| Address: |
65 Pine Ave.
Suite 321 Long Beach, California 90802 |
Organization Profile:
The SSV Tole Mour is a three masted square topsail schooner that is operated by the non profit company Guided Discoveries, Inc. We offer sail training, marine science education, and profound life experiences to students from all over the world. We have been able to serve 1700 students and their Chaperones per year and we enjoy an astounding return rate. We expect this number to increase as we work to reach our fullest potential. While on board the 33 cadets and their 3 chaperones are exposed to sail training and natural sciences in a unique hands on way. All the while, they are guided safely by our well qualified crew.
There are no “passengers” while the SSV Tole Mour is at sea. Due to our Sailing School designation by the Coast Guard, all persons aboard are considered crew. Right from the start our professional crew teaches the cadets how to safely handle lines and understand what it takes to maneuver the ship. Throughout their expedition they become familiar with the inner workings of our vessel and help to operate her while she is underway. Teamwork is central to our program, and all trainees embrace their new roles as shipmates as soon as they step aboard. They quickly learn that it takes all hands to safely operate our ship.
In addition to teaching our cadets how to be effective crew members, we also teach many foci from the field of marine biology. Because of our unique setting, we are much more than just a classroom. After we teach about animals and algae in the ocean, we guide our cadets while snorkeling so they can see all these things for themselves in their natural habitat. We also introduce our students to the fields of oceanography and meteorology. The amazing part of our program is that we can then show how these fields directly affect us on the ship.
All this could not be done without our relentless attention to safety. All of our college educated instructors are 1st Aid, CPR, and Lifeguard trained by the Red Cross. In addition some of our crew are also Wilderness First Responders (WFR) and one is Emergency room first aid certified. Our Coast Guard licensed Captain and his officers frequently drill and oversee the entire ship's complement on ship board emergencies. We have also performed training exercises with Bay Watch Isthmus and Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles/Long Beach to further improve our emergency response. We have been very progressive in our safety standards for students while climbing aloft, pioneering the "prussic" system, used in rock climbing, so that our cadets can challenge their fears while being completely safe. On top of all this we have a 3 to 1 cadet to staff ratio further ensuring that while students push their boundaries they are fully covered.
Of course one of the draws of our program is where we sail. We have, in our 7 years of operation, been able to sail to every channel island and even as far out as Cortez Banks (100 nautical miles off of San Diego). It's amazing that in Southern California you can find such pristine marine preserves just 26 miles from a sprawling metropolis. Because of its low annual rain fall and lack of human development the island waters offshore of the Southern California bight are typically a clear blue that is breathtaking.
All of these things together make an expedition on the SSV Tole Mour an experience of a lifetime.
The SSV Tole Mour is available for weekend, 3, 5, and 7 day trips and operates with schools from September to November and January to May. Summer months are open enrollment and are for 1, 2, and 3 week trips.
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Contact: Mark Waddington E-mail: mwaddington@guideddiscoveries.org Phone: 310.508.0748 Fax: 562.436.7424 Home Page Address: tolemour.com Number of Employees: 13-15 Summer Employment/Internships: Returning Chaperones may be selected as volunteers for up to one week during summer months. Volunteers fulfill the job of deckhand while on board. College age applicants are elligible for our councelors position during Summer. Summer camp, sailing, and ocean experience are all preferred. |
Resource(s) Provided By This Organization:
Tole Mour
