Junior Summer Week 6 Recap
This past week, August 5th - August 9th, marked the sixth week of the Junior Summer Program. The Marine Education team explored our sixth Ocean Principal: The Ocean Is Our Friend - connections between the Ocean and humans. All of our sailors worked hard to better their techniques through the varying weather patterns we experienced this week!
Marine Explorers
Bay Buccaneers
Bay Buccanneers learned about tides and ocean properties while out on the mothership this week! They took hands-on to a whole new meaning by jumping into the Harbor. They created cities and habitats from recycled materials. We collected empty bottles, food containers, etc. They also created cloud slime on a rainy day to learn more about the weather!
Bay Buccaneers learning about tides!
First Mates
First Mates and Skippers learned about invasive and native crabs and took data on crab island about how many invasive species there are compared to native. They also made wind chimes out of sea shells and went kayaking.
First Mates and Skippers built seashell windchimes
Sound Swashbucklers
Sound Swashbucklers learned about the animals on our beach through touch tanks. They also made sharks out of paper plates, played games on the beach, and park ranger on the grass!
Sound Swashbucklers made sharks out of paper plates and made their best shark faces!
Skippers
Skippers used a deep water sampler to sample water 10 ft deep. They also collected samples of the sand at the bottom of the Harbor off the dock. Using these samples they were able to perform water quality tests, look at them through microscopes, and compare the water from 10 ft deep to surface level water. They were also able to analyze the different sediments on the beach compared to the black mud that is at the bottom of the Harbor off the dock! The kids also went fishing and learned about fish anatomy, made a ecosystem for fish and marina species and did fish painting
Skippers pulling up the crab trap down at the dock
Events of the Week!
Skippers collected black mud from the bottom of the Harbor
Bay Buccaneers class recycled materials artwork
Youth Sailing
Lil’ Puffs
The Lil’ Puffs spent every possible second they could out on the sonars this week! They learned the parts of the Sonar, how to rig and de-rig the boat, were able to take turns holding the tiller, and playing multiple games on the water!
Opti Beginners
The Opti Beginner class experienced sailing on both Optis and sonars while practicing various skills. The class learned about steering with a tiller, tacking, jibing, and points of sail. The class also quickly mastered upwind sailing. Everyone finished the week as a much better sailor!
Opti Race Team
Opti Race Team started this week with distance sailing, focusing on boat positioning and light wind sailing. As the week progressed, they practiced starts as well as racing strategies and finished the week with fun games!
C420 Intermediate
C420 Intermediates learned to heel the boat to steer and roll tacking to improve speed. They also sailed on sonars with an instructor in the boat on super windy days! They spent time learning about how the wind affects their sails in the different boats they used.
Adventure Sailing
Adventure Sailing took the Hobies out, with four kids on each boat. Every sailor had a chance to take the tiller and navigate through drills. The two boats then raced each other back to the dock!
Opti Intermediate
The Opti Intermediate class refined their sailing skills during multiple high wind days. The class improved their tacks, jibes, and sail trim. Despite initially struggling, the class also learned to sail upwind. The class practiced these skills through drills such as the hot dog drill, the windward leeward drill, and follow the leader.
Opti Intermediates
C420 Beginner
The C420 Beginner sailors began the week participating in drills like the figure eight drill and tack on the whistle. They have shown significant progress in mastering the basics of boat control. Even in challenging conditions, they've demonstrated the ability to apply their newly acquired skills with guidance.
C420 Race Team
C420 Race Team used the windy days to their advantage to work on their sailing skills. They worked on sailing through different weather conditions: sun, rain, low and high wind, etc. All of our sailors worked hard to better their techniques!
