Your Experience

In this overnight program, students sign aboard as greenhands on a sailing ship, recreating Richard Henry Dana, Jr.’s experience in his book, Two Years Before the Mast. In this hands-on living history program, students are immersed in California history while developing critical thinking, teamwork, communication and leadership skills. Students participate in a variety of hands-on activities, including rowing long boats, working the sails, rigging, moving cargo, collecting hides, taking a turn in the bosun’s chair, cooking, night watch, singing sea shanties and swabbing the decks. Students will get the chance to sleep below deck on our tall ship the Spirit of Dana Point. It’s an experience not soon forgotten!

During the program, all students will be referred to as Mr. (Last Name). Students will be separated into crews. Each crew will have a student leader, or “mate”, and an adult chaperone, or “safety officer”. Each crew does different activities.

Crews:

• Galley Crew: This smaller crew oversees the galley, which is the ship’s kitchen, and is led by the ship’s Cook. They will help prepare dinner and get up early to prepare breakfast. Duties include measuring ingredients, cutting vegetables, and baking. They will also do the bosun’s chair challenge with the Bosuns crew. This group does not participate in night watch.
• Hide-Gatherers: Led by the ship’s Second Mate, this crew will row long boats to search for hides, and learn about how hides were cured and traded. This crew will take a turn standing night watch.
• Bosuns: The bosun is a high-ranking officer on a ship in charge of the crew and equipment. They will learn from the ship’s captain how to tell time by the ship’s bell, raise message flags, and other duties. They will team up with the Galley crew on the bosun’s chair challenge. This crew will take a turn standing night watch.
• Line-Handlers and Riggers: Led by the ship’s First Mate, these crews will learn to rig a block and tackle, move cargo onto the ship, and how to furl and unfurl the sails on the yard. They will also take a turn standing night watch.