Tall Ships Adventure: Parent Interview with Joanne Jordan

Watch our Parent interview with Joanne Jordan to hear firsthand what children experience and how they grow at Tall Ships Adventure.

Transcript of the interview

How did you know that Tall Ships Adventure was the right fit?

For overnight camps, we live in America, and [Tall Ships Adventure] is in Canada. My husband is Canadian, my kids are dual citizens, and overnight camps were a challenge for us for personal reasons.

I called them and asked them what their policies were with the LGBTQ community, and they said it was not an issue. Girls and boys can sleep in the same quarters because it’s a boat, and the children are addressed by their last names. It wouldn’t be a problem, and they would welcome her like they would welcome any other child.

I felt comfortable, and my husband felt comfortable signing her up. We were a little bit cautious because we are cautious with her to begin with, but my husband found this online, and I called, and they assured me. She went, and it was great.

What’s unique about Tall Ships Adventure?

For us, I think it’s the inclusivity of accepting all children, no matter what their race, creed, religion, or gender identity is. Tall Ships Adventure was a very welcoming community.

We felt comfortable going in because of those unique factors, and we were assured about the inclusivity and that they cater to a diverse subset of children. That was one of the things that we really paid attention to.

Coming out, I know Tall Ships Adventure was really a valuable experience for her, so much so that she loved it and wants to do an extra week there next summer. So it was really a positive experience.

Was there any personal growth you saw in your child after Tall Ships Adventure?

It taught her how to be a member of a team, how to communicate more strongly, and how to express what her needs were. But it also helped her with her listening skills because, being on a boat and being so close, she had to take orders from a chain of command. The boundaries were set on that boat, and I think that helped her immensely.

It has helped her even in her school life. She just started her freshman year in high school, which was very different from middle school, and I think that some of the skills that she learned on that boat and in that camp really helped her with her time management.

How can you help your child get the most out of their experience with Tall Ships Adventure?

Doing a little bit of research is always important if you have a child and Tall Ships Adventure is your first experience with an overnight camp. Word of mouth is still very strong, and social platforms have made it even easier to connect with people, ask questions, and put parents’ minds at ease about overnight camps.

I think with this particular camp, it’s even more valuable to look into whether your child has to be a good swimmer because they’re on a boat, and it could be a little dicey if the boat ran into any problems. Is your child a good swimmer? What’s the level of supervision? But at the same time, will it help teach them independence?

Straddling that fine line, doing your research, and having the conversations beforehand rather than learning after the fact when they’re there is probably a safer bet.

What would you tell other parents about the value of sending kids to Tall Ships Adventure?

Tall Ships Adventure teaches them the value of honing their listening skills as much as it teaches them how to be more confident, advocate for themselves, and speak up. That’s because of the nature of the way that camp is run, because it’s so unique, because it’s a tall ship, and because there’s a very finite number of children in very close quarters for a week or two at a time.

I think it enriches your kid, to be honest with you, more than just a regular overnight camp because it gives them an agenda and a sense of communicating, listening, planning, and organization.

My other daughter goes to a different overnight camp, and just comparing the two, there’s some structure and there are boundaries on what classes you want to take or what you want to do extracurricularly throughout the day. But at Tall Ships Adventure, it was a lot more intense just because of the proximity of the quarters and what the agenda was.

What does your child say about Tall Ships Adventure?

She loved it, and she loved it so much that we were thrilled that she wanted to do another week. She was terrified at first. We honestly didn’t know what to expect. She had already been to overnight camps before. She goes to a special overnight camp in New Hampshire.

We pick her up in New Hampshire, turn around, drive to Kingston, Ontario, drop her off at the tall ship, then go back home to Philadelphia, and then go back to Canada and get her in Brockville or wherever. We have a house in Ontario, so it works out. But it’s kind of crazy what we do.

We arranged for another week, and the administrators at this camp have been so helpful, open, and wonderful. We’re very happy with the fact that she wants to do this.

Final thoughts on Tall Ships Adventure camp?

She’s also applying for an award, and the Tall Ships Adventure course gives accreditation for that. I think it’s called the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. It’s a grant where you can receive $750 or $1,000 in funding, but you are required to do a certain number of community service hours and a certain amount of sports.

It’s meant to develop a well-rounded child. You have to put in a certain number of hours of sports and physical activity, and this covers the physical activity and/or community service aspect, I believe.