As a young man, Jim Stoll developed a passion for sailing. He turned the usually quiet summer season at his family’s marina into a thriving summer sailing school for teenagers.

In 1970, Jim expanded the concept, taking his school to the water full-time. Jim sailed the Atlantic waters aboard 156’ Te Vega and 175’ Te Quest, enrolling 86 teenagers every year in a high school program of study and travel. Twelve years later, with children of his own, Jim moved back ashore to develop his motivational programs for young adults. In the mid-eighties he once again headed to the water and ActionQuest was born.

In 1995, Jim was joined by Mike Meighan. A recent oceanography and marine biology graduate, Mike dreamed of creating a truly interactive educational experience. Using the principles of ActionQuest, Mike developed Sea|mester in 1998. Sea|mester acquired the 88-foot school ship, S/Y Ocean Star, in 1999. After an extensive re-fit, she headed for the Caribbean and continues to ply the waters of the Lesser Antilles today.
 
During Sea|mester’s infancy, Jim helped his teenage son, Jason, achieve a life goal – sailing around the world. Between 1997 and 1999, Jim joined his son for parts of the voyage. Their travels led to the creation of new AQ programs in the Galapagos, Tahiti, Fiji and Australia. Looking to give something back to the communities that support ActionQuest and Sea|mester, in 2002, Jim and Mike created Lifeworks, a worldwide community service-learning program for teenagers.
 
The steady growth of Sea|mester allowed one of our biggest goals to be realized. Summer 2006 saw the completion of a new 112-foot school ship, S/Y Argo. She has been designed to circumnavigate the globe, offering Sea|mester students the chance to cross oceans while furthering their educational and personal goals. Sea|mester plans to build additional vessels in the future, based on the model of Argo.
 
Both Jim and Mike sail aboard with the British Virgin Island ActionQuest summer programs, preferring to maintain their active roles as directors. Today, AQ and Sea|mester span the world and have changed the lives of thousands of young adults.