Bermuda Parent Bermuda Parent Spring 2016 | Page 44

Are Adolescents Skilled for
Navigating Life’s
Rough Waters?
The adolescent years are a time of tremendous brain
development and change.
A
dolescents are responding
to new experiences, learn-
ing new skills and acquiring
new information. It is only
when we are able to provide them with
meaningful, challenging, and pro-social
activities that they are able to facilitate
their development of healthy minds
and bodies; offering them the best
chances of success.
As parents, we must capitalize
on this window of opportunity and
immerse our adolescents in activities
that are adventurous, educational, and
provide positive experiences, such as,
an expedition aboard the Sail Training
Vessel (STV) Spirit of Bermuda.
The Spirit of Bermuda, is an iconic
symbol within our community. It is op-
erated by the Bermuda Sloop Founda-
tion (BSF) and is celebrating its 10th
42
year in operation. During the school
year, we can witness the Spirit of Ber-
muda moving throughout our waters
as our middle school youth engage in a
5-day Sail Training voyage. Sail training
is utilised internationally as a uniquely
powerful context for learning and
self-discovery.
Lessons learned aboard the Spirit
of Bermuda educate youth for life. For
5 days adolescents are immersed into
a vastly new way of living. They find
themselves in confined quarters and
become the crew of the training ves-
sel. They rise to the new physical and
emotional challenges which develop
key life skills. They also acquire a new-
found awareness of self and connec-
tion with others.
The summer months extend be-
yond the 5-day voyages and include 24-
hour sailing, circumnavigating Bermu-
da, as well as global expeditions. This
summer, BSF is inviting adolescents of
all levels on a series of long and short
voyages. (see our ad for more details)
One, such voyage, will be to the
Chesapeake Bay area and back with
two objectives:
Learning: Firsthand experience of
Bermuda’s deep historical connections
with the Tidewater region during her
first 200 years (Jamestown, Williams-
burg & Norfolk/Yorktown VA) and
Ambassadorial: represent and
promote Bermuda in the crescendo
to the 2017 America’s Cup (Philly/
NY). Once the Spirit arrives in the US
she will cruise and make port calls in
company with the replica of Schooner
AMERICA—a great way to lead into the
2017 America’s Cup!