At a time in history when we’ve become so complacent about the ubiquitous presence of electronics in our lives, there are still a few places where living unplugged is the way to go. The schooners of Ocean Classroom challenge students aged 13-19 from all backgrounds to leave their cell phones and iPods behind, and embrace a different way of life, at least for a little while. Remarkably, students return from these adventures with a new and profound appreciation for what they already have, and a very different understanding of what they truly need.Ocean Classroom’s voyages of discovery and adventure range from one- and two-week Summer Seafaring Camps to full high school and college semesters at sea. Students learn and live the experiential education model aboard a traditional two-masted schooner sailing the Eastern Seaboard from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia, while studying history, literature, science, and math. The schooners Spirit of Massachusetts, Westward and Harvey Gamage are unique platforms for learning. Living and working upon the everchanging sea requires voyagers to be alert, clear-minded, openeyed, and responsive to the environment. This sense of responsive alertness is cultivated as Ocean Classroom’s path to learning.
Instead of sitting in a classroom, students read maritime literature while experiencing an environment much like the characters in the stories. They study the history of the American fisheries – economic and environmental - while touring historic ports and modern fish auctions. They study the cultures of the Caribbean, the original epicenter of world trade for the Americas, while meeting the descendants of indigenous people, immigrants and slaves. Mathematics and geometry are applied directly to navigation: reading charts, plotting a course, dead reckoning and more. Lessons in marine science and oceanography are ever-present, and knowledge of weather and astronomy takes on a special meaning when it becomes a matter of safety and survival.
“All students participate fully in the operation of the vessel, learning seamanship and navigation along with their fully accredited academics,” said Captain JB Smith, a recent recipient of the American Sail Training Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. “They also complete a certified launch operator’s course while on board. Mastering the skills of a sailor is hard work, especially while earning a full semester’s worth of credit in academics (through Proctor Academy, Andover NH).” In addition, they participate in environmental and humanitarian service projects and experience a variety of cultures different from their own.
Students assume increasing responsibilities for ship operations under the watchful eyes of our USCG-certified crew and professional educators. Teamwork and social skills are developed through the rigors of communal living. Self-reliance and respect for authority evolve in the context of the dynamic and changing ocean world. Many Ocean Classroom graduates go on to careers in marine science, education or the maritime trades, and many become lifelong environmental advocates.
There are still a few spots available in the one- and two-week summer seafaring camps out of Boston, MA and Portland, ME. For more information regarding these and the Discovery High School and SEAmester College semester at sea programs, visit oceanclassroom.org. A non-profit educational organization, Ocean Classroom is seeking donors and corporate partners. Contact Susan Hodder, Managing Director of Ocean Classroom Foundation, for more information at 1-800-724-7245.
