the history of lifeworks stretches back many decades and is created out of the culmination of 30 years of experience in the field of experiential education. this is our story so far...
As a young man, Jim Stoll developed a
passion for sailing. He turned the usually quiet summer season
at his family’s
marina into a thriving summer sailing school for teenagers.
In 1970, Jim expanded the concept, taking his school to the
water full-time. Jim sailed the Atlantic waters aboard 156’ Te
Vega and 175’ Te Quest, enrolling 86
teenagers every year in a high school program of study and
travel. Twelve years later, with children of his own, Jim
moved back ashore to develop his motivational programs for
young adults. In the mid-eighties he once again headed to
the water and ActionQuest was born.
In 1995, Jim was joined by Mike Meighan. A recent oceanography
and marine biology graduate, Mike dreamed of creating a truly
interactive educational experience. Using the principles
of ActionQuest, Mike developed Sea|mester – a live-aboard
college accredited semester at sea program. Sea|mester brings
academics from the textbook into real-life application. Voyaging
throughout stimulating environments, the expedition becomes
the vehicle for gaining knowledge, understanding, confidence
and skills. Sea|mester acquired the 88-foot school ship,
S/Y Ocean Star, in 1998. After an extensive re-fit, she headed
for the Caribbean and continues to ply the waters of the
Lesser Antilles today.
During Sea|mester’s infancy, Jim helped his teenage
son, Jason, achieve a life goal – sailing around the
world. Between 1997 and 1999, Jim joined his son for parts
of the voyage. Their travels led to the creation of new ActionQuest
programs in the Galapagos, Tahiti, Fiji and Australia. Looking
to give something back to the communities that had supported
ActionQuest and Sea|mester for so long, in 2001, Jim and
Mike created Lifeworks, a worldwide community service and
adventure program for teenagers. Lifeworks teams up with
local, national and international organizations so students
can embark on meaningful service projects around the world.
Throughout the program, students are encouraged to consider
what contributions they want to make to the world during
their lifetime.
The steady growth of Sea|mester allowed one of our biggest
goals to be realized. Summer 2006 saw the completion of a
new 110-foot school ship, S/Y Argo. She has been designed
to circumnavigate the globe, offering Sea|mester students
the chance to cross oceans while furthering their educational
and personal goals. Sea|mester plans to build additional
vessels in the future, based on the model of Argo.
Both Jim and Mike sail aboard with the British Virgin Island
ActionQuest and Lifeworks summer programs, preferring to
maintain their active roles as directors. Today, ActionQuest,
Sea|mester and Lifeworks programs span the world and have
changed the lives of thousands of teenagers.
