How We're Moving Forward with Outdoor Education

Message from Megan, aka the Education and Outreach Coordinator

Photo by Jempe Center

The winter months are a great time to reflect on the past sailing season, and start planning for future sailing seasons.  With the amazing insight of our Education Committee, Captains, volunteers, and partner organizations, we are finding new ways to move forward and keep our environmental curriculum current and engaging.

One project I’m really excited for is increasing our focus on stewardship and citizen science.  During our 2011 sailing season, we had the opportunity to partner with People For Puget Sound during one overnight program to do a shoreline restoration project!  Our Fantastic Voyage participants stepped off Adventuress in Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, and hiked to Cayou Lagoon.  There they tore out invasive species and helped to remove trash from Orcas Island's largest estuary.

We also partnered with plankton researchers the University of Washington's Friday Harbor Labs and were able to collect over samples that led to increased knowledge of harmful algal blooms in the San Juan Islands.

In 2012, we hope to continue these projects as well as other develop other projects that include water quality, microplastics, zooplankton, and more.  To fully engage in some of these citizen science projects, we have some equipment needs – If you want to directly contribute to these initiatives, check out our ‘wish list’ to learn more.

We are looking forward to a fantastic 2012, and hope to see you, your family, your students, and friends aboard when we’re back on the water in April.