26 sixth and seventh grade students decided to embark on a journey with three faculty members. Our meetings are held on Friday afternoons until the late bus.

This project, led by Dudley Middle School science teacher Stacy Lynch, will launch an after school program utilizing the Educational Passages Miniboat Program, creating inclusive learning experiences for the Dudley Middle School community. Through building, deploying, and tracking a Miniboat at sea, students will connect with their local environment and community, as well as with communities around the world. Organized into teams (Launch, Cargo, Deck, Hull & Keel, Sail, Media & Tech), 5th and 6th grade students will help build, manage tasks, and track progress, while the 7th and 8th grade students equip the boat with satellite transmitters and sensors for data collection. The project aims to foster ocean literacy and engagement, and promote understanding of ocean currents, climate change impacts, and global cultural connections.

Spring 2023, many of these students participated in another ocean related extracurricular program. The Ocean Race used their global platform to inspire all those that they can reach to take action to help the ocean. This included the sailing community, wider sports industry, businesses, host cities, governments, children, fans and many more. Students worked with an international curriculum to develop ocean literacy and grow understanding of our connection with the ocean, as well as to inspire action to fight plastic pollution.