The water churned along the walkway of the GulfQuest/National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico next to the Mobile River in Mobile, Alabama. Pockets along the river were filled with branches, leaves, and brackish detritus that pooled next to sea vessels that had been docked for what looked like more than a year.
Proctor’s Winter Ocean Classroom program took on a new theme this year as we joined forces with the MET School of Providence, Rhode Island and Sailing Ships Maine to design a shared trimester at sea program that would sail from Charleston, South Carolina around Florida to Mobile, Alabama. Along the way, students from Proctor and the MET School studied historic Southern ports, involuntary servitude, and the lasting impact of slavery on both economic and social systems throughout America.
Proctor Academy's historic winter Ocean Classroom program joining Proctor students with students from the MET School of Providence, Rhode Island continues their adventure at sea. After two weeks of managing COVID-19 ashore, the Harvey Gamage returned to the open waters, with students aboard.
Proctor's winter Ocean Classroom program in collaboration with the MET School of Providence, RI and Sailing Ships Maine has been sidelined in Brunswick, Georgia for a week as the crew has dealt with managing COVID-19 cases on board the ship. While the turn of events over the past weeks has been challenging, and disappointing, the resiliency and positive attitude of the students on board, the tireless hard work by the Captain and crew, and the support of parents have been inspiring. With open seas in sight, Calvin '22 reflects on the past week aboard (and alongside) Harvey Gamage.
Proctor's winter 2022 Ocean Classroom program, aboard the Harvey Gamage in partnership with Sailing Ships Maine, launched today from Charleston, South Carolina. The nine-week journey will finish on March 8, 2022 in Mobile, Alabama as students from both Proctor and the MET High School and Big Picture Learning, both of Providence, RI, explore the historic roots of these two southern ports, and the open waters in between.
Proximate learning does not occur without risk, but it is in those moments where students are living their education alongside the issues they are studying that world views are transformed.
Nine weeks and 2,000 Nautical Miles later, the schooner Harvey Gamage docked in Brunswick, Georgia completing the fall 2021 Ocean Classroom voyage. For the 22 Proctor students aboard Gamage, their term at sea has changed the trajectory of their lives. They not only learned Marine Science, Navigation, and Maritime Literature, but they learned how to crew a tall ship and how to live together in close quarters. The lessons of Ocean Classroom -- newfound confidence, independence, and perspective -- will accompany these students for the rest of their lives, and we will all benefit from their time at sea when they return to campus in December. Congratulations, OC ‘21!
Proctor Academy's Ocean Classroom program has entered the final week aboard the Harvey Gamage and its fall voyage along the eastern seaboard. While unfortunate weather patterns have impacted the student crew and their ability to sail into Caribbean waters, the learning taking place and adventures remain life-changing. Read more from the past week on Ocean Classroom below.
