Our Board purchased the schooner Perception to provide Tuition Free Sailing Adventures for Gold Star Teens, grieving youth, and other worthy youth groups, which members may nominate. Sailing adventures are 4-day, 3-night cruises out of Northport for 5 youth and a youth counselor. Five weeks in June and July are available for these adventures. Our young sailors will have the opportunity to experience team building, leadership, and character building in a fun, healing environment, and develop enduring friendships with those who have faced similar traumas. Those who have experienced loss will feel the calming effects of our beautiful Great Lakes, a feeling of being at one with nature, a sense of one’s place in the universe, and the satisfaction of mastering the skills of sailing a tall ship.
Volunteers, veterans and their families may sail on Perception Saturdays and Sundays from 1 PM to 3 PM throughout the sailing season when she is in Traverse City or Northport. They may bring guests if space is available. Veteran sailors, landlubbers, and those who would like to learn to sail a schooner are all welcome. Friendly and anxiety-free training is available from our paid captains.
Volunteers are asked to contribute a minimum of 15 volunteer hours. This may be in the form of maintenance work, working with kids, skilled clerical, financial, fundraising, or technical help.
If you’re interested, click here and tell us about yourself! https://michiganchallenge.org/volunteer/
Care to donate? Click here: https://michiganchallenge.org/donate/
Volunteers should be in good health to undergo the challenges of working on Perception. Sailing risks include seasickness, rope burns, strenuous work raising sails and anchors, exposure to sun, wind, rain, hail, and heavy weather, and danger from materials dropped from aloft. Close quarters and minimal privacy can also be expected when staying on the boat.
The off-season risks may include: climbing a ladder safely, working on the deck 10 feet off the ground, and the usual hazards around a work space.
Under no circumstances are volunteers to work under the influences of legal or illegal consciousness-altering drugs or alcohol, or possess such items on board, as they may compromise judgment and the safety of all aboard.
Volunteers who work with youth on board will be required to undergo a background check. Youth must be treated in a caring, non-judgmental manner with the understanding that they have suffered the loss of a parent, and that they have joined us to experience the joy of sailing and the companionship of their peers.
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