Seas of Peace
This project's parent organization is Seeds of Peace
It operates in United States
It uses Outdoor pursuits
Entered the Best New Project
More about Seas of Peace
Seas of Peace combines the peace-building element of our partner organization with the profound experience of life at sea. At sea, all participants start out on an equal playing field where all aspects of sailing – from halyards to capstans – are unknown.
As the participants work together to cook, navigate and learn the ropes, so to speak, bonds are built and a sense of pride emerges as they slowly become a cohesive crew. One unique piece of the schedule is night watch. On the boat, participants are not simply asked to sleep in bunk-beds near political enemies but also to trust each other to guide the vessel safely while they themselves sleep. In choosing such an isolated environment, we are challenging the students to truly engage with one another, offering them no choice with whom they interact.
Our small size allows us to eliminate cliques based on nationality that inevitably form in larger programs. On the boat, teamwork in navigation, keeping watch and trimming sails could mean the difference between making port and spending another night at sea – at camp the consequences and rewards are less tangible. At sea the stakes are higher, but so are the potential rewards.