First New Volunteer Recognized for Exceeding 50 Hours Supporting Spirit of South Carolina.

Bryan awards Ken Fonville
his "Jib Sail Volunteer" Pin 
recognizing  50 hours  supporting
 Spirit of South Carolina.

Ken Fonville had been watching the the activity around Spirit of South Carolina for some time,  
from high up in his condominium overlooking the Charleston Maritime Center. Finally, late last year he appeared at the dock offering to help the crew wherever they might need him. An experienced sailor, Sea Scout advisor, and retired executive in the Furniture industry, he knew a thing or two about wood and water. But he did raise one reservation - an acquired aversion to prepping and varnishing.  He came aboard anyway.  
At end of  this last April, Ken has logged over 67 hours of Volunteer time. That's not including the hours prior to February, when we officially began tracking Volunteer involvement. And about 20 hours of that time  has been devoted to some high quality scraping, sanding, sealing and 12-coat varnishing of hatches, coamings, and cap rail.  Irony?  Oh, fer sure. 
But there's more.   For the past few months, Ken began an active outreach supporting Spirit of South Carolina's programs.  As a "Mate" advisor to the local Sea Scouts organization , he has been building interest in involving them with Spirit of South Carolina, and  secured invitations  to the Crew to meetings at the Charleston Power and Sail Squadron, as featured speaker, in order to tell Spirit's story, and  recruit volunteers, with some great results..(talking about you , Dan M.)
To mark this 50 Hour milestone, we've resurrected the tradition begun in 2002 during the building of our Schooner, with  a custom cast pin, to be presented to each Volunteer as he/she passes the mark.. The next milestone-100 hours, will likewise be recognized with the  "Foresail Volunteer Pin.   Looking forward to seeing lots of these in public.

Boy Scout Overnight Cruise a Hit with Scouts and Leaders

Over the weekend of May 18-19, Spirit of South Carolina hosted an overnight cruise for the Coastal Carolina Council of  the Boy Scouts.  Although only four Scouts, an even distribution of girls and boys of middle school age, came on board with a parent or Scout Leader,  feedback from the Council Executive who also came on board indicated the cruise a resounding success.  
The Scouts and chaperones boarded early Saturday morning, received orientations, tours, and chose their berths.  By 10 AM, Spirit was cast off the dock, and sailed out  the Jetty's for the afternoon, by evening, she returned and dropped anchor off Castle Pinckney. for the night.  The next day was full. Weeks before, Spirit's crew, in collaboration with Scout Leaders and Parents, planned activities focused on Scout Skills and rank advancement, with some high adventure mixed in, all configured to the individual Scout's goals for the cruise.  Crew members with past Scouting experience, organized  the day, and led them thru skills ranging from first aid, safety, knots and lashing, basic campcraft (amazing, what can be practiced aboard a 19th century schooner), and finally a swim call, and  a sailing/rowing lesson, using the Schooner's Dory..  By 3 pm Sunday, Scouts, and chaperones, were safely ashore and headed home,, no-doubt with stories to tell. . which was the whole intent.
Spirit of South Carolina has the potential to provide a Scouting High Adventure experience, condensed for younger Scouts, or expanded for older (high-school-aged) Scouts, equivalent to their classic outdoor experiences at Philmont Scout Ranch  in New Mexico or Charles L Sommers Canoe Expeditions.  The success of this cruise  hopes to prove the concept, and build a new Youth program.