Trip 4, Weekend Fun!

Ahoy and Welcome back to the Adventures of the Lady Maryland!

Lots of fun has been had! When the students aren’t working on their final projects or manning the sails, they’ve been exploring on land. On Saturday we stopped by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Discovery Center, where we watched a short film about the ocean and its many creatures and students had the opportunity to explore the interactive features of this museum. Then, we checked out the Woods Hole Historical Museum, which included a boat shed that tested their strength on weighted halyards as well as interesting facts about Woods Hole and its clamming community.

Sunday was a lucky day! We caught a squid and got to swim in the ocean all in one afternoon. Students observed the squid change colors, using its camouflage (sadly, it did not spray any ink). We set sail soon after the “pool party” and anchored near New Bedford for the night. The stars were beautiful in the clear sky and students were finally given the privilege to do night watches on their own and most of them slept on deck. What a way to end the weekend!

Trip 4, First Post!

Ahoy Mateys!

It’s been an eventful couple of days on the Lady Maryland, between getting stuck at Gloucester Harbor Port and finally getting to sail all the way to the Cape Cod Canal, the students aboard have been able to learn about navigation and the importance of being aware of the weather and surroundings. 

On the second day, still awaiting a favorable change in winds, we took advantage of the fishing town’s resources and caught some lobsters! They were set free shortly after, but not before everyone had a chance to see the catch. 

Aside from some occasional rain, we have beautiful sunny days, perfect for sitting on the deck and learning about Estuary Systems, whales, and other sea creatures. We also had the traditional Sink Off!  In which students designed boats with limited resources (4 popsicle sticks, a sheet of aluminum foil, and a strip of duct tape). The winner was “The Marvel”, with a unique bowl shape and the ability to hold up to 14 1oz fishing weights.

Finally, on Friday, we were able to set sail. We were magically awoken by a pod of dolphins, swimming right next to our ship. With that stroke of luck, and the help of our young sailors, the rest of the day was smooth sailing. They helped steer the ship, raise the sails, locate our position on a chart (marine map), and most importantly, stand lookout for any approaching danger. Stay tuned for more of our adventures!!

Day 5- Lady Maryland

Ahoy Mateys!

We’ve had an eventful last couple of days aboard the Lady Maryland. Anchor watches are going swell as the students are becoming experts in making sure our boat stays safe throughout the night. We’ve had some interesting discoveries in the midst of the night, such as new constellations and answering quirky night questions like finding out finding out everyone’s squid names.

Yesterday we went to the New Bedford Whaling Museum and discovered why it’s called “the city that lite the world”. We took an in depth look at one of the most significant whaling port in America, and how the whaling industry impacted the world around us. We also got to learn more about different types of whales by referencing actual whale bones in the museum. We continued the day by getting underway and sailing for a few hours. As evening grew closer we anchored off Nashon Island and treated ourselves to a swim call. We finished the day by learning about the sea around us and performing, some inky, squid dissections.

Land ho! Today we were able to spend an eventful day at our next port stop. We went to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and were able to look into their research initiatives and have a closer look at the technology used to explore and analyze the depths of the world’s oceans. Next we visited the local Woods Hole Aquarium and got to see some of our favorites fishes plus a lot of new ones up close and personal. We then went to another museum in which they showcased the engineering of the deep sea submersible Alvin and other oceanographic devices. We explored the quaint town of Woods Hole by going on a scavenger hunt and questing for some local treasures. We got to embrace our inner children and play some games on a large sandy playground for the rest of the afternoon. We were able to end the day by venturing out to a local creamery and treating ourselves to a variety of flavors of sweet homemade ice cream. Till next time, thanks for tuning in!