Karen

Port Townsend

My hometown is the port of the famous old schooner, the Adventuress It was built at the Rice Brothers Yard in East Boothbay, Maine and was launched in 1913, so it just celebrated its 100-year birthday! It is on the National Historic Register, and is owned and operated by the non-profit Sound Experience. Her original owner, John Borden II, of Chicago, commissioned the vessel for his personal use to embark on an Arctic expedition to collect specimens for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. The Adventuress came north to Seattle in 1952 and today serves as the flagship of Sound Experience which is dedicated to the protection of Puget Sound through educational expeditions. It has become an icon for environmental awareness and stewardship. For many families in the Pacific Northwest, generations of children climb aboard for the adventure of their life, sailing in the San Juan Islands off the Strait of Juan de Fuca, learning about marine life, sailing and how to be a part of a team -- at sea! They face fears and challenges and have much fun under the guidance of some of the most incredible crew to ever sail the seas. Everyone is given the opportunity to "climb the shrouds" as depicted in this scene, or scramble to the end of the bow sprit. And yes, they step off that schooner with a different outlook on what they can do! This is only what I thought maybe my niece, Maddy and nephew Rex, might have thought before they jumped into their harness to make their way up to the cross tree.