Video Transcripts

Video:  Sail Caribbean Teen Summer Adventures

"Buoy ball released … Pull! Pull! Pull! … Good, good, good, keep it going, keep it going."

Sam Harvey: For over 30 years, Sail Caribbean has been offering sailing, diving and community service adventures to teens looking to get more from the summer break. With your interest in sailing and scuba diving in Caribbean waters, marine biology, academic credit, trekking in the rainforest or giving back to the islands, there is a program for you. And no experience is necessary! All that we ask is that you arrive in the islands with a sense of adventure and a will to learn.

Mike Liese, Founder and Director: As Director of Sail Caribbean over all these years, my commitment to our students and the goals of our program is as strong now as it has been since we began in 1979. Each summer, our students take command of 50-foot yachts. This alone is a significant accomplishment to them both individually and as members of a team. It's amazing in how such a short period of time, they experience tremendous personal growth and return home far more confident and self reliant than when they arrive.

Sam Harvey: Sail Caribbean has a diverse range of programs in the Caribbean. Our destinations host a variety of culture and natural wonder, but they all share are the world's best sailing conditions, the most beautiful beaches and some spectacular diving territory. The Sail Caribbean experienced staff and the friendly residents of the islands, we can show you all they have to offer. On our sailing programs, your boat is your home as well as your transportation, and your captain and mate will help you take charge of running it from day 1.

Student: This is my first year doing Sail Caribbean and I came not knowing anything and now it is the last day of the trip and I learned so much about sailing through the lessons on the boat and it was the best experience of my life.

Sam Harvey: Because we live on board our boats, sailing is a part of everyday life at Sail Caribbean. From the moment you wake up until the moment you fall asleep, you are living what you are learning. Whether you arrive as a boating beginner or a seasoned sailor, handling our 50-foot monohulls or 47-foot catamarans will quickly become second nature to you. We will even help you apply your new sailing skills to small boats when we learn to sail Lasers, Hobie Cats and IC 24's. If you are already comfortable with sailboats, you can earn your Basic Keelboat Certification with us, too.

Student: Today, I was captain for Race Day – it was really fun. We had really great teamwork. We worked well together, and we won all three races and it was really great.

Sam Harvey: Your boat is your home and quickly your crew will seem like family. Your crew of boys and girls your own age will rotate through a roster of onboard responsibilities, working independently and as a team to keep the boat moving. You will learn as much from one another as you do from the instructors.

Student: What's really cool is the boat we sail on everyday is the same boat that we live on and cook our meals on.

Student: And we were like blasting music, everyone was dancing, everyone was helping out. It was just a fun bonding time for all the kids on the boat.

Sam Harvey: There's cabin space for everyone but it is hard to beat the feel of sleeping out under the stars in a light evening breeze. You can't get much further from the bustle of school or city life than this.

The beautiful island scenery is only half the story of the Caribbean. There is an amazing underwater world to explore in all the places we visit. If you just want a taste of what scuba has to offer, you can get your feet wet with an introductory Discover Scuba Diver course. If you are interested in learning more you can earn the first level of scuba certification with the PADI Open Water Diver course.

If you are already a certified diver you are free to take things further. You can earn multiple specialties and certifications with us from Advanced Open Water all the way up to the first professional rating of Divemaster. You can even become a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor.

Student: Last summer, I came down here and got my Open Water, got my Advanced. And this year, I came back and got my Rescue Diver and became a Master Scuba Diver.

Sam Harvey: In the British Virgin Islands, all training is done through our year-round dive center, Sail Caribbean Divers. As a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Center, we hold PADI's highest rating for a scuba training facility. Our full time professional instructors provide you with a comprehensive dive education program using our own scuba equipment and custom dive boats. We are the only teen adventure program to dive from custom dive boats – a huge advantage over diving from sailboats or inflatable dinghies.

Outside of the BVI, we work only with trusted local dive operations and always have Sail Caribbean staff with our students when they dive.

Kim Willen: Rachel has been wanting to dive for a number of years, and like I said I was hesitant before about letting her dive until I knew she was in a program where she was taught, she had classroom work, and was really taught the proper way to dive, and she just loved it.

Sam Harvey: The famous R.M.S Rhone is just one of the wrecks that divers will see in the islands we visit. As a diver, you will get to explore parts of this 310 foot sailing steamship which sank in 1867. The diving in the Eastern Caribbean is spectacular for both novice and experienced divers. The visibility and warmth of the water along with the vivid coral and marine life are loved by students summer after summer.

Sailing and diving are the core of many of our programs but we have so many other ways for you to enjoy your sail Caribbean adventure. You can choose from a wide variety of optional courses and certifications, like American Red Cross Life Guarding or Basic Keelboat certification. Help others and the environment through community service, and take part in activities afloat and ashore, from kayak expeditions to beach volleyball.

