VIPCA announces applications for two marine-based educational programs are now open
by Carol Bareuther 22 Apr 18:40 UTC
2023 Junior Sailing Summer Program Graduates © Oriel Blake
The Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) is pleased to announce applications are open now for two marine-based educational programs FREE to USVI public school students and young adults.
VIPCA Junior Sailing Summer Program (ages 13- to 17)
Apply now for the third RapierMed-sponsored Junior Sailing Summer Program. The swimming portion takes place twice weekly at 2 p.m. from June 17 to July 12 at the St. Thomas Swimming Association pool, while the sailing segment held at the St. Thomas Yacht Club is Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., from July 15 to July 26, 2024. Land and sea sailing instruction includes understanding the parts of a boat, navigation skills, reading weather and conditions, safety basics, and of course plenty of sailing.
"I am always looking for fun learning opportunities that may turn into potential careers for my daughters and as an ocean-loving family I could not have asked for a perfect program. Even though they may not notice it, this program has built both of my daughter's confidence in themselves by learning how to manage sailing vessels out on the open ocean," says LaTarsha Fuertes, whose daughters 15-year-old AnaMaria and 14-year-old Arianna participated in the Junior Sailing Summer Program last year.
"I'd tell my friends that it's a different approach when you're out on the water. But once you know what you're doing, and listen to the sailing instructors, it's very enjoyable and a wonderful experience," says AnaMaria, whose sister Arianna adds, "What I liked best was getting to learn the wind directions and sailing around Little and Great St. James with my friends."
The Junior Sailing Summer Program is FREE to eligible USVI public school students thanks to the annual $25,000 sponsorship by RapierMed, a USVI financial services, and venture capital firm.
"We are pleased to once again sponsor this wonderful program to bring sailing and over-the-water skills to the youth of the US Virgin Islands. We hope that the experience instills a love and respect for the water and for vessel operation that will carry these young people forward with confidence whether towards careers in the marine industry or elsewhere," says Trey Goldsmith, Chief Operating Officer, and General Counsel for RapierMed, LLC.
Summer program participation opens the door to enrollment in the year-round IGY Marinas-sponsored after-school sailing program, held during public school term on Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship Program (ages 18- to 29)
VIPCA is now accepting applications here for its seventh annual Marine Apprenticeship, from June 20 to July 19, for young adult USVI residents (who graduated from a USVI public high school). The four-week program provides intensive captains and STCW (Standards of Training and Certification of Watch-keeping) training including First Aid and CPR certification; Sea Survival, and Fire Fighting. The full apprenticeship schedule also includes swimming, SCUBA diving, sailing, and power-boating instruction; Boating Safety certification; charter vessel and business operations; technical skills and proficiency in diesel engines and outboards; and an introduction to marine careers with various Government departments.
"When the students work with us, we train them in basic seamanship and safety. We have them participate in drills such as fire and man overboard and we demonstrate the basic mechanical checks that we do before every voyage," says Andy Thompson, lead captain at Ocean Surfari. "We are grateful to have an opportunity to contribute to the cause of mentoring and training our youth in the marine trade. A side benefit is to meet these young people who may soon be entering our field and be able to offer them a position. We have had great success with the graduates of this program and have enjoyed watching them grow and prosper."
Sixty-five students have graduated from the Marine Apprenticeship since it started in 2017, with 37 entering the USVI marine industry workforce.
The Marine Apprenticeship is FREE to participants, sponsored by the Island Foundation. All VIPCA-directed training programs are fiscally sponsored by the Marine Rebuild Fund within the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands.
VIPCA is recognized by the VI Department of Labor as an Eligible Training Provider with a Registered Apprenticeship Program which extends the training of VIPCA's Marine Apprenticeship into a PAID 12-month Marine Apprenticeship 2000-hour Work Placement. This mentorship and scholarship program supports the VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship graduates in careers as paid crew providing them necessary sea time to obtain their OUPV U.S. Coast Guard Captain's License.
To date, 14 graduates of the VIPCA Marine Apprenticeship program have obtained their U.S. Coast Guard Captain's License, with 11 additional graduates currently working toward their sea time before taking their exams later this year.
"I was already working in the industry cleaning yachts, but I wanted more," says Ameda Smith, a 2023 graduate of VIPCA's Marine Apprenticeship program, who has recently completed 6-months of culinary trailing through UVI CELL, is currently working on the hours needed to obtain her captain's license at Waypoints Yacht Charters, and will be attending a marine and diesel technical school in Florida this fall, before returning to the territory to work in the marine industry. "What I liked about the Marine Apprenticeship is that it ticked so many boxes of learning at once. It would have taken much longer if I had to put all those educational pieces together on my own. My career goal is to be able to do it all - captain, chef, clean, and fix yachts."
For more information about VIPCA and its programs, visit www.VIPCA.org, Email: , or call 340-642-0656.