How-To Float a Classroom Use sailing to teach water ecology and environmental stewardship By Dayna McRoberts and Jen Guimaraes L
IVING ON THE SHORES of a lake has its many advantages – beautiful sunsets, days spent at the beach, afternoons exploring local wildlife – but for
students in Burlington, Vermont, living by Lake Champlain has provided so much more by way of an unlikely learning opportunity. While most students spend their school days staring out the window longing to be outside, the fourth and fifth graders here are taking their notebooks to the lake. Donning brightly colored life jackets, the students board sailboats and embark on the Floating Classroom, a journey to better understand local water ecology and environmental stewardship. What started as a simple ecology and stewardship-based
program has grown and evolved substantially in the past seven years, and it continues to do so. Between the support of teach- ers and principals, generous grantors, and the dedicated staff at the Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center (CSC), these years have proven that Floating Classrooms is the CSC’s little sailboat that could. And while it wasn’t built overnight, and there is still more to do, we invite you to follow along as we recount our journey and provide some useful tips should you want to start your own sailing-based program.
Identify Your Mission Whether a non-profit, a school, a large organization, a sum-
mer camp, an afterschool program, or a traveling circus, being able to answer the why of your program is vital to its success. For some entities, the mission is the centerpiece of all of their work, while others may not have their values and mission statement written down and publicized for all to see. Either way, understanding what your overarching mission is and why must come first, because the values backing that mission must be represented in the program you create. When Dayna first joined the team at CSC in May 2015,
their mission was clear to her from the start. Before she even began working there, she knew the CSC was a place where anyone – regardless of socioeconomic status, sailing/ paddling experience, or physical ability – could get out on the water and feel like they belonged and were supported every step of the way. Having taken part in the CSC’s Learn to Sail program as an undergrad at the local university, she immediately recognized and appreciated their mission of inclusion and access. “Lake access. Life Lessons. For All.” Jen has been a part of developing this mission for over ten years in her role as Associate Director of the Community Sailing Center. The mission is instilled in every program, curriculum and idea she has. The body of water in our community is the focal point
GREEN TEACHER 109 Page 35
Community Sailing Center
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