You can try your hand at any number of watersports, including wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking and snorkeling. We also have a fleet of starter windsurfers to help you find your balance more easily and get straight to the maneuvers.

Student: Today I tried windsurfing for my first time. It is a little hard at first but once I got the hang of it I was able to tack and jibe, and it was really fun.

Sam Harvey: After enjoying all the Caribbean has to offer, you will give back to the islands and give us so much. We offer community service on all of our programs and depending on which one you choose, you can earn up to 30 service hours. You'll protect endangered sea turtles and coral reefs, perform beach and underwater cleanups, and maintain trails in the rainforest.

Team up with local youth and teach water safety, marine biology and sailing. In return, you will learn about local culture, music, play games like cricket, sample local foods and build lasting friendships. It feels amazing to know you've connected with the islands and their people.

Student: One of the girls from Tortola – her name was Mafia – she came on the helm with me and she steered the boat for a bit and it was really fun. We went through the channel and she had a lot of fun, too.

Sam Harvey: We shouldn't forget about the islands themselves. Some are merely sandbars, while the others have dormant volcanoes cloaked in thick jungle. We go ashore nearly everyday to experience the Caribbean. Explore deserted beaches, watch locals make batik sarongs, or buy a scoop of home-made mango ice cream from a colorful village shop.

Student: It wasn't just about sailing. We got to go dancing which was amazing and the island music was really cool.

Sam Harvey: As each program draws to a close we challenge the students to some friendly competition for the Sail Caribbean Olympics. It is our fun traditional way of going out with a bang.

Sail Caribbean is a place to achieve on multiple levels. Each program bounces the practical skills of sailing and diving with essential life skills like leadership, team work and personal growth. Sail Caribbean creates an environment perfect for personal challenges and students go home more capable and self aware than ever before.

Kim Willen: When they came back, they were so proud that they crewed boat, they learned how to sail the boat. They cooked for each other, they cleaned the boat and they really did that on their own with their group that they were with, and I think that, even though it was hard at times, they were so proud that they did it and along with all that there was so much fun for them, too.

Student: I felt like I learned a lot not only about sailing and culture, but about myself and how I interact with others, and that if there is one thing I wanted to do before I went to college, it would be to do Sail Caribbean again.

Sam Harvey: Sail Caribbean is the longest running teen program in the Caribbean. We have grown dramatically since our maiden voyage and Mike is now joined by an experienced staff of directors who have been with the company an average of 10 years each. Our dedicated and enthusiastic staff of skilled instructors include sailing olympians, teachers and America's Cup crewmates.

Andy Thorne, Fleet Captain: I come back to Sail Caribbean because I like to see the way the kids develop their leadership, the way they come back and they make great friends and they have an awesome time on their boats and they really remember their summers for the rest of their lives.

Sam Harvey: We have a 4-to-1 student-to-staff ratio that allows us to give you the singular attention you deserve, and when we reach land it also means that we have enough staff to provide excellent supervision and offer you a wide range of activities and electives. Every staff member takes part in an intense training session on location in the Caribbean. Staff training covers the Sail Caribbean philosophy, our curriculum and procedures. Safety is our first priority, so we go through numerous demonstrations and emergency simulations. Every staff member has Wilderness First Aid training and every program has at least one highly-trained medical officer. Sail Caribbean prides itself on its longevity and outstanding reputation.

Laura Sachs, Parent: I remember going to the airport thinking I should feel more apprehensive about sending my son but because of the reputation of Sail Caribbean, the years they have had to work and fine tune this program into such a highly reputable company that we had heard from other families who had sent their children with nothing but positive things to say and we felt more confidence sending Ben on the program that he came back just raving about his experiences.

Student: Sail Caribbean was just a lot of fun. I came out here not really knowing what it was going to be like and I really loved it. I got to meet a lot of different people that were on my boat that I never would have met any other way. I'm really going to carry those friendships with me for the rest of my life. It wasn't really just about the sailing for me, it was about learning how to cook and getting new leadership skills that I wouldn't have been able to get anywhere else and I'm really excited about next summer.

Sam Harvey: More than 12,000 students have been through Sail Caribbean programs since 1979. They have come to us looking to learn sailing, diving, marine biology and community service in the best locations the world has to offer. They have left with a whole lot more. Join us and you'll return home with a new sense of independence, greater confidence and new understanding of others, and an appreciation for a very different way of life.

Video:  Staff Training

Mike Liese: I am thrilled that you are here. I am very, very happy that you have made this decision, that you want to be part of Sail Caribbean, be part of this group that work so hard together, that give so much effort to have a great experience for our kids for sure, but also a great experience for yourselves. I am fully in support of this being a great, great time for you and something that you will look back upon a few months, a year, 5 years, 10 years whatever it might be, that you will back upon and say "Man, I had a great summer! This was a summer that meant a lot to me, it meant a lot to my friends, it meant a lot to the kids that I worked with" and it will just be a great memory for you.

