One family in the OCEAN (Opportunity, Community, Experience, Academics, Navigation) K-12 school in the Port Townsend School District is using the upcoming Seventy48 human-powered paddling race this weekend to help support the Port Townsend Youth Theater Company.

This year’s Seventy48 kicks off on Friday, June 6, but before then, “Team The Captain, the Engineer, the Biker and Bilbo” is seeking to secure some pledges online, with a goal of $5,500, to support the theater program at OCEAN, that produced “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 2024 and “The Hobbit” as a stage play in 2025.

“Our entire family has been part of school theater,” OCEAN teacher Mary Beth “MB” Armstrong said. “My son Caleb is a 12-year-old OCEAN student who acts in the school theater. My son Reid is a 14-year-old eighth-grader at Blue Heron Middle School, and is not an actor, but he’s on the OCEAN theater support team, helping with lighting, sets, behind-the-scenes stage work and building sets. My husband Peter has designed the sets, and was even the set director for one of the plays.”

According to Armstrong, the OCEAN school is eager to work with the Port Townsend Youth Theater Company, and director Marc Weinblatt, again next year, but while the alternative public school has some funds in the budget to offset costs, additional funds are needed to put on an OCEAN school theater program.

Armstrong explained that the $5,500 total fundraising goal of “Team The Captain, the Engineer, the Biker and Bilbo” is intended to cover the $3,000 cost to fund a fall production, plus a theater class taught by Weinblatt this fall, as well as the $2,500 cost to seed future plays at OCEAN.

With the entire family of Armstrong and Caleb, Reid and Peter Sigmond all rowing for the cause in Seventy48, she’s suggested donations ranging from $70 for 70 miles rowed, or $10 for every mile rowed, or even $100 if their team crosses the finish line, since 100% of the proceeds will go to support student theater.

Although this marks the family’s first time rowing as a fundraiser, they’re far from novices on the waves, with Armstrong touting the “ton of water travel” they’re logged, on board vessels including the Schooners Martha and Adventuress, sailing as far south as California and as far north as the Inside Passage.

“Reid and Caleb were the ones who wanted to do the Seventy48,” Armstrong said. “I’d always thought about it, but I’d never had the courage to sign up before. I wanted to support our school and students, though. OCEAN does a great job with the resources that it has, but we want to give these kids an unforgettable experience.”

Mom’s willingness to take a chance followed her son Caleb’s willingness to step outside of his comfort zone by auditioning for theater in the first place, which he’s since deemed a transformative experience, for the better.

“Theater changes a lot of people’s lives,” Caled said. “It gives people a place to belong.”

Armstrong praised not only OCEAN, but also the Port Townsend Youth Theater Company and Weinblatt for supporting the arts, thereby creating “a space where all kids can shine.”

In the meantime, the family simply has to row the course, which is where their collective seamanship will hopefully come in handy.

“Reid is very involved with Northwest Maritime and the sail team, and he’ll be working as a deckhand with Puget Sound Express this summer,” Armstrong said, as Caleb added that the prep has included rowing once a week. “So, we’ve got a little experience and a lot of time under our belts.”