We are halfway through the 6 week launch of our full time educational program. There are 2 cohorts of students engaging in sailing, marine environmental explorations, building projects to develop math, design and planning skills as well as leadership and team building skills. They have journals they write in daily on various subjects.
Call of the Sea brings the classroom to life. Comments from students at the daily feedback session at the end of the day are inspiring:
“I have been learning about plankton in the classroom. The first time I saw it in person (under a microscope) I felt like it was staring into my soul”
“I have lived my whole life in the area but never have I been under the bridge, always over it”
“I am learning about myself and how to work with others”
Through Seamanship (setting sails, helping with maneuvers, taking on responsibility in running the schooner) students are learning peer leadership, discovering their leadership styles and moving beyond their comfort zone into the learning zone by asserting themselves in a positive way to accomplish a goal and shared success.
This can be a transformative experience, taking on challenges and stepping outside of their usual element. After 2 weeks, the students now take the lead in raising sails. They teach each other the skills they have learned from the crew, such as going out on the bowsprit safely to stow a sail.
