About Us

Martha's Vineyard Ocean Academy (formerly FUEL) was established in 2017 by Captain Casey Blum, LCSW, and Captain Ian Ridgeway. Casey and Ian began their journey as students aboard Shenandoah under the mentorship of venerable Captain Bob Douglas. Over three decades, Casey and Ian evolved from students to shipboard educators.

In a pivotal moment in 2020, at 89, Captain Douglas entrusted his life's work to Casey and Ian, generously donating Shenandoah and all existing programs to Ocean Academy. Despite the challenges of significant repairs and no existing donor base, the duo successfully raised $1,000,000 to rejuvenate Shenandoah, preserving this unique asset. Shenandoah has impacted over 900 students in just three years, a remarkable testament to the Ocean Academy team’s dedication.

Beyond the restoration of Shenandoah, Ocean Academy has undertaken a groundbreaking initiative. Collaborating with the Association of Experiential Education (AEE), Ocean Academy aims to achieve the first-ever shipboard program accreditation. AEE accreditation represents the gold standard in outdoor programming and adventure therapy, and Ocean Academy anticipates concluding the multi-year process by the end of 2024.

Recently, Martha's Vineyard Ocean Academy received acclaim as the recipient of the prestigious Sail Training Program of the Year award from Tall Ships America. This accolade, presented at the annual Tall Ships America Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, includes a cash prize and further underscores the quality of Ocean Academy's programs.

In their pursuit of excellence, Casey and Ian view Ocean Academy as a model for mental health promotion, a critical intervention to help prevent the development of mental challenges in kids. They seek ongoing guidance from distinguished partners and advisors who are experts in adventure therapy, outdoor education, traditional ship design, deep-water sailing, and nonprofit advancement.