A Literary Sailing Adventure for Teens 13-17!
Black Dog Tall Ships --Writers' Week
Teens Write & Sail Together on a Tall Ship July 21-27, 2013
LOVE TO WRITE? On July 21, 2013, join a one-week literary sailing adventure for 25 teen writers aboard the Black Dog tall ship Shenandoah in the waters between Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. Merlyn's Pen editors will be aboard for "Writers' Week," working closely with teen writers. Writers get to "rough it" for a week, have fun, help sail a tall ship, explore and improve their writing with Merlyn's Pen editors, share their stories, swim, and explore the coves of Vineyard Sound and Martha's Vineyard. Here's a chance to experience life aboard a tall ship in the spirit of literary greats from Melville to Hemingway.
Highlights of Writers' Week Email writersweek@merlynspen.org for more info.
- Write and receive positive feedback on your writing every day.
- Sail, swim, and explore beautiful New England coves and harbors.
- Participate in daily workshops on topics like “How to Show, Not Tell,” “Creating Characters that Live on the Page,” and "Writing What You Know."
- Work with editors of the Merlyn's Pen New Library of Young Adult Writing. The New Library features several poems and stories of many writers earning awards today.
- Learn with friends the art of working together to raise sail, keep watch, read the sky, wind and current, and navigate safely from port to port. Sailing experience is not required!
- Make new friends, write, and create with teens from around the U.S.
Life Aboard a Traditional Tall Ship
The program takes place on the famous Shenandoah, a schooner reminiscent of the great coastal sailors of the 19th century. Neither fancy nor modern, the ship offers writers a chance to experience coastal sailing as their peers might have a hundred years ago. Based in the historic port of Vineyard Haven, on Martha's Vineyard, the vessel is one of the famous Black Dog Tall Ships, whose captains have more than two decades' experience in bringing kids safely to sea in the waters around Martha's Vineyard. The captain and experienced crew offer students a safe, fun adventure that requires no prior sailing experience—only a desire to make new friends, "rough it" for a week, work together as a team, and step back to a time when literature's greatest lines were written by oil lamp.
Where Does the Trip Take Place?
The 5 1/2-day program begins Sunday afternoon and ends Saturday noon in the historic port of Vineyard Haven, on Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Fast ferries from Rhode Island, New Bedford, and Woods Hole, Mass., offer parents and students easy access. Parents are invited to explore the Shenandoah during boarding Sunday afternoon.
Safety and Security
The Shenandoah is U.S. Coast Guard inspected and certified for coastal waters. Students sail in the area between Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island, and emergency services from nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island hospitals are readily available. Special dietary and allergy considerations should be discussed with Kids Cruise prior to enrolling, and are eagerly accommodated. Students sleep in simple but cozy single-sex cabins of two to four bunks, and staff are on duty 24/7.
The Black Dog Tall Ship Shenandoah Under Way
TO RECEIVE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 2013 WRITERS' WEEK, or to sign up, please email your NAME, PHONE NUMBER, CURRENT GRADE AND AGE to Alexandra Stahl at writersweek@merlynspen.org. In the subject line, write: Kids Cruise--Writers' Week.
Feel free as well to call for information:
Kids Cruise--Writers' Week
The Black Dog Tall Ships
Att: Capt. Morgan Douglas
P.O. Box 429
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
office@theblackdogtallships.com
Alexandra Stahl, Editor
Meghann Plunkett, Editor
Kids Cruise--Writers' Week
Merlyn's Pen New Library of Young Adult Writing
11 South Angell St., Suite 301
Providence, RI 02906
1-800-247-2027 writersweek@merlynspen.org www.merlynspen.org
