Oyster Moving!

Yesterday the FAP group woke up VERY early to enjoy a lovely sail from Sandy Point State Park to Horn Point Labs on the Choptank River in Cambridge, MD.   Horn Point is a special place as it houses the largest oyster hatchery and research facility in Maryland.  Living Classrooms Shipboard Department runs an annual restoration project which results in approximately 100 bags of oyster shell and, hundreds of thousands of baby oysters growing on those shells, being placed in the Patapsco River.  The FAP group played an important role in that project yesterday.  As you can see it was wet and muddy work, but everyone seemed to enjoy it.  After their hard work in the lab yesterday they were rewarded with swim time and showers!

We weren't too dirty after loading the 104 bags into the truck.

Silly faces make the mud easier to handle.

Time for the serious mud and wet - cleaning the tank!

Family Academics is Underway!

This morning a fearless group of students and their parents set sail aboard the skipjack Sigsbee for a week's worth of adventure and learning.  Here are a few pictures of them getting off the dock, notice all the kids jumping into action, not so sure about all those parents still sitting there though. :)

Joe helps a student prepare line 1 for departure.

Rohan explains what a student will do to "take 2".

Ready to "take 4".

Learning what it means to "take 3".

Taking 1

And there she goes….

Have a great week!

Day 9, July 17

      The last day has arrived and we are finally sailing back to Baltimore! Our day began when the Port watch was woken up at 4 am so that they could go crabbing with Captain Clay. Captain Clay has lived and fished in the Chesapeake all his life, so he was a very knowledgeable guide. While Port watch was gone Starboard watch got ready for the day and packed up camp. Then, around 9 am the two groups switched. We all enjoyed listening to Captain Clay's descriptions of what the bay used to be like, and how it has changed. It was a beautiful morning and we caught many crabs so everyone left in good spirits! After this final adventure we got back on the Sigsbee, ate lunch, and are now sailing smoothly. It has been an amazing trip, full of new experiences, but I think all anyone wants to do now is take a shower!

Day 7, July 15

     Yesterday we woke up to an amazing sunrise above the water. We got our things together, and then we went straight to the boats! The students were excited to get back to sailing, so we got underway and raised the sails before we ate breakfast. When it was time for breakfast we were rewarded for our work by a fantastic breakfast of orange juice, bagels, donuts, and fruit. After this we filled the morning with fun things. First we again got out the trawl net and trawl fished. We caught quite a few things this time: around 7 crabs ( including one female soft- shell crab) and a few fish. The students had fun looking at the crabs and identifying them as either male or female. After this it was time to go swimming! The crew dropped anchor and lowered the ladder, and then we all jumped in. The water was cool but not too cold, perfect for the day's temperature. We splashed around the boat for around a half hour, and then we got out and dried off so that we could sail back to shore. 

        Back at our campsite we ate lunch and then prepared to go to Horn Point Maritime Museum. While Calvert Marine Museum focused more on the marine animals of the bay, this museum focused more on boats, sailing, and harvesting oysters. It was full of information, and the students had fun looking at all the different stations. The students filled their time at the museum by writing down facts and learning as much as they could about everything so that they would be ready to report on it later. They also explored another lighthouse, watched people building boats, and got to see an entire exhibit on duck hunting. 

         After the museum we headed back to the campsite and picked up some pizzas on the way. Everyone was thrilled to get a break from making and cleaning up dinner, and the pizza was delicious! We knew that we were going to get bad weather again, so instead of braving it outside in our tents, we decided to pack up our sleeping things and head to the lobby of a building nearby. Once there we played card games, talked, and got ready for bed. The air conditioning was wonderful, and we were thankful to be away from the bugs!

        

A

Day 8, July 16

       This morning after a restful night, we packed up our things and left Horn Point for the last time. The sky looked as though it were going to rain, and since the wind was blowing fiercely and the waves were high the crew set sail without the help of the students just to be safe. However, by the time breakfast was over and cleanup was complete the weather was lovely again, only a little bit cloudier than normal. The students jumped right into lessons like normal, with one watch learning about boat building while the watch that had already learned this helped with navigation. 

     Towards the middle of the morning we went by Tilman's Island by passing through Knapps Narrows. This area has been very important for the economy of the Chesapeake, and while we passed through the narrows we saw many different types of ships. We also learned that Tilman's Island is the most northern location where alligators live indigenously. The highlight of this visit was passing under the raised drawbridge that stretches across the narrows. 

        After we had passed the island we ate a lunch of sandwiches, and when we were done eating the crew decided that it was a good time to clean the deck. The students all helped to fill buckets, scrub the deck, and wash all the surfaces. The deck was beautiful by the time the students were done!  After this the students were given some time to relax and play games, so we filled the time by playing both Mafia and Wink Murderer. 

        During some of the down time I talked to the students about their favorite moments from the trip or things they learned from this experience. This is what they said:

Anne- I love how we've all become so close through working together on a boat.

Alex-  After sleeping in the wilderness for a week it was great to hang out and sleep in a lobby for one night. :)

Adriana- I liked how we made dinner together and played games in the evening, it was just like we were all a family ( thumbs up). It was also really fun when all the girls slept in one tent together. Thanks to Joe for his stories, to Rohan for teaching us how to work the boat, and to the two Katies and Emily for taking care of us. 

Kaylee - My favorite moment was when all of us were together :) 

Andre- Being on the boat was really fun and I learned a lot. 

Drew- I had a really fun adventure and some of my favorite parts were seeing the squadrons of cow nose rays and getting to camp and have fun getting to know everyone and make new friends. The historic museums were really cool. Having my rabbit by my side helped to keep me from getting homesick. 

