Trade the meeting room for the quarterdeck — at least in spirit. Adri Howe, Deputy Director of Mystic Ocean Adventures, will introduce us to the Mystic Whaler, a magnificent 110-foot schooner that serves as a floating classroom in the Santa Barbara Channel. Based out of Channel Islands Harbor, the nonprofit uses traditional sailing to immerse young people in maritime history, ocean science, conservation, teamwork and hands-on STEAM education. Students don’t just hear about sailing — they haul lines, learn nautical skills and become part of the crew.
Adri brings an unusually local perspective to the story. A longtime nonprofit executive and communicator, she is also President and Executive Director of California Coastal Horse Rescue in Ojai (she spoke to our club in 2024 about the horse rescue operation), an officer of the Channel Islands Harbor Foundation, and former Executive Director and CFO of the Channel Islands Maritime Museum. She’ll tell us how an old-school tall ship is being put to thoroughly modern use: building confidence, curiosity and environmental stewardship in the next generation. Come hear what happens when the classroom has sails, the Pacific is the laboratory — and occasionally somebody gets to fire the ship’s cannon.