21ST CENTURY SPIRIT OCEAN ADVENTURE SUMMER PROGRAM CELEBRATION THIS FRIDAY

July 21, 2010

The South Carolina Maritime Foundation’s 21st Century Spirit Ocean Adventure Summer Program students, families and teachers will celebrate the end of the program this Friday, July 23rd from 6 – 8 PM at the Charleston Maritime Center, located at 10 Warfside Street in downtown Charleston. The closing summer celebration will showcase work and activities students have enjoyed throughout the summer along with food and door prizes. Each family who attends will also be invited on an upcoming sunset sail aboard the tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina.

The second annual 21st Century Spirit Ocean Adventure is a seven-week drop out prevention program for 40 rising ninth grade students attending Title I schools - those schools in which more than 40% of the student population is eligible for the federal free and reduced lunch program - in Charleston County. From June 4th through July 23rd students began their summer with a one-week leadership and character development sail aboard the tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina. The remaining six weeks were spent striving to change those attitudes and behaviors most strongly predicative of dropping out while closing the achievement gap through daily interdisciplinary, experiential education activities designed to reinvigorate the students’ commitment to education.

Eligible students were identified through the Charleston County School District At Risk Alert System and spaces were then offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The 2010 summer program was headquartered at the new Sanders-Clyde Elementary/Middle School. Some of the summer activity highlights include rafting in the upstate, a field study including a shark dissection at Edisto Beach, sailing aboard the Spirit of South Carolina and much more. The program is offered free of charge, and provides extensive adult education opportunities to all family members living in the same household as enrolled students. The South Carolina Maritime Foundation is pleased to report that of those students who graduated from the inaugural program in 2009, 100% are still enrolled in Charleston County School District schools without major discipline issues.

The South Carolina Maritime Foundation owns and operates the tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina. The Foundation's mission is to create opportunities for life-changing experiences resulting in leaders for tomorrow's communities. Since its first season of programming in 2007, nearly 6,000 students have been served. With the support of local partnerships, the South Carolina Maritime Foundation is able to generate funds to keep these exceptional programs in place. Follow us on Twitter www.Twitter.com/SpiritofSC and become a Facebook fan www.Facebook.com/SpiritofSC.