Greetings from Tall Ships Canada Youth Council

By Judah Specht

Opportunity. That is what SALTS and the Tall Ships Canada Youth Council are about. Both work to present new opportunities for youth in Canada and worldwide.

SALTS provides opportunities for youth each day via the trips they offer.  Opportunities to grow, mature, learn, create new friendships and have new experiences among other things. It is a place where opportunity is abundant and welcomed. I’ve had the wonderful chance to do many different things with SALTS: to serve a unique community, to engage with beautiful people, to open up, to have meaningful conversation, to have fun and laugh and to try new things. Not only that but SALTS provides the opportunity to be a part of a community both on board the ships and off the ships. Before you are even a part of the SALTS community, SALTS provides the opportunity to be pulled in by offering bursaries for youth needing a little extra help. Once youth have left the ships, opportunities continue to appear – from the chance to meet up with new friends to volunteering and sharing stories. For me, one of the great opportunities that came my way due to being a part of SALTS was being offered a position on the Tall Ships Canada Youth Council (TSCYC).

TSCYC is a youth council dedicated to providing awareness of and encouraging engagement in tall ship programs across Canada. The council is working to create opportunities for youth to take part in these programs so that they may learn, grow and benefit from these programs. Opportunities such as access to information about various tall ship programs, crew swaps between vessels and connections with youth in other programs across Canada as well as to provide a voice for youth already in tall ship programs.

So, who are we? Well, the council is made up of youth from ages 16-29 who are alumni or crew of tall ship programs. Collectively, we have experienced each of these programs and are dedicated to providing opportunities for youth to take part as well as to help develop and promote programs to youth. We are always looking for new members who love sail training as much as we do, are actively involved and who are able to commit a few hours each month. If you have any more questions, comments or would like to join us, send us an email at tallshipscanyouthcouncil@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

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Tall Ships Canada Youth Council operates independently from SALTS Sail and Life Training Society.