“The ocean has been such a wonderful teacher for me in my life that I created the Ocean Challenge program to give young people the leadership training the ocean provides.”
NOCP MISSION STATEMENT
We empower future leaders to become true owners of God’s Creation through ocean based educational and experiential activities rooted in the teachings of Father and Mother Moon.
OBJECTIVES
Develop character and confidence through seamanship
Experience the heart of stewardship
Cultivate faith through experiencing God’s love through nature
PROGRAM DETAILS
NOCP offers 3 different programs to select from for young adults ages 17+*
Participant
July 1-23, 2024
21-day Program
21-day Program
NOCP offers a unique hands-on immersion experience of God's Creation for young adults in remote Kodiak, Alaska. With the ocean as the training ground, come develop character and confidence through seamanship, experience the heart of stewardship, and cultivate faith through experiencing God’s love through nature.
NOCP seeks to continue Father and Mother Moon’s tradition and legacy of growing the character and faith of young people through leadership training on the sea. Through internal guidance and connecting to their words and experience, participants have the opportunity to walk in Father and Mother Moon's shoes and experience all the lessons that the ocean has to teach.
Each morning begins with morning devotion and a morning service introducing the day's theme. Days are filled with activities in nature including full days on the ocean learning the basics of boating and fishing, and how to jig and troll for Pacific salmon, halibut, rockfish, and ling cod. Throughout the program, participants will rotate to each of our four boats, learning from the senior captains who spent many years with Father and Mother Moon. They'll share their stories and lesson and also their unique fishing styles. Each senior captain is supported by a captains-in-training (CIT). Evenings are filled with testimonies from local members, educational activities, and personal reflections. On Sundays, NOCP joins the local Kodiak Family Church for service and fellowship.
NOCP partners with local organizations and non profits to do service work related to marine stewardship and sustainabiity. Participants will also be certified in CPR/First Aid.
Other highlights of the program include river fishing, team reflection beach bonfires, a Kodiak City tour, and an end-of program fishing tournament - with prizes!
There are only 25 participant spots available for 2024 so apply soon!
*Participants must be age 17+ by program date.
Staff Roles
Team Leader
June 26-July 29, 2024
35-day Program
35-day Program
This year we are seeking five team leaders who will work directly with the education coordinator to serve as an extension of our staff in an elder brother/sister role for a team of five participants.
Prior to NOCP they will join a programming call with staff to connect over the program's themes, the schedule, and their responsibilities. On-site, team leaders will facilitate team activities, lead small group morning devotionals, and lead team sharings each evening, checking in with the core staff after. The goal is to help provide personal care and support to the participants during the program.
We ask that team leaders come a week before the program starts to orient and help prepare. They'll stay a week after to debrief, breakdown and join the core-staff in a two-night overnight trip to connect in gratitude as staff.
Team leaders are primarily participants in that they will participate in all the activities and fishing. Priority will be given to team leaders who are alumni of NOCP. Having prior team leading experience is highly recommended.
There are 5 Team Leader spots available.Captain-in-Training (CIT)
June 23-July 29,2024
37-day Program
37-day Program
We are seeking four CITs to join our staff team, coming a week early to prepare for the program and staying a week after the program.
The primary intention of the CIT program is to provide a leadership training opportunity where the elder captains can pass on the heart and legacy of captaining to the younger generation, sharing their wealth of spiritual and technical experience. CITs will spend their prep-week beginning each day with morning devotions and guidance from their elders. Themes include the heart of being a leader, stewardship, and faith training on the ocean. CITs will also be instructed in the basics of boat preparation, safety, maneuvering, as well as charts, navigation, and fishing techniques. CITs will also enjoy an overnight fishing trip with the senior captains and staff in preparation for the program.
Prior to the program, CITs will be given prep materials to study and become familiar with. During the program, CITs will be paired with a senior captain whom they’ll assist with boat preparation, maintenance, safety, and navigation. They’ll also play a key role in teaching and supporting participants on the water. On land, they’ll serve as an extension of our staff team, supporting the team leaders, activities, and education.
After the NOCP program, CITs will assist in hosting a local Family Ocean Challenge Day, and share reflections on the program.
There are 4 CIT spots available.It is preferred that CITs:
• Have attended NOCP previously or have boating/captaining experience
• Have their CPR/First Aid certification
MEET THE 2023 STAFF TEAM
Lukas Bercy
Co-Director
Tasnah Bercy
Co-Director
Alina Button
Co-Coordinator (Logistics + Finance)
Masami Kageyama
Co-Coordinator (Education + Programming)
Frank Button
Senior Captain
Jonathan von Euw
Junior Captain
Gabby von Euw
Land & River Guide
History
The first Ocean Challenge program was initiated by Rev. Sun Myung Moon on July 1, 1981. The program was designed to cultivate faith and leadership by challenging participants to spend a summer fishing for Atlantic bluefin tuna. Rev. Moon designed the Good-Go boats, still used today.
Ocean Challenge instructed its participants in both the theoretical and practical aspects of boating and fishing. Ocean Challenge was also unique in its strongly spiritual focus, encouraging participants to challenge their limitations and concepts of themselves, others, and God. There was also a strong emphasis on self-discipline, self-motivation, leadership, and meeting God on the swells of the ocean. The Ocean Challenge spirit motto was, “If God calls, I will go, no matter the circumstances.”
When Rev. Moon started “Ocean Challenge Alaska” in 1986 in Kodiak, Alaska, he expressed that the Alaskan Spirit was as same as Ocean Challenge Spirit.
“I like to use the phrase “Alaska Spirit.” By this I mean the habit of getting up at five o’clock in the morning, going out to sea, and not returning until well after midnight, when in the summer it is still light. The person with “Alaska Spirit” stays out on the ocean until he catches the daily allowance. One cannot become a true fisherman unless he learns how to endure this way. Catching fish is not a pleasure cruise. No matter how many fish may be in the ocean, they are not going to just jump into the boat. It takes specialized knowledge and much experience. Once a person receives intense training to become a fisherman, he can go anywhere in the world and become a leader of people. Learning to be a fisherman is good leadership training.”
NOCP has been hosted each summer in Kodiak since 2007. Chris Fiala, Frank Button, and Minoru Kageyama, three veterans of Ocean Challenge, launched a three-week summer program for youth ages 16-35 to give the next generation a taste of the Father Moon’s love for the ocean, fishing, and all that is has to teach.