A Riverview High School student will spend her grade 11 year on the open seas.
Lauren Dupuis is currently in grade 10, but she is one of 60 students to be accepted to the Class Afloat program that will start in September.
Students sail the world’s oceans onboard a tall ship, visiting 20 different countries, “I will be able to sail a ship and you really get the teamwork skills and problem solving skills when you’re in a situation where you have to sail a boat. You have to keep moving forward, you can’t go back.”
Thousands of students apply to the Class Afloat program each year.
“Not only is it academic, it is about leadership as well. They teach you the skills that a leader should have, I can also experience all of the different cultures from all around the world.” Dupuis says.
The cost to participate is around $65, 000, which includes gear and flights. The ship sets sail from Amsterdam.
Dupuis has launched fundraising campaigns, “I’m raising money through a fundraiser where I am exchanging baked goods for donation and also with a summer job. I also have a GoFundMe where we are trying to raise $30,000.”