About The Phoenician Argonauts
The Phoenician Argonauts are Phoenix students on a modern voyage of discovery, using sailing and STEM to explore wind, water, and their own potential. From a high school campus in the desert to a 22-foot sailboat named Argo on Lake Pleasant, we give young people hands-on experiences that build confidence, curiosity, and real-world skills.
Who We Are
The Phoenician Argonauts is an inter-city youth sailing and STEM program based at Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
We serve students who might never otherwise step onto a boat, combining engineering projects, boat restoration, and on-the-water learning into one integrated experience.
Our home vessel is Argo, a restored Laguna Windrose 22 donated to the program and dedicated to student learning and leadership on Lake Pleasant.
What We Do
We use sailing as an educational platform, not just a sport. Students:
Design and Build
Design and build simple “land yachts” to learn sail trim, balance, and basic physics safely on campus.
Restore and Maintain
Restore and maintain Argo, learning tools, materials, safety standards, and real marine systems.
Sail on Lake Pleasant
Sail on Lake Pleasant under close supervision, rotating through roles like skipper, crew, and safety officer.
Throughout each phase, students apply science, technology, engineering, and math to real problems, from buoyancy and wind to weather and navigation.
Our Mission
Our mission is to open the world of sailing and STEM to Phoenix youth, especially those from neighborhoods with limited access to lakes, boats, and outdoor education.
Access & Opportunity
Make high-quality sailing and STEM experiences accessible regardless of background or ability to pay.
Character & Leadership
Build character, leadership, teamwork, and resilience through challenging, real-world tasks.
Learning That Comes Alive
Connect classroom learning to the forces of wind, water, and weather in a way that feels alive and relevant.
Why Sailing in the Desert?
Phoenix may be in the desert, but water — and opportunity — are not far away.
Lake Pleasant gives our students a nearby gateway to a world that feels completely different from their daily landscape, while still being reachable for school-based programs.
Sailing is uniquely powerful for young people because it blends:
STEM & Curriculum
Our approach is informed by national best practices like US Sailing’s Reach program, which embeds STEM and environmental learning directly into sailing activities.
We adapt these ideas to Phoenix by:
Safety & Inclusion
Safety is non-negotiable. All students wear USCG-approved lifejackets on and near the water, and all lake sessions follow Arizona boating regulations and youth sailing best practices.
We are committed to keeping the program welcoming and inclusive for students of all backgrounds, genders, and abilities, focusing especially on youth who have had limited access to outdoor and STEM enrichment.
Our Story
VoyageOfTheArgo.com takes its name from the mythological ship Argo and the Argonauts, a crew of adventurers who set out together to explore unknown waters.
In Phoenix, our Argo is a 22-foot training sailboat and our Argonauts are local students charting their own course — learning to work as a crew, solve problems, and see new horizons for themselves.
If you’d like to get involved as a school partner, volunteer, or supporter, we’d love to talk.