Packing Guidelines for Students
Project YESS Niagara Voyage 2012
Climate of the Lower Lakes:(southern 2/3 of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, and all of Lake Erie, Lake St. Clair, and Lake Ontario), summer (mid-June through early September): 70 to 95˚F, can get as low as 55˚F at night.
Rules and recommendations:
- Absolutely NO CELL PHONES are permitted on any leg of the Niagara voyage!!! Parents will be provided with shipboard contact phone numbers in the event it is necessary to reach your student. We discourage contact for any purposes other than emergency. A vital component of the Project YESS mission is to have our students focus on their individual role as part of their team and the ship-board community. Students will be pleasantly surprised by how thoroughly enjoyable it is to leave the interruptions of text messages and phone calls behind!
- Space onboard is limited!EVERYTHING you bring, with the exception of foul weather gear, must fit in your seabag.
1.Pack in crushable luggage such as a duffel bag or backpack. No roll-aboard or hard suitcases.
- The key to clothing on the ship is layering. Clothes that can be worn over or under other layers will serve you well. For outer layers, synthetic fibers such as polar fleece, polyesters and nylons that dry quickly are better than heavy cotton.
2. The clothes you bring should be comfortable and easy to move in, and will be put to hard use and are subject to the same rugged life aboard a working vessel you will be. Clothing might get torn, stained, etc. You might think of this as an opportunity to take some of your oldest T-shirts out for one last fling!
3. You will be provided with a hammock. You’ll need to bring a sleeping bag or one flat twin-size sheet and light blanket. A small inflatable camping pillow is recommended. In mid summer, folks often end up sleeping on top of everything to stay cooler.
4. Limited laundry may be done in a bucket on deck using lake water, but laundry may only hang out to dry on deck during daylight hours, so laundry underway can be challenging. Pack what you need for one week, but limit the amount to what fits in an 18” by 48” duffel bag.
5. You will change your clothes much less frequently than you do on land. A pair of shorts might last 7 days at on ship (no kidding). Change your underwear and socks daily.
6. If you wear prescription glasses, bring a second pair. If you wear contact lenses, bring your glasses as well and don’t forget saline and cleaning solution.
7. We do not recommend bringing a laptop onboard! The ship is a harsh environment for sensitive electronics.
Optional: Writing material, reading material, camera, small daypack for port stops, musical instruments, ziplock bags (waterproof packaging), insect repellent, thumb drive or blank CD to copy digital pictures or personal files from the ship’s computers.
Use this packing list to guide your decisions. It has been compiled based on the suggestions and experience of many who have sailed before you.
Required Gear: Foul Weather Jackets and Fleece Vests are required and will be provided to each student prior to the voyage by Project YESS. Spending money is recommended for shore visits (ice cream, sodas, souvenirs). All travel expenses are covered by Project YESS.
- Wristwatch (digital)
- Light, large towel
- Sleeping back or sheet and light blanket
- Small pillow recommended (available at Walmart)
- SPF 30 Sunblock and lip balm (no matter what your complexion!)
- Sunglasses (UV protection and polarized best – please secure with a Croakie)
- Broad brimmed Hat (baseball or loose-fit style)
- Wool or fleece hat
- Toiletries: toothpaste, toothbrush, razor, shampoo, hair brush, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products. NO HAIR DRYERS!
- Small flashlight (red lens cap preferred – available at sporting goods stores and Walmart)
- Notebooks, pens, pencil
Recommended Clothing:
Note: Foul Weather Jacket and Fleece Vest to be provided by Project YESS
(7) Pair Underwear
(6) Pair Socks
(2) Pair Shoes – MUST BE VERY COMFORTABLE AND WORN IN!!!!
(4 or 5) Short Sleeve Tee Shirts
(1 or 2) Long Sleeve Tee Shirts
(1) Pair Pants
(1) Swimsuit
(1) Sweater
(2) Hats – one wool/fleece, one broad-brimmed or baseball cap
(1) Set Clean “Off-boarding” outfit (YESS Tee, clean shorts!)
Travel Plans: Final dates/times for Niagara ground transportation will be emailed by July 16. Dates of travel are August 9 through August 15.
-Students will be traveling from Cleveland to EriePA via Greyhound bus where they will board the Niagara. The Greyhound bus station in Erieis located across the street from the ErieMaritimeMuseum where the Niagara docks.
-Students will arrive in Cleveland on Wednesday August 15. We are planning a welcome-home event for the students and encourage all parents and youth mentors to keep the date open for what we know will be a memorable – and emotional – event!