Shenandoah, The Next Generation Campaign
A New Ship to Transform Young Lives for Generations
Through 63 years of service, Shenandoah has helped more than 15,000 young people discover
Confidence • Resilience • Purpose
As Shenandoah retires in 2026, help launch the next generation of life-changing voyages aboard Shenandoah II.
Your gift will help tens of thousands more young people build core strengths that last a lifetime.
Ocean Academy has earned support from over 600 families, foundations, and individuals.
Double Your Impact
The Edwards-Harris Family Foundation has committed $600,000 to match gifts of $5,000 or more toward Phase One of our campaign.
Give today and see your dollars matched 1:1!
Ocean Academy accepts gifts by:
• check
• credit card
• cash
• donor-advised funds
• transfers of securities
• cryptocurrencies.
After 64 years of changing lives, Shenandoah now requires major structural repairs.
Working alongside naval architects, shipwrights, and marine surveyors, we evaluated every option for Shenandoah's future. The conclusion was clear: the repairs needed to keep Shenandoah sailing would cost roughly twice as much as building a new vessel designed for the future.
We cannot allow the mission that has helped more than 15,000 young people discover confidence, resilience, and purpose to come to an end.
Shenandoah II will carry that mission forward, building on the spirit of these life-changing voyages while making it possible to serve nearly four times as many young people each year through expanded, year-round programming.
A New Ship. Four Times the Impact.
Due to constraints in the vessel’s design, Shenandoah spends most of the year in storage and maintenance.
Now: Shenandoah Tomorrow: Shenandoah II
12 weeks of youth programming. 44 weeks of youth programming.
$400,000 annual tuition capacity. $2,250,000 annual tuition capacity.
Requires annual fundraising. $1,150,000 annual operating surplus.
Shenandoah II will spend most of the year changing kids’ lives.
Serve nearly four times as many young people each year as Shenandoah does now.
Expand access for students with physical and cognitive differences.
Shenandoah II Will:
Generate the resources needed to fund scholarships, vessel maintenance, and future growth.
Phase 1 Goal: $6,250,000
Raised: $4,042,247 (65%)
Phase One – 65% Funded
$6.25 MILLION GOAL | New hull, deck, and mechanical systems built at a qualified commercial shipyard.
Phase Two – 20% Funded
$2.5 MILLION GOAL | Complete the interior and rigging of Shenandoah II’s new hull in our homeport of Vineyard Haven. Community education and engagement will highlight this public phase of fundraising and construction.
Endowment & Expansion – 36% Funded
$1.1 MILLION GOAL | Support program expansion and a scholarship endowment.
“Everybody on the boat helped me grow so much. I learned to reign in my anxiety, face my fears, and try new things.”
— Eleni S., 2021–2 Participant
Name a Stateroom
Click a button below to contribute $250,000 (or more) and name 1 of 12 new staterooms aboard Shenandoah II.
Stateroom 2 Named
Stateroom 5 Named
Stateroom 8 Named
Stateroom 11 Named
Stateroom 12 Named
Email us to learn about additional naming opportunities aboard the new Shenandoah.
Stateroom 4 Named
Contribute to Our Scholarship Fund
Help ensure price is not a barrier to Ocean Academy participants.
Sponsor a Class Voyage
Full Tuition for Three Learners
Full Tuition for Two Learners
Full Tuition for One Learner
Sponsor One Learner
*The “full tuition” opportunities represent the actual cost of participation, and the “sponsorship” opportunities represent a portion.
Other Methods for Contributing
Donte Cryptocurrency
Ocean Academy accepts cryptocurrency donations. Our cryptocurrencies are stored and managed through Coinbase.
Transfer Investments
Transfer your investments directly and securely into Ocean Academy's investment account. Call or email us for more details.
Donate Your Boat
To Support Positive Youth Development
Join our Annual Fund
Annual giving that supports scholarships and the highest priorities of Ocean Academy.