Annual Fund

Martha's Vineyard Ocean Academy (formerly FUEL) offers immersive and transformative experiences at sea for youth aboard the tall ship Shenandoah. These voyages of self-discovery foster resilience and social-emotional skills that empower participants to navigate their lives meaningfully.

There is an urgent need to cultivate purpose, happiness, and resilience in young people today. Research indicates that youth face a growing crisis of anxiety and alienation, significantly impacting their emotional well-being, physical health, and academic performance. In response, the Ocean Academy offers a unique unplugged experience voyaging on a sailing ship. Our staff facilitates a curriculum based on the Positive Youth Development (PYD) framework, which fosters social-emotional skills that strengthen happiness, a sense of purpose in life, and resilience.

The PYD framework encompasses confidence, character, compassion, connection, competence, and a desire to contribute. To evaluate participants' growth in these six areas, we conduct a retrospective survey that students complete at the end of their 5.5-day voyage. The data from our study, collected from 430 students over the first two years, demonstrate significant improvement across all six categories. Students are growing socially and emotionally aboard Shenandoah while learning to be stewards of their communities and planet and developing mariner skills that are helpful for everyday life.