocean Classroom is unprecedented in high school adventure education. The marriage of academic curriculum to the rigors of standing watch, getting soaked and blue water sailing makes the program unique, and the fact that we need two ships this year speaks volumes.
This is part of the crew aboard Spirit:
Wilson, Dave and Haakon take a turn at the wheel.
Dave and his parents chat with program director Dave Pilla at the bow of Spirit.
Cody and Dylan challenge me to a duel on the desks of the Harvey Gamage.
Later in the day, a crowd of more than one hundred friends of Proctor gathered for a celebratory reception at Fisherman's Wharf Inn, where members of the Ocean Classroom Foundation and the parent American Sail Training Association praised this great partnership and the courageous boys and girls who are willing to risk discomfort for the opportunity of a lifetime. This is a portion of the audience.
