Staff

Crane grew up by the water in New York and Massachusetts, sailing and rowing small wooden boats. Being near water always makes him happy. He discovered as an adult that being around teenagers makes him happy too. So in 1994 he combined these joys with the aspiration to do something useful and founded the Nova Scotia Sea School.

Crane has a Masters of Architecture degree from Harvard University and practiced architecture in Boston for 8 years. In 1990 he took time off to pursue his interest in the study and practice of meditation.

However after this Crane returned, not to his architectural practice, but to his childhood love of wooden boats and sailing. He served as deck officer and seamanship instructor on tall ships in the US and Canada, including HMS ROSE, PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II, CORWITH CRAMER and others, and earned his US Master¹s license as captain of sailing vessels up to 200 gross tons.

In 1994 he settled in Halifax, the best move of his life. He says that Nova Scotia is a sane and decent place, and that his life has really blossomed since moving here, and that the Sea School is the fruit of it.

In 2003 Crane was awarded the Queen's Jubilee Medal for the Sea School's contribution to the Canadian community.

Crane is now taking what he has learned at the Sea School into the business world, with his recent book, “Keep Your People in the Boat – Workforce Engagement Lessons from the Sea,” which is filled with Sea School stories.

Evan grew up in Nova Scotia exploring the unique coastline with friends and family. He started sailing with the Nova Scotia Sea School as a student when he was fifteen. After many years and much learning he is now a captain. Evan appreciates the many life lessons which the Sea School has taught him and enjoys spending time on the water for both work and play. Evan`s work for the Coast Guard Inshore Rescue provided an opportunity to hone his seamanship and marine safety skills. Evan is a graduate of the NSCC Ocean Technology Advanced Diploma. When not on Sea School trips he can be found helping scientists to collect physical oceanographic data. Evan is excited about Nova Scotia's maritime traditions including the current manifestation of a vibrant marine technology industry. Evan is passionate about connecting youth with this growing industry and linking traditional sailing skills and philosophies with modern applications and opportunities.

Keegan first came on a program with the Sea School in 2004 as a participant. He completed 4 sailing expeditions, both as a participant and as Leading Crew, as well as 3 wilderness trips with the Sea School and began working as an assistant instructor with the Sea School in the summer of 2009. He began working with youth through the Canadian Cadet Movement teaching music at summer camps and since then has become a Bosun in the Canadian Reserves. Keegan started sailing with the Cadet Movement, became hooked, and began taking Dinghy lessons at Dartmouth Yacht Club. Keegan is currently a music and history student at Dalhousie University. He maintains his boat skills through various courses with the Canadian Power Squadron, the Reserves, sailing with family and the Sea School.

Sophia Hopkins is the Program Recruitment and Logistics Coordinator for the Nova Scotia Sea School. Hired on as a “mature” Summer Student for three summers and eventually moving back to Halifax, after seven years in Holland, to join the Sea School full time and pursue her passion for outdoor education, experiential learning, and working with youth. Sophia has a BSc in Psychology from Dalhousie and an International Bachelor or Social Work from College of Amsterdam.

When studying to become a social worker, Sophia worked in Youth Crisis Intervention in Amsterdam and dreamed of connecting youth to the natural world of land and oceans. She believes in the Sea School because as an organization, we have worked hard to achieve our mission and provide opportunities to teenagers and adults from the full economic, social and cultural backgrounds represented in Nova Scotia and the world beyond.

Sophia comes from a background of playing competitive soccer; she played for the Dalhousie Tigers Women’s team from 2001-2006 and was the Captain of the team from 2004-2006. She credits her leadership style to the experience as highly competitive top athlete, working hard as a team to accomplish a common goal and encouraging the best in your teammates while being honest and trustworthy.

It is with deep sadness that we let you all know our dearest friend Zoë Nudell lost her life in a serious car accident on the eve of October 30th 2013, in Hamilton, Ontario.

Zoë is regarded as the heart of the Sea School; she was a friend to so many of us and to so many young people. She had been a part of the Sea School since the very beginning as a founding builder of our first boat 'Dorothea'. She quickly became an instructor and then Captain and has impacted hundreds of youth on expeditions over the past 18 years. Our hearts go out to David Nudell (Zoë's father) and Ben Gallagher (Zoë's partner) and to all the friends and family who have known and loved Zoë.

Eight years after Zoë sailed as a student on Dorothea's maiden voyage out of Halifax, she guided the second expedition boat - Elizabeth Hall - through her maiden voyage, this time as an assistant instructor. This past summer was Zoë's sixth season as expedition captain. A lifetime of working with young people and the sea instilled in Zoë confidence, enthusiasm, respect and admiration for other people and the elements. The most valuable learning - the one she most wanted to share - was an awareness of one's own abilities, interests, and the satisfaction of being engaged.

Zoë's passion for leading sailing expeditions was matched by a love of art and encouraging creativity in others. She was most recently excited about working with the Sea School to explore the transformative power of creativity with community groups, and was working with our partnership program, The Spot.

Zoë, we love you and will miss you endlessly.

Born in a raging december storm on darkest South Mountain, the wind imprinted his very soul, and his heart could not but follow.

Lyse became a wilderness instructor for the Sea School after getting to know many of the instructors when they took wilderness first aid courses - she really liked what she heard and observed from them about the Sea School's programs and values. Lyse coordinates the Halifax Take it Outside program and has enjoyed being a part of the March break trips, West Ironbound island trips and other programs. She facilitates experiential outdoor education programs for a variety of organizations and is the training coordinator for Halifax Search and Rescue and the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association.

Rebecca has taken on the role of participant, volunteer and staff in an effort to soak in all the experience and wisdom sea school has to offer, while at the same time working to give back some of that experience and wisdom to sea school's upcoming youth.

Mady is a highschool student in Lunenburg County, and grew up on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia while exploring it with family and friends. After a class presentation at the Boathouse in Lunenburg, she decided to join her first Nova Scotia Sea School trip in late August of 2014, as a way to salute a great summer. After a week of nothing but ocean, teamwork, patience, and wind, the unique philosophy and leadership offered by the non-profit organization quickly intrigued her, and showed her all the ocean has to offer. Mady continues to do both wilderness and sailing expeditions with the NSSS as Leading Crew, and has recently become staff through the role of provisioning.

Now 17 years old, Mady is exploring the nautical world and all the wonderful, kind people in it....but knows that it all started with the Sea School.