‘Round the Horn

Your Experience

This is a five-hour day version of our popular Before the Mast overnight. In this immersive living history day program, students learn what life was like for merchant sailors in the 1830s. The experience is based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s book, Two Years Before the Mast. In addition to learning the history of the California hide trade, students will learn to raise and lower a sail, tour our tall ship the Spirit of Dana Point, and move cargo as a team using a rope pulley system. This program does not include sailing.

During the program, all students will be referred to as Mr. (Last Name). Students will be separated into three crews. Each crew will have a student leader, or “mate”, and an adult chaperone, or “safety officer”. The crews are Port, Starboard, and Midship. The three crews will rotate between activities.