The experiential education schooner Mystic Whaler on Jan. 9 marked the second anniversary of her arrival at Channel Islands Harbor. Early on Jan. 9, 2022, escorted in by Harbor Patrol, the ship sailed past the breakwater and entered her new home port.

Beyond her nautical beauty, over the last two years, Mystic Whaler has shown the community her true calling is to be the living heart of Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation (CCOAF) and its mission to use adventure through sailing and the sea to promote STEM comprehension, environmental stewardship, teamwork, self-confidence, and nautical skills for local youth in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
 
Mystic Whaler has welcomed some 2,000 young people to its experiential education programs. Experiential education is a teaching philosophy in which educators purposefully engage with learners in direct experience and focused reflection to increase knowledge, develop skills, clarify values, and develop people’s capacity to contribute to their communities.

Mystic Whaler’s education staff and crew strive to create engaging experiential content filled with living history, and marine science.
 
Mystic Whaler has also welcomed hundreds of community members from Santa Barbara and Ventura counties to her decks with free deck tours and has also invited them to participate in sailing adventures that help support her experiential education programming.
 
Mystic Whaler and CCOAF begin 2024 as they began 2022 when Mystic Whaler first arrived, dedicated to its Mission, its community, and making sure “No Child is Left Ashore.”
 
For more on Central Coast Ocean Adventures Foundation or Mystic Whaler and its experiential educational programs, visit www.centralcoastoceanadventures.org.