The South Carolina Maritime Foundation invites the public for a rare opportunity to tour the 140-foot tall ship, Spirit of South Carolina this afternoon at Georgetown Landing Marina from 1 to 5 p.m. The public is encouraged to stop by on Sunday to learn more about the South Carolina Maritime Foundation, their mission and the educational programs offered aboard the Spirit. Children are welcome. The South Carolina Maritime Foundation utilizes the Spirit of South Carolina as a floating classroom, bringing lessons to life through hands-on learning opportunities. Programs aboard the Spirit are aimed at developing character, cultivating leadership skills and imbuing a sense of social and environmental responsibility. Programs vary in length from a one day program, the Sea Spray Scouts Day Sail Program, to multi-week live aboard programs such as the Spirit Ocean Adventure Summer Programs. The Spirit is in town for its once a year visit to conduct educational day sail programs with area schools. On Monday, November 2nd, a group of 5th grade students from McDonald Elementary will participate in a five-hour sail aboard learning about weather, navigation and maritime history. Topics covered onboard are specifically chosen to assist teachers with subjects difficult to communicate in the classroom setting, meet state standards required by the Department of Education and coincide with the experience of a sail training vessel. "Educational programs under sail challenge people in a way they've never been challenged before." said Sarah Piwinski, interim executive director for the South Carolina Maritime Foundation. These programs bring students outside of their comfort zone and can accelerate the process of building a team, because teamwork and good communication are required to accomplish almost any task on board." Serving as the state's ambassador and premier education platform the Spirit of South Carolina also possesses a proud and unique heritage. The vessel is reminiscent of the Frances Elizabeth, a vessel originally built by the Samuel J. Pregnall & Bro. Shipyard in Charleston in 1879. This two-masted schooner was constructed by a team of local shipwrights under the supervision of Master Shipwright Mark Bayne of Sea Island Boat Builders and was launched on March 4, 2007. The Georgetown Landing Marina is located off US Highway 17 at the Black/Pee Dee River Bridge on the north edge of Georgetown at 432 Marina Drive, Georgetown, SC 29440. For questions about directions to the marina please call 843.546.1776. The South Carolina Maritime Foundation is a registered 501c(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to offer effective, unique educational opportunities for the students of South Carolina, focusing on the history, math, science and literature of South Carolina's water resources and encouraging personal responsibility, contribution to community and stewardship of environment. Since our first season of programming in 2007 more than 4,000 students from across the state of South Carolina have been served. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.scmaritime.org.
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