Other Opportunities

SAIL TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ADAMS COUNTY YOUTH

Donald E. Smith, an Adams County native, and the American Sail Training Association
(ASTA) announces the availability of two sail training scholarships of $1500 each to be
used by Adams County youth between the ages of 16-18.

Between August 3rd and 16th, the two scholarship winners will travel to Washington state and sail aboard the tall ships, Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington.

Mr. Smith, a graduate of Gettysburg High School ’60 and Gettysburg College ’64, wishes to share his love of the sea with the county’s youth. “Sailing aboard a tall ship with other youth is a wonderful and exciting way to make new friends and have the adventure of a lifetime,” he said.

Mr. Smith’s desire is to provide young adults with a meaningful tall ship experience. Mr.
Smith recently sailed onboard the Spirit of Dana Point, a schooner whose homeport is
Dana Point, California. “Sailing onboard the tall ship was a dream come true,” he said.
Working in conjunction with ASTA, Mr. Smith has created a fund that will support two
scholarship awards in 2008. The costs of the sail training experience will be covered by
the scholarship, but transportation to and from Seattle/Tacoma, Washington will need to
be paid by the applicant or their family.

The scholarship winners will have an exciting opportunity to join other youth aboard the
traditionally rigged sailing vessels, Hawaiian Chieftain and Lady Washington and voyage
among the San Juan Islands. These vessels are owned and operated by the Grays Harbor
Historical Seaport Authority and are part of an entire fleet of tall ships from America and
international ports which will join in ASTA’s signature event, the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® series of maritime festivals and tall ship races.

The deadline for scholarship applications is June 1, 2008. Interested applicants should
download the application package from the ASTA website or at the area high schools’
guidance counselor’s office.

Last summer, Mr. Smith provided scholarship funds to a student from Gettysburg to have
a “wilderness adventure” in the Grand Tetons-Yellowstone area through a Jackson Hole,
Wyoming outfitter. The Gettysburg Rotary Club helped with the application process.
Mr. Smith’s life has been filled with wilderness and on-the-water adventures. As a young
adult, he backpacked in the Sierra Nevada’s and whitewater rafted Idaho and California
rivers. He said, “These experiential education and adventurous activities have shaped my
life and helped build my character. I just hope some Adams County youth will take me
up on my offer to experience the world from the deck of a tall ship.”

LINKS
Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority http://www.historicalseaport.org
Donald E. Smith Sail Training Scholarship Application Package (pdf)

ASTA and the USCG team up to offer sail training!


The American Sail Training Association (ASTA) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are working together to offer EAGLE Seamanship, a sail training program for young people aboard the United States Coast Guard barque EAGLE, sailing August 17 - 20, 2008.  Up to 24 participants age 16 - 19 will embark in San Pedro and sail to San Diego CA, living and working alongside the ship's crew to learn the ways of the sea aboard America's tall ship.  EAGLE Seamanship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the excitement and traditions of seafaring life and 'learn the ropes' from veteran sailors of the US Coast Guard.  ASTA and the USCG offer the EAGLE Seamanship program as part of ASTA's TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® (TSC) series.  Participating youth will be selected by local committees in each of the Pacific Coast host ports via an application process designed by ASTA.