Call him Josiah. He has decided to do what young men of his age in New England coastal towns routinely did hundreds of years ago: He will abandon land, cell phone, iPad, family and friends and embark on an ocean adventure aboard a tall-masted schooner.

He is likely to encounter whales, but he promises not to harpoon a single one.

Boothbay Region High School senior Josiah Purin plans to board Ocean Classroom’s 131-foot Harvey Gamage in January and spend his last semester of high school at sea and in far-off ports of call, such as the Dominican Republic and Trinidad. It will be an exciting but costly adventure, and the hard-working young man is looking for some financial support to make his dream a reality.

Ocean Classroom’s mission is to send “students and teachers to sea on voyages in which the traditions, values and adventure of maritime life provide a unique context for education.” While underway, students learn and participate in all the social and technical aspects of sailing; they also attend regular classes and provide assistance to others in the ports they visit.

Ocean Classroom’s programs have become a favorite option for local students seeking adventure and accredited learning. Purin said he was motivated to apply after a friend told him how much she gained from her semester-at-sea experience on the Harvey Gamage.

“I also thought it would be a great way to spend half of my senior year,” Purin said. “I haven’t done any other trips like this, but I’ve lived by the ocean (in Boothbay and Puget Sound) all my life so the ocean has always been an interest of mine.”

Purin said he is both eager and nervous about the trip. “I'm most excited about learning to navigate, as well as studying the cultures in all the countries,” Purin said. When asked about any trepidations, he replied, “I'm scared about having to work up in the masts of the boat, but that's just a personal problem.”

Purin is one of 20 high school students from around the nation, who have successfully steered their way through Ocean Classroom’s extensive application and interview process and been accepted to sail aboard the Harvey Gamage this winter.

Tall, lean and soft-spoken, Purin often flies under the radar of publicity, but he is one of the senior class’s top students, a musician who plays five instruments and a regular contributor to local community service projects.

The Boothbay resident is also no slacker when it comes to work. “I've been a maintenance man and housekeeper at the Flagship Inn. I work at my mother's business, Sarah's Scoops, “ Purin said, “and I also run cables for my father's communications business. On the side, I'm an amateur car mechanic.” Purin also trains in Brazilian jiu jitsu.

Despite all the hard work, Purin is not in a position, particularly with college on the horizon, to simply write a check for his semester tuition. He said the semester-at-sea’s base cost is $19,500. With financial aid and scholarships, he has whittled the price tag down to $11,000.

“Unfortunately I cannot pay for all of this tuition by myself. That is why I’m looking for financial support,” Purin wrote in an appeal letter that he is now circulating.

Purin said he hopes that financial support from local businesses, organizations and individuals can help him bridge the funding gap. Fundraising events are also in the planning stages.

If you are interested in helping Purin make his dream a reality,  a tax-deductible donation to Ocean Classroom Foundation can be sent, in care of Josiah Purin, to P.O. Box 616, East Boothbay, ME 04544.

For more information, Purin can be reached at 207-380-7748.