The 133-foot wooden schooner Adventuress has been summering in the waters of the San Juan Islands for over a decade. Often docked at the Friday Harbor Marina, the historic (1913) vessel is one of the first things tourists see as they arrive on the ferry.

The Adventuress is operated by Sound Experience, a non-profit with a mission to educate, inspire and empower people to care for Puget Sound. The organization works mainly with schools and youth groups throughout the region to bring youth aboard for day and overnight programs, offering sailors and landlubbers of all ages options from dockside tours or daysails to multi-day overnight trips sailing through the islands. In keeping with its environmental mission, Adventuress’ crew has also teamed up with the the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs to sample plankton throughout the San Juans.

While all Sound Experience youth programs are subsidized, many schools are asking for additional support this year in order to afford to bring their students aboard.

“Schools and youth groups are having a harder time getting their kids out aboard Adventuress,” said Sound Experience executive director Catherine Collins.

In order to continue to reach and serve Puget Sound youth, Sound Experience has launched a month-long fundraising campaign called “29 Dollars, 29 Days: Getting Kids on the Boat.”

“$29 is the cost to put one youth aboard Adventuress for a three-hour educational sail,” said Collins, “so, it became the basis for our campaign. It’s an amount folks in our community tell us they are able to afford.”

Now in the final days of its campaign, Sound Experience has just $2,289 left to raise. The organization has been reaching out online, through the mail, and through a short video that highlights its work aboard Adventuress, available at www.youtube.com.

Supporters can go to www.29dollars.org to find out more and make a donation. The campaign officially ends at midnight on Oct. 23.

“Your small gift makes a big difference! Thank you for helping us reach Puget Sound young people with powerful education programs aboard Adventuress,” said Simonson-Bond.

For more information about Sound Experience and programs offered aboard Adventuress, visit www.soundexp.org.