Page 5 - KSC Magazine 2020

20 years of creating memories that will last a lifetime
By Margo Peyton
The first Kids Sea Camp trip memories are easily conjured in my mind as if they were created just last summer.
20 years ago at the very first KSC week in Curacao, my son Robbie, was only 6 and my daughter Jen, was just 4. I was
a single mother and wanted to spend more time with my kids and be able to show them a world far beyond the one they knew.
I wanted them to experience different cultures, different ways of life and share with them something I never had. I wanted to create a living classroom for them to learn and meet other like- minded kids that embraced adventure. I wanted them to meet new people, experience new places and try new things.
It was 1999, when my close friend, Carolyn Pascal, then publisher of Skin Diver Magazine and I were sitting on
a beach in
the Bahamas during another work trip. We were discussing how much we missed our kids and how amazing it would be to findawayto
bring them on our dive trips. Right there in that moment so long ago we started creating a vision that would become one of the greatest ideas of my life. Carolyn had the media and I had PADI dive resorts.
Together we pooled our resources
and the first KSC week took place in Curacao with Ocean Encounters at the Curacao Sea Aquarium in 2000, with just 7 families. Nolo & Monica the owners of Ocean Encounters became the first dive operators to join our KSC family.
Now 20 years later, Jen will be turning
24 and Rob 26.There have been 7,600+ kids that have become certified divers over those years. Robbie, Jen and myself are PADI instructors, and we travel with approximately 350 + families per year to 13 countries over 20 weeks, including liveaboards and land-based resorts around the world.
I’m so very proud and grateful to our dive industry.They have supported my vision and co-created little gear, kids dive courses, shared the stories and listened to me and all those little voices.
PADI created the courses for kids age 4 -18 and they have always supported me in making diving safer for kids. Tradeshows, like DEMA and Beneath The Sea plus PADI connected me to operators around the world. The dive media: Skin Diver, Sport Diver, Scuba Diving, Dive Training, DAN and Diver magazines, run the stories that share the voices who tell the world about Kids Sea Camp.
SCUBAPRO was the first to create SASY gear, little tanks, fins, masks and tiny wetsuits.They outfit the kids with sponsorships every year.
SEALIFE, has given KSC cameras every year to teach and photograph 20 years of underwater memories.
Our partners believe that kids are the future and have continued to support our vision.
I have personally chosen each PADI resort that is a member of our KSC family, because they are dive resorts
that I can trust to keep kids safe above all things.They are family-owned, family- friendly and family operated.They have put up with me, and continue to believe in me. They proudly celebrate our brand together as a team.
When I ask families why they choose us, they say,“Because time is the most important thing in life Margo! Time with our kids and our grandkids is priceless. Making memories that will last a lifetime is exactly what you and Tom do.“
This little company has grown in so many ways. KSC is a safe, fun, educational and an authentic family vacation.We focus on the underwater world and the human experience. It’s a family vacation where kids and parents unplug from their virtual worlds and reconnect to each other.
In 2006, My best friend and husband Tom Peyton, with Robbie, Jen and I became a family.Tom left the news industry and joined the KSC dive team.
We are celebrating 20 years of success
this year with 20 KSC group trips and three “Empty Nesters weeks”
“Empty Nesters” are dive trips for thoseparentslikeTomandIthathave grown kids, and still want to travel with us.
And to the worlds best dive team: Thank you for keeping kids safe and for being so much fun. You are the worlds best dive team:Woody,Aly, Olivia, Jen, Rob, Josh, Sven, Brad, Jesse, Patric, Holly, Max, Sophie, Fraser, Conrad, Kendal, Evan, Ellen, Kylie, Keone, Jacob and Linda Sue.
MARGO PEYTON:
CEO Kids Sea Camp Inc. & Ocean Wishes Foundation, PADI Elite MSDT instructor, “Diver Of The Year” Education, at the 2019 Beneath the Sea . Women Divers Hall of Fame, SCUBAPRO Deep Elite Ambassador, PADI Ambassadiver, PADI 25 yr Award of Excellence in training & education. The Family Travel Association’s 2016 Person of the Year Award,The Seiko 2017 Sea Hero Award, DEMA’s Hall of Fame & “Reaching Out” Award 2018 and Wyland Icon Award nominee 2015, FTA Board of Directors 2019.
www.familydivers.com
803-419-2556 email: dive@familydivers.com www.oceanwishes.org
Come celebrate 2020 with us!
“20YEARS OF MAGICAL MOMENTS”