Claire: We are going to be docking in a second, doing some docking practice. We are going to have Charlie do a docking and Hannah do a docking, Daniel do a docking and Shannon do a docking. And so people who are not docking right now are going to catch lines for us over on A dock.

Thank you.

Narrator Eric Bowman: Over 30 years ago in the British Virgin Islands, Mike lease launched Sail Caribbean which offers sailing, scuba, marine biology and community service programs for teenagers from around the world. For 12 to 21 days, students live together, forming a community in which they practice and learn seamanship skills, leadership and teamwork, problem solving, decision making, respect, how to deal with the unexpected, overcome challenges and grow from the experience.

Narrator Rose Thomson: All this is possible under the leadership of exceptional staff who received rigorous training together, before the arrival of students. The values that drive all Sail Caribbean programs, are respect for one another and the sea, belief in the great things young people can achieve, and modeling a high standard. The staff's commitments to these ideals are reflected in the mission: to inspire self confidence, foster personal growth, and instill leadership skills in teenagers through the highest quality Caribbean adventures.

Video:  Kieran

This year, I am a program Director which means I am in charge of staff members and kids. I am in charge of everyone in the program, so it is a huge responsibility. I mean originally I used to— I was a captain and I was just interacting with kids and then my superiors. Whereas in this sense, I am in charge of captains and mates and making sure that my captains are happy and staying rested, and that they have the energy to keep their kids happy.

Probably one of the harder things is that you have to separate yourself from your peers or captains and mates, and a big you know challenge that I deal with has been working with my peers, people who are adults and being their leader when they look to me in the same way that anyone who does when they are looking for leadership.

Sail Caribbean is interesting because I think it is a bit of a bubble. My life away from here is completely different. I mean I am working on a double major in photography and in environmental studies with an emphasis in field biology, which aren't related to sailing and all, and I come down here and I drop those things entirely even though they are like 80% or 90% of my identity up there where I go to school, and you know I also do tons of rock climbing along the way at school and I just drop that for a summer.

Now coming back, I have gotten to know who I work with much better and these people I feel like will continue on into my life away from school. And hopefully someday in the future I will be able to sort of incorporate and balance out my dual realities of lives and bring sailing into field biology, and maybe even work from a boat or something and this job takes over your life. You have to give a lot to it.

Video:  Kyle

I have been working for years now in community service and community involvement. It is incredibly important for me and to give the kids the opportunity to do the same as a whole for the boat to be the community and to learn responsibility and respect and how to work hard and how to do skills that they have never done before is an amazing opportunity for me. Students of this age, it is important to show that you are in control that you want them to take responsibility on their own. I also feel as if leading by example is extremely important in running a boat of this many kids.

A mate and a captain should never have to ask twice. It should just be giving the kids the responsibility to stand up, do everything they want to do while I step back and give an example of what leadership should look like. I get much more out of this in feeling as a leader if the kids walk away feeling as if they were the leader of the boat instead of myself. I have spent a long time mastering my leadership and instead of me learning how to be a leader down here, I would rather the kids learn how to be a leader and that is kind of hard to look at it this summer.

My background in Marine Biology is different. I started to college out as a Biology major and finished out minoring in Ecology and stuck with Education, but Marine Biology is kind of a passion of mine. I'm constantly reading books. I have worked at a marine biology camp. I got hired as an education director and then moved in to more of a marine biology role. We actually know more about our own— the moon and about outer space than we do about our deep oceans, which is really crazy. How many times do you ever walk out, outside your front door and see something that you've never seen before, rarely ever, right.

Think about it nature-wise, right? Rarely ever. Exactly almost never, but every time these people drop what they consider down to be their backyard, the scientist that are studying it, they find something new. What are those coral relying on again to make food for them?

Student: Parasites.

Kyle: Not quite parasites, but that is a really good idea.

What is inside the— ?

Student: Algae.

Kyle: Algae, that's right, algae, who remembers the name?

At Sail Caribbean, I actually feel as if I am a parent. I live on this boat with these 10 to 12 kids at a time. I have to work on my patience all the time. I'm a special ed teacher. I feel like I had patience, but now I know that I have a new form of patience. I'm teaching them new skills that I have learned previously in a short amount of time and I am expecting them to show me those skills, and also show me that they have learned how to take care of themselves, as well.

I wake them up. I put them to bed. I love it. I love every moment of being with these kids and feeling as if I am the person who is responsible for them, and that is what I will take away from the summer more than anything.

