As part of our commitment to helping people go as far as they want to go at the Sea School and in their lives, we offer our keen senior students the opportunity to gain further experience and take on a leadership role through our Leading Crew Training Program.
If you’re age 16 or older, and you've been on 3 Sea School sailing expeditions (5, 7, 8 or 10-day trips), you are eligible to become Leading Crew. We will mail out application packages to interested students in the winter, and you are responsible for completing the application and getting the required safety certifications and qualifications by June 1st. This role allows you to further challenge yourself and learn more about sailing, working with others and leading outdoor adventures. It’s a step toward becoming an instructor, or just a way to challenge yourself further and get more involved. You work closely with the professional staff, help deliver the sailing program and are generally responsible for setting a tone of good leadership and participation to your crew. This is a very demanding position that is incredibly rewarding and loads of fun.
As this is a position of significant responsibility, Leading Crew do not pay for their expeditions.
Each season Leading Crew are encouraged to join the staff for the annual Staff Training weekend in June, and are invited to participate in Wilderness First Aid Training and other professional sessions at cost. With permission, Leading Crew may gain further trip experience by joining the staff for preparation and clean up before and after trips. Additionally Leading Crew are strongly encouraged to further their training by gaining as much small boat sailing experience as they can, and by volunteering within the Sea School community at our events and workshops year-round.
David hails from Prospect, Nova Scotia.
"I first came across the Sea School on the web. I was looking for something exciting to do one summer, and I found something exciting to do every summer! What I love about being on a Sea School program is the feeling of starting a new adventure; no trip is ever the same as the one before. I love being outdoors and being on the water. I love all the places that we visit during our trips, and coming back home with loads of stories to tell. There's no better way to travel than by sail.
At the Sea School I have gained skills in teamwork, leadership, self-discipline and just keeping a positive attitude. Each time I go on a trip I always learn new things, and build upon skills I've already acquired (navigation, sail handling, etc.). I want to be involved with the Sea School because its a great way to make the most out of your summer, I love sailing, I want to learn as much about sailing as possible and hopefully someday I can make it as an instructor.
When I finish school I want to do some traveling. I don't really care where I go or how I get there, because that's what makes a good adventure. Other than that I'm not really sure where I'll end up, or what I'll end up doing, which is perfect. The Sea School will help me achieve my goals by giving me the opportunity to build upon the skills I already have and learn what it takes to become an instructor, and having that experience can open up a lot of doors for me."
Nick is from Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. “I unschool (kind of like home school) and live most of the time in a tipi on a farm with seven other people ranging in age from a few months to mid sixties.” He was introduced to the Sea School by Jake Wentzel, an instructor on Sea School wilderness programs, who lives on the farm.
He loves doing Sea School trips because the experience is so real; there's water, wind, cold and fog and there's no heated cabin where you can go when it gets miserable outside.
“At the Sea School I get to learn about navigation, reading the weather and sailing.”
As Leading Crew, Nick was referred to the tall ship Europa through the Sea Star program – he crossed the Atlantic during the 2009 Tall Ship Races and sailed around Nova Scotia, Maine and Prince Edward Island on the Tall Ship Virginia in 2008. He’s working towards becoming a traditional sailor.