It’s about getting children away from computer screens and away from street environments.
It’s about putting children in a positive learning atmosphere.
It’s about children learning to be part of a team.
And above all else,
it’s about having fun!
A child can never do wrong - they can only make mistakes - mistakes are good, mistakes create a positive learning situation.
The program is six days of sailing, living aboard a big old wooden ship like old-time sailors, sleeping rough and being responsible for the running of the entire ship.
When the crew first steps aboard they are split into three watches (teams). Each watch has a list of duties which have to be performed every day. This rotates so everyone’s job list changes.
They have to appoint a secretary who is responsible for all the paper work and the writing of the weekly newsletter.
They have to appoint an engineer who is responsible for the running and maintenance of the machinery.
T hey also have to appoint a bugler/piper who is responsible for sounding “Reveille” and other important calls.
Daily duties include cooking, cleaning, scrubbing the decks, maintaining the machinery, sailing and anchor watches. Anchor watches are maintained 24-hours-a-day. By the third day they have to elect a captain, who can at any time, be handed the “Black spot” and replaced if the crew decide he’s not doing his job.
There are lessons, both practical and theory on sailing, navigation, communications, safety at sea, knots, snorkeling, coral reefs, reef ecology and reef preservation. At the end of the week there is a written exam.
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Pirates and Pirate History are a big part of the program. There is a pirate competition for the best pirate re-enactment and a prize for the winner.
There is a knot-tying competition held over three rounds. This is also a prize competition.
Rules are very strict; the daily running of the ship is paramount. We use the motto: “Take care of the ship and the ship will take care of you”.
Discipline is maintained by a democratic peer system. If everybody agrees that the action was against the best interest of the ship and crew, then punishment is agreed and carried out in Pirate fashion! Normally this means walking the plank or a mock trial with witnesses for and against the accused.
The crew is encouraged to show off their talents and voice their opinions with evening sing-songs and round-the-deck discussions.
There is no place on the ship for Grown Ups. A ‘Grown up’, as defined by Peter Pan, has nothing to do with age. It’s about attitude and whether they can remember their happy thought and fly.
Adult leaders are expected to join-in all the daily activities without suppressing the children’s natural enthusiasm or taking over their jobs.
By the end of the week the children have developed skills and positive attitudes that will stay with them for a lifetime.
At the end of the voyage there is an award ceremony; each child is presented with a sew-on patch showing that they are, and always will be, crew members of the Bahamas High Adventure, a copy of the newsletter that the secretary produced but most important of all, they take away their “Happy Thought” which means for the rest of their lives, whatever their situation, however bad things may seem, they will always be able to remember their happy thought and “FLY”
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