We were thrilled to have Liz Johnson and Melissa Baron-Cyr, both who participated in this years Portraits of a Port Summer Institute, return for a program with their school.  Liz was also a Sea Connections Summer Institute participant this August. Lisa Nadeau-Pounds helped with the arrangements, also a POP and Sea Connections teacher.

We were able to raise sail and shut down the engine once off the dock.  The skills that most participants are learning in the Voc. Tech school are all very applicable to life and skills on a sailing ship, so the Ernestina proved once again to be the best educational tool.  Plumbers, welders, culinary arts, medical and health fields, mechanics, electricians, and carpenters.  All useful skills they could observe contained in one environment.

Four hours we sailed with plankton tows, chalk drawings of the critters observing mechanical advantage through tug o wars, explaining EPIRBs and safety equipment after hearing a Coast Guard call, historical connections below decks, tools used on board above decks, and learning to navigate the waters. Most participants got to take a trick at the helm as well as climb aloft and out on the bow sprit before returning to the Fall River State Pier at one o’clock.

This sail was sponsored by the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL) under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Southeastern MA with funding thanks to the Sudbury Foundation, Henry H. Crapo Charitable Foundation and the Massachusetts Environmental Trust.

Captain: Amanda Madeira
Program Coordinators: Inette Rex, Polly Zajac