Three days on the water, two nights under the stars, and one unforgettable adventure.
This year, Team Longboat journeyed from Quilcene to Dabob Bay—eleven students, three adults, and two charismatic parrot mascots —returning stronger, more connected, and in awe of the wild beauty just beyond home.
We launched from Quilcene Marina with high spirits and eager paddles. Our first night found us at Camp Parsons, nestled on a rocky cove with a pristine swim beach. The students immediately embraced the magic of the spot: “It felt like our own magical little cove,” one reflected. Overhead, bald eagles circled—a breathtaking reminder of untamed wilderness.
That night, sleeping beneath a sky full of stars on the beach—and for some, on the boat anchored nearby—was a dream. “I liked sleeping on the boat at night,” one student said, “and under the stars on the beach on the second night.”
The next day, amid a heatwave, we rowed along Puget Sound’s forested shoreline, eventually reaching Broadspit Point. Our wildlife tally grew: porpoises, harbor seals, bald eagles, sea lions, otters, moon jellyfish—and tidepool treasures like anemones, crabs, starfish, sand dollars, barnacles, and oysters. As the wind picked up, we even hoisted sail to ease our paddle.
Broadspit’s broad, windswept beach invited exploration. Students dove into tidepool investigations, uncovering local habitats and forging deeper connections with the land and creatures around them.
Each member of our crew rotated through all essential roles—cooking, cleaning, navigation, morale boosting, and camp setup/breakdown—ensuring everyone contributed and learned that leadership is shared action and care.
Our evenings were rich with reflection: music, stories, and that rare camaraderie that emerges when phones are forgotten, the stars are out, and our only agenda is presence.
On the final morning, we struck camp, bid farewell to Broadspit’s windswept shores, and piloted the Townshend back to Quilcene, where students hauled her out—ready for her return to Port Townsend, where students would be met with ice pops, and the not insubstantial task of “unpacking” after three days adventuring.
The impact was clear: “Before the trip I was kinda frazzled and needed a break. On the journey I was tired, but happy, and now that I’m back, I feel a little less stressed…” another student shared.
Dabob Bay acted like a beautiful mirror—showing us not as individuals, but as a resilient, caring, and curious team.
Team Longboat is supported by the TKF Spirit Fund.
