Although it was a
cold, wet, and blustery day out on the water, nothing could
dampen the spirits of the Fifth Grade students of Onekama
School. On Thursday, May 23, the students and their
teachers, Bonnie Brown and Sally Catanese, took a field trip
to the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.
The goal of The
Inland Seas Education Association is to work with students
to protect the Great Lakes through education, so that they
will become lifelong stewards of Michigan’s natural
resources.
Students started
the day by boarding the schooner Inland Seas. Using a tool
called an ottertrawl, they collected samples of plankton,
water, and sediment. The samples were tested for water
quality and health, and the data was entered on a statewide
record.
High winds and wet
weather did not allow the students to take the boat out on
the water, like groups had been able to do in past years,
but the day was still packed with opportunities for
education and fun.
“I was happy that
our guides were able to provide us with a Plan B,” said
Brown. “Although we were not able to go out on a Tall Ship
tour, they accommodated us by moving us to the education
center so we were still able to be a part of the schoolship
experience.”
Working in small
groups, the students rotated through five learning stations
that were run by schoolship volunteers. At the stations,
students learned about water chemistry, plankton, sediment
and benthos, fish species, and why it is important to be
stewards of the Great Lakes.
In addition,
students learned the parts of a ship, information about
water conservation, facts about waterways, and the dangers
of invasive species. Most importantly, they gained greater
awareness and sensitivity for the natural world, especially
the Great Lakes.
Students left wet, tired, and a bit cold, but nonetheless
energized to do their part in their daily lives to protect
and preserve the Great Lakes for future generations.