A Great Lakes experience geared for our kindergarten through 3rd-grade learners with shorter stations than our Next Gen program. During this program, students work in small groups to collect water and biological samples from Lake Michigan. Every student participates in interactive learning stations to explore aspects of life in the lake. This Early Elementary program is hands-on, discovery-oriented, and curated to suit the age group’s needs.
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Program Details
Dates Offered:
- Spring: May through early June
- Fall: September through early October
Program Locations:
- Schooner Inland Seas sails out of Suttons Bay – 100 Dame St., Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
- Schooner Alliance sails out of Discovery Pier in Traverse City – 13271 S W Bay Shore Dr., Traverse City, MI 49684.
*Program location is dependent on the vessel you select when registering.
Times:
- Morning session: 9:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Afternoon session: 1:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Group Size:
- Schooner Inland Seas: max. of 32 – includes all students, teachers, and chaperones
- Schooner Alliance: max. of 35 – includes all students, teachers, and chaperones
Cost:
$825 (Thanks to the generous support of our individual donors and foundations who subsidize the remaining cost.)
Program Timeline:
(20 min) Group arrives – introductions and students receive name tags and log books
(10 min) Safety talk from the captain and board ship
(15 min) Depart from dock and launch Otter Trawl to sample fish
(10 min) Motor to sampling location while students learn about and practice with sampling equipment
(20 min) Collect lake samples (plankton, benthos, water quality, weather, water clarity)
(25 min) Hoist the anchor and raise the sails!
(05 min) Mindful reflection time
(50 min) Students rotate through five learning stations to analyze samples
(05 min) Stewardship conversations
(05 min) Wrap-up discussion and disembark
2.75 Hours Total
Ready to Register?
You can register for your Schoolship program online using the live calendar (below). If you have questions or would like support in registering, please reach out to School Partnership Coordinator, Julie Johnson, at JJohnson@schoolship.org.