Once upon a time, in the teeny-weeny state of Rhode Island, where the houses are squished so close together you could borrow sugar from your neighbor without leaving your kitchen, a group of adventurous kids discovered the magical world of sailing. This wasn't a big state like Texas where you could ride a horse for seven days (if you dared) and still not reach the end. Oh, no! Rhode Island was so small that if you stood on your tippy toes, you could almost see across it. Imagine Rhode Island as a bouncy beach ball. It's tossed around by the hands of Massachusetts and Connecticut, while the Atlantic Ocean always tries to give it a good soaking. But, right in the middle of all this, our brave little sailors thrived. The kids were as diverse as a bag of jelly beans - some were blueberry-bold, others marshmallow-meek, but they all shared one thing in common - an insatiable love for sailing. Leading our intrepid gang was Captain Chuckles, a jolly character with a belly as round as a beach ball and a laugh that sounded like a seagull with hiccups. He was as old as the oldest lighthouse in Rhode Island and knew every ripple on the ocean like it was his own backyard. He taught the kids everything, from tying sailor's knots that would make a boy scout green with envy, to reading the mood of the moody Atlantic. Day after day, these little Rhode Islanders transformed the usually calm waters into a theatre of tiny white sails, looking like a flock of seagulls dancing in the breeze. They would laugh, they would shout, they would sing shanties that even a pirate would be proud of. These were the sailing kids of Rhode Island, the smallest state with the biggest heart, where every day was a new adventure on the sea.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.
Are you looking for a great way to support the work of Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island (OHPRI)? Our annual membership program is an easy and exciting way for you to stay connected to the organization and take advantage of special programming and rewards. With our commitment to providing a creative learning experience, even when students can't join us on our ship in person, you can still benefit from our empowering education programs at sea and ashore. With these programs, OHPRI is dedicated to raising awareness of opportunities in the maritime industry, marine trades, and defense sector for the communities of Rhode Island and Southern New England. Sign up today and become a member of OHPRI!