An “Unconventional Week” with Ricardo Richards and Alfredo Andrews

St. Croix, USVI

Ship’s Logs written by AmeriCorps Deckhand Educator Hillary Turay

February 1, 2024

This turned out to he a somewhat unconventional week of programming aboard the Denis Sullivan for classes from Ricardo Richards and Alfredo Andrews. The weather unfortunately kept us dockside all week, where we had to get somewhat crafty revising this week's lesson plans. I had the pleasure of leading a lesson we typically never give students on day programs — a tour of our below-deck compartments. The kids got to explore our galley and main hold, where they learned a bit more about what it would be like to live on a tallship. The kids also enjoyed a whole array of other, more typical lessons, including climbing aloft and on the bowsprit, building aluminum foil ships to learn about buoyancy, and trying their hands at writing poems about the sea. In one superb display of getting out of their comfort zones, a group of students did a lesson on simple machines in the rain, while donning some of our foul weather gear.

While this week certainly had its unique challenges, it was great to get to see the adaptability of students and crew alike. Although the kids didn't get to go sailing this week, all were encouraged to come on a sunset sail with their parents so they can see the ship in action. I hope to see some of their familiar faces sometime in the near future!

- Hillary Turay