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Adventure on the Sound
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost? What does that include?
The cost for Adventure on the Sound is $500 per student. This includes all program activities, meals, cooking supplies and tents.

How long is the program?
Adventure on the Sound is a 3 day, 2-night program where students will be provides challenging but safe opportunities that facilitate their leadership and teambuilding skills.

What happens during the program?
Each program can be modified to meet your schools needs.

The basic outline is:
Day 1: Orientation, Learning the Ropes, and Setting up Camp: Students will set expectations for themselves and the community and begin learning how the schooner SoundWaters operates. Once we arrive on the island students help set up campsites, cook dinner and get settled in.

Day 2: Exploration: Day 2 students awake a 0700, take care of morning duties, work on a community service project and then board the schooner for another exciting day of sailing. When we return, more exploration of the island, cooking and a campfire.

Day 3: Homeward Bound: The students are given more control/responsibility of operating the schooner as we sail back to Stamford.

Is it safe? Do I need a life jacket?
Safety is the utmost priority aboard the Schooner SoundWaters. As a passenger-carrying vessel inspected by the U.S. Coast Guard, the ship, its captains and crew are held to the highest standards of training and licensing.

Safety is the Captain and crew’s number one concern. Your students are in good hands during the entire program! Our professional crew has been selected to combine the talents of a competent sailing team with those of a trained education staff. Your student will be very closely supervised at every point during their time with us. Our Crew are trained in emergency procedures and certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer. In addition, American Red Cross certified Waterfront Lifeguards supervise all swimming activities on every schooner program.

SoundWaters is a sub-chapter T United States Coast Guard inspected vessel. SoundWaters is subject to and complies with all USCG and Federal Communications Commission regulations. The Coast Guard inspects the vessel and crew annually: ensuring the seaworthiness of the vessel and the crews ability to respond to a variety of emergency situations.

The Coast Guard does not require SoundWaters passengers to wear flotation devices during their trip, but SoundWaters carries more P.F.Ds than our maximum number of passengers. If at any time a parent, teacher or school district requests that students wear life jackets we will gladly accommodate the request.

While on the island, students will be monitored by crew and chaperones. If needed, students can be evacuated off the island to mainland if additional services are required.

What should I bring? What should I leave at home?
These is a full gear list available here.

Please do not bring electronic devices (cell phone, PSP, Gameboys, ipods, etc.)

What are the facilities on the island?
The facilities on the island and on the schooner are very rustic. The island has two outhouses and the ship has a marine toilet which is only operational underway. There is no running water on the island, and we take enough water to drink, cook and clean our dishes with if we are being frugal. There is no additional water for bathing or grooming. On occasion swim calls will be held off the beach where one could bathe.

What about the weather?
AOS will happen in the rain, so please dress appropriately. If sever weather is present during the program, shelter can be found inside Sheffield Island Lighthouse. There is enough room for students and staff to sleep in the light house if inclement weather (thunder and lightning) is forecasted for over the evening.

How many students do you take?
The AOS program operates with 15-20 students, We ask that there be at least 1 chaperone from your organization and no more than 3 chaperones for a large group.

Do you take younger students out?
We take younger students out for our Science on the Sound programs and we take individual students for our Schooner Adventure Summer Camp program.

How do I sign up?
To sign up please contact Olena Czebiniak at oczebiniak@soundwaters.org or (203) 406-3319.

What if I have more questions?
For more information please contact the Captain, Justin Cathcart, at jcathcart@soundwaters.org or (203) 918-1219
or Olena Czebiniak at oczebiniak@soundwaters.org or (203) 406-3319.