Varisa- I'm grateful for all the experiences and memories we've made, including all those good and bad because they brought us together.

Jake- I'm really happy I got to learn how to be a part of a team and respect people of different views and backgrounds.

Brian- When you have to raise a 2,000 pound sail every day, you learn to trust who you're working with. 

Tushaar-  My favorite moment was sitting by the river seeing the natural beauty while talking about our dreams. 

Jefferson- I liked seeing all the water :D

Ben -  I learned that lending a helping hand will always pay off in th end. 

Day 5 and 6, July 13-14

       On Sunday after leaving Calvert Cliffs, we again set sail, this time heading north. It was another warm and sunny day! The students again helped sail and navigate the boat, and they also learned about how boats sail. They learned the parts of the sail, sail theory, and what is necessary for boats to stay afloat. Part of the lesson involved the students creating their own boats out of aluminum foil, duct tape, and popsicle sticks. They then tested the boats to see which design worked best. Later in the afternoon the students learned about an important creature in the bay: oysters. They even got to see one opened, and they saw its heartbeat!

        In the afternoon we reached Horn Point, where we set up camp. We began the evening by making chili and mac 'n cheese for dinner, and while we waited for the food to be ready we played games and talked about our dreams while enjoying the beauty of the Choptank River. After dinner the students raced to set up their tents; if they were able to set up their tents in a half hour then they would get an extra hour to sleep in. The students were successful and their was much rejoicing! After setting up tents the students were surprised with the opportunity to call home, and then it was time to get ready for bed. 

          On Monday we woke up late to a gorgeous day. We had time to make a big breakfast, so we ate French toast, bacon, and fruit. Instead of heading to the boat, we walked to Horn Point Oyster Hatchery.  Horn Point Oyster Hatchery is attempting to bring back the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay by helping oysters to reproduce far more abundantly and successfully than they would be able to naturally. The students got to learn all about this process and why it is necessary. Our trip started with a tour of the hatchery. After we had seen everything we moved on to the real work. First the students participated in an oyster shell-bagging competition. The watches competed against each other, and after much effort, starboard watch won! We then helped clean both oysters and a tank used to hold oysters. It was a very messy, tiring, and fun afternoon. 

       When we returned from the hatchery it was time for the best surprise of the day, showers!!!! When the students weren't showering they were playing games outside. Then, when everyone was clean it was time for dinner. After dinner a storm struck, so we were forced to wait inside the basement of a building near our campsite. To pass the time we played games and told stories. Finally it was safe to go back to the tents. Unfortunately, a few of the tents were wet from the storm, but we were eventually able to get everyone a dry place to sleep. Everyone slept well after our eventful day!

Ul 

Day 4, July 12

     Yesterday we packed up camp and left Janes Island for the last time. We got to the Sigsbee early since we had a long trip ahead of us. After the students set sail, they again spent the morning practicing navigation and learning about the bay. This time the students tested the water in the bay for nitrates and phosphorous. They also learned about plankton, and at the end of the lesson they were able to make their own plankton! Throughout the morning the students were again active in sailing the boat: keeping watch, steering, watching the weather, and identifying different types of birds that were spotted. 

       It was a warm and very sunny day, so after a lunch of sandwiches the crew surprised the students with a bucket party!!! A bucket party involves having someone sit on a bucket on deck while others pour another bucket of water over them. The student is asked a question before the water is poured over him or her, but it doesn't matter how the person answers, either way they are going to get soaked! Almost all of the students participated, and everyone had a great time chanting "bucket party nahnahnahnah!", laughing, and watching others get drenched in water. When the game was over the students dried off in the sun while playing Wink Murderer, the game that the students have been obsessed with this trip. 

        Finally we reached our destination at Calvert Cliffs on Solomon's Island. Calvert Cliffs are beautiful clay cliffs that have preserved many fossils in their sides. We learned more about these fossils when we visited Calvert Marine Museum. It was Otter Mania Day at the museum, so we got to learn about otters from a worker at the museum while watching the otters play. At another point we were able to reach into a tank and touch sting rays as they swam by. While at the museum we also learned about fossils, explored a historic lighthouse, and learned the history of the area. The students were again careful to learn as much as possible so that they could write about the museum in their field guides. 

          After all the excitment we went to our campsite where we set up camp and grilled hotdogs and hamburgers. Everyone feasted at dinner, and when I say feasted, I actually mean feasted this time. About everyone had at least two entrees, and many had three! After cleanup we spent the rest of the evening playing games and talking about our days during circle time. It was a beautiful day! 

         

Day 3, July 11

This morning we began the day by feasting on pancakes, sausage, and fruit. The students moved quickly through making and cleaning up breakfast, and we were able to get out to the boat in good time. Once on the boat, the students again assisted in sailing and then spent time in lessons with the crew. Some were put on watch and some even got to practice steering the boat! They learned more navigation and they also practiced testing things such as the salinity and turbidity of the water of the bay. 

After lunch, the students were given the best surprise yet, a trip to Tangier Island! Tangier is a small, charming island on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake. It was originally discovered and named by John Smith, and today is inhabited by a close-knit and old-fashioned community. The students had fun buying souvenirs, exploring the island, and learning its history. The students knew that each watch would give a presentation on the island later, so they were careful to gather as much information as possible. After a trip to the Tangier Museum, the students were again surprised with ice cream! After this treat, everyone headed back go the boat. 

As we began sailing again, we were greeted by sunny weather, and the students sat down to learn about knot tying and to again practice testing the water. We then headed back to camp where we made a dinner of pita pizzas. It was another great day full of adventure and learning!