Short Summary

If you tried to create a project that combined the islands seafaring heritage, boat building, science, community involvement, theatrical, operatic, and dance performances, plus the visual arts, not to mention making a difference for seniors and at-risk kids and fun, plain and simple, it would seem like an impossible task. But if you build a tall ship, invite the public, that is, islanders, off-islanders, year-rounders and summer folk to involve themselves in any way they’re inclined, you come up with results both unique and remarkable. The Seeker is a wooden scow-schooner that Ted Box and his sons, Jake and Garrett, are building from plans he got from the Smithsonian. The project has been inclusive from the beginning. The shed that houses the Seeker was erected with the help of men whom Ted mentored when they were boys, most of them needing guidance. The Charter school has provided several students whose lives have been enriched, and the community at large has contributed countless hours, both helping and learning something of a nearly forgotten way of life.  When Ted asked the community what they thought the ship should do once launched, even he was surprised at the response.

The Seeker started out as a father and son project. We love the sea. For many years, I was a commercial fisherman and boat builder. I've always shared the sea with my family. My son Jake has an inborn gift of navigation. He always knows where he is. Everyone who goes to sea with him is glad he's along. He never get's seasick. Garrett, his younger brother, aways gets seasick, but loves the sea just as much. We're lucky. We live on an island, have the skills to build a ship, and believe that we all learn better by playing. We want to share this dream with people and kids, who aren't so lucky. We're developing programs to make at-risk kids unstoppable. When the island community, locals and visitors alike, found out what we were about, they jumped in. The Seeker which is in the class of tall ships, is built entirely by volunteers. By helping out, this project can be a both a destination and life changing opportunity.

By helping to build Seeker you will be contributing to the creation of a tall ship that will benefit all who come in contact with her.  Once launched she will provide a setting for the arts and a floating campus for science.  Involving youths in the final construction stage of Seeker and then having them on board as crew learning navigation and seamanship will build confidence, knowledge, and reponsibility.  We blur the line between work and play as we believe young people learn best by play guided by wise mentors.  We have seen that peer interaction can transform at risk behavior to leadership, street smart behavior to success.

By helping to build the Seeker, you will also be bring about real transormation in the lives of many.

Award winning documentary filmmaker, Dan Martino, is making a documentary of the building of Seeker.

What We Need & What You Get

This campaign is about buying the old-growth-lumber that we need to build the deck houses, hatces and companionways. Other campigns will follow as the work progresses.

So. 2,000 board/feet of Old-Growth-White Oak and Yellow Pine @ $10.00/board foot=$20.000.00  (Old growth timber is rot resistant and will ensure the Seeker will still be sailing in 2113)

 We're lucky to get old growth lumber, it's not usually available, and the fellow whose supplies it harvests it with environmetal integrity.

Any money received over our goal amount will be used in the next phase: making watertight windows and moving on to the interior.

If we don't reach our funding goal, we're not going to fold our tent. All money raised will go towards the Old Growth Pine. Well just have to buy it in chunks.

The Impact

Notwithstanding the impression that Martha's VIneyard is fillled with people of wealth, many of the year round residents and seasonal workers live at or near the poverty line.

We're doing this project so we can include kids who don't have access to the cool things that other kids might have. At-risk kids will be participating as crew members to gain experience of seamanship, but also will be swept up in the cutrural activites (theater, dance, and opera) aboard ship as they participate in whatever areas their innate talent provides, be it stage hand or performer. In addition we're including progams of esteem building through fitness training and mixed martial arts.

I was one of those at-risk kids, and the man who I learned boat building from changed my life in ways that i would never have guessed possible. He did the same thing for many others, and I got that habit from him. I've tried to follow in his footsteps and this is my opportunity to reach out to more kids.

 Our programs are real, becuase we make them that way. Anyone invloved in our project gets instant credibility. You can't be a mentor if your faking it. Kids see everything. One of the great things about our program is when an at-risk kid shows he or she is ready for the next step, we make sure they get to take it. We open kids up to possibilbites, and then help them get to the next level.

 Mostly we're doing this to have a life that's fun. You're invited in whatever way you want to be involved.

The Seeker's motto is,"primates learn best by play."

http://capecodlife.com/life/stories/2012/09/seeking-something-long-forgotten/

http://www.mvtimes.com/2012/09/19/seeker-vineyard-haven---scow-schooner-by-ted-box-12579/

http://www.marthasvineyardproductions.com/boatbuilding.html

http://www.mvgazette.com/news/2013/01/03/ted-boxs-hand-built-wooden-scow-nearly-set-prowl

http://vp.telvue.com/preview?id=T01564&video=148174

 

Other Ways You Can Help

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

To help the campaign in other ways, make some noise! Write comments. "Like"

If Indiegogo gets enough feedback, they publicise the site, giving it greater access to the public and therefore a better chance of being funded. Also, telling all of your friends on socail meda helps a lot. Thanks. It takes many hands to build a masterpiece.