Youth on Board - The Journey of a Lifetime
September 15, 2007
Contacts:
Lori Crace, 253-305-1076, loric@tacomaparks.com
Clare Petrich, 253-272-1005 or 253-278-2998, cpetrich@portoftacoma.com
Youth on Board Tall Ships Provides Fifty Teens & Ten Adults with Journey of a Lifetime
When the Tall Ships® Tacoma Festival returns to Commencement Bay next summer, four vessels will contain special crews. Fifty youth and ten chaperones selected through a special application process this winter will have an opportunity to experience an international voyage on board the ships.
The specially selected crew members will participate in required hands-on training and team building orientation led by the Tacoma Sea Scouts at the Youth Marine Center in May 2008. Then, from June 29-July 8, the teams will experience a rare chance to work on board four tall ships as they sail from Victoria, B.C. to Tacoma and volunteer with the ships during the popular festival.
Space is limited to 50 teens and ten chaperones, who will be selected from the first 500 applications received. Fees for youth and chaperones, which cover training and the stay on board the vessels, will be $750 each. Scholarships will be available and youth will be considered regardless of their financial situation.
“We’re extremely excited to offer this new program as the Tall Ships® Festival returns to Tacoma”, said Helen McGovern, Chair of the Youth on Board Committee. “ASTA created this festival to expose young people to sailing, and I can’t think of a better way to develop their interest than to spend time as crew members on board these vessels.”
Participants will be chosen through a competitive selection process consisting of a written application, three letters of recommendation and written (or oral, presented on DVD) response to essay questions. Successful applicants will be required to participate in personal, experiential interviews.
All applications from teens and chaperones must be received by the Youth on Board Search Committee by December 1. Applications are being accepted from around the world and participants will be selected from the 500 applications received.
Please send applications to:
Youth on Board Search Committee
c/o Lori Crace
Metro Parks Tacoma
4702 S 19th St.
Tacoma, WA 98405
Applications can be downloaded here.
Those wishing to sponsor a youth for this amazing life experience are asked to contact the committee at the address above.
[http://www.tallshipstacoma.com/pdf/YOB_Press_Release_2007.pdf]
Return to News page