Young People Learn Life Lessons from Tall Ships Experience

Four young people from Nova Scotia recently completed a four-week odyssey from Halifax to Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of the final leg of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge.

After arriving in Belfast in third place on Aug. 13, on the Dutch training ship Europa they had a chance to experience the city's four-day tall ships festival.

The youth experienced this opportunity through The SEASTAR Society, a local non-profit organization that provides young people the opportunity to experience tall ships through the eyes of traditional seafarers.

"This journey is one the most rewarding experiences I've ever had," said Adam Stacey of Stellarton. "I've learned many life lessons from living aboard the Europa, but mostly, the importance of both teamwork and self-reliance, and how to harness both physical and mental strength to get the job done."

He will attend University of New Brunswick in the fall to pursue a degree in psychology and hopes to apply many of the skills he has gained to his post-secondary education.

SEASTAR participants are sponsored by youth-focused organizations and the society assists with costs and helps arrange the logistics of the voyage. The society began in 2007 and launched a pilot program with 20 participants in 2008.

"Sail training is recognized as a powerful learning opportunity for helping young people build self-confidence," said Dr. Sheila Brown, chair of The SEASTAR Society. "The lessons learned aboard a ship can be transferred to the trainee's everyday life and help them achieve their goals."

For more information about The SEASTAR Society, e-mail [email protected] or call 902-405-7700. Trainees interested in the 2010 program should visit seastarsociety.ca this October.

The winner of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge 2009 was Cisne Branco from Brazil. The Dutch naval vessel Urania was named the winner of the Tall Ships Atlantic Challenge Friendship Trophy.