Video:  Daniel

When I was younger, I was a camper at summer camp. I always looked up to certain counselors. And I remembered them and I kept in touch with them and they were a huge influence on who I have become. When I was growing up, I turned to counselors for my questions, for advice, for counseling. It is a great opportunity that I get to be that person for these kids now so I get to help them through their issues and provide my small insight into their lives.

I have definitely honed in on my skills, living in close quarters with a whole bunch of other people, and it is a great learning opportunity for students, so I love that I can help them in their interpersonal communication, in learning to deal with people that you might not always get along with but you have to live with, in working together, pulling your weight and having fun together.

Life on a boat in the Caribbean tends to be a microcosm that you tend to get lost in these very tiny little worlds where it is you and one other person working with a group of kids and you are sailing around, but despite that, working for Sail Caribbean impacts the way I work with anybody, anywhere, not just on a boat, not just in the Caribbean. And I have absolutely learned a greater sense of professionalism, and pulling weight and rigor and accountability.

I went from this last summer to work at an art museum. Holding a Picasso is nerve-wracking but getting 12 kids in a dinghy to shore in a squall is ten fold. I found that after working in high stress situations that I could do anything at this art museum. Nothing was going to be as hard as working 24-hours a day with kids could be, and so I think that I have definitely become a stronger employee in all respects having done this.

Video:  Sarah

I play many different leadership roles here and working with kids and working with my staff as a PD specifically I have to be a leader to two totally different types of groups. I sometimes think of my PD role as an air traffic controller and then I have my captains and mates that are like the stewardess and the captains above an airplane and they are the ones that are running the show, doing the day-to-day and making everything run smoothly, and I am the one that just gets them from point A to point B and make sure that they are perfectly ready for their flight.

I have been teaching sailing for about over 8 years now so I have learned different techniques from different mentors of mine and also I grew up at sailing camp so that kind of brought a new thing to Sail Caribbean, and I was able to incorporate Sail Caribbean's ways of teaching and then also my own, which made it quite fun and interesting. I'm an EMT and also a wilderness EMT so bringing that to the table has influenced a lot of my leadership roles and how I deal with my leadership with the students and with my staff in medical scenarios as well as just daily life working with the kids.

I have learned that even in high stress times keeping a low tone and just working its way through, problem-solving, is the best way to get through a situation instead of frantically figuring out something and throwing it together and that might not be the best idea, so taking it slow and methodical thinking something through. What has brought me back year after year instead of going to another company or choosing to work with kids in a different capacity has been one technique that we use at Sail Caribbean and it is called the "whisper, whisper, speak" and it is all about empowering the student to take over and not be this demanding force that's telling them what to do but to be behind them and supporting them in what they are doing whether the kid is on the helm going through a docking or whisper, whisper speaking them through a difficult situation a personal or other students in their personal relationships.

I learned that not just teaching kids about sailing. It is so much more than just teaching them how to cook a meal, how to clean a boat, sail a 50-foot yacht. It is so much more. It is empowering them and it is giving them responsibility, subliminally almost they are learning these things and they are taking it home with them and applying it to their lives whether they know it or not they go home with more confidence. They go home with responsibilities that they never thought they could hold and they are asking for it as well. They are not just being like, "Oh, maybe I will take out the trash." They are stepping up they are understanding that so many more things go into life and empowering these kids is the main motivator of everything that we teach at Sail Caribbean.

Video:  Hannah

This is my seventh summer with Sail Caribbean. I came down here when I was 12 with my brother through Bravo and that was in 2003, and I was the youngest one in the fleet and I ended up coming back for 5 more summers as a student. When they first told me I was going to be captain last summer, I was pretty anxious because I know how impressive the captains were that I had, and all of them were such incredible role models for me. And I definitely took away things and I have been trying to emulate a lot of their values that they imparted which is something very important to me because I truly looked up to them all and thought they had incredibly valuable things to teach me.

Then, I sat down on the dock with Zack who is my captain during staff training and he kind of gave me a pep talk through the whole thing and said not to worry about embodying all of my own role models, and just be myself because I have taken in and lived the lessons that they have taught me, and just being myself and doing what I do would pass along all the important things that I had absorbed from them. Being down here and running your own boat as Captain is certainly a different experience from being a student, but I think they both instill an incredible amount of confidence and sense of self-efficacy. As a student, you learn incredible teamwork skills, especially living in such close quarters with initially a group of strangers and then becoming so close with them all.

And then the amount of confidence you gain as a Captain – you are running your own ship, you are doing the things you want to do and you are including everybody in them and teaching them and it is very empowering, the other staff that you are working with just add to the experience. Living down here is so simple and you can take all of the skills and values that you acquire down here and apply them to the complexities of life at home and I think it really makes you a stronger person for it. It gives you a phenomenal outlook on life on how to approach various problems whether they are academic or social and it allows you to approach those problems with fresh eyes and perspective.