Inland Seas Schoolship

The Inland Seas Education Association has been in Suttons Bay for 25 years.

The mission of this organization is:

Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help people of all ages experience the science and spirit of the Great Lakes through hands-on, experiential learning activities aboard a traditionally-rigged tall ship schooner. The knowledge gained through these experiences will provide the education, understanding, and commitment needed for the long-term stewardship of the Great Lakes. 

The Schoolship at full sail (photo courtesy of ISEA Facebook Page)

This year, the Schoolship took its 100,000th student out on the water! 

WOW!

Kids help haul sails

Pulling up the trawl net

I had time this month to get out on the Schoolship and watch the students learn about the lake.




While on a Schoolship cruise, the students help cast and haul an otter trawl net that gathers fish and other creatures from the lake. They also help hoist the sails. They take the temperature of the lake at the surface and at the bottom. Then, they pull up lake sediment.

Students explore lake life

The students rotate through stations that allow them to fully explore the lake as the ship sails Suttons Bay.

Red worms live in the lake sediment

A crayfish stands on a round goby

Students study microscopic life in the lake: zooplankton and phytoplankton

ISEA's Schoolship is a wonderful way for students to connect with these vital, fresh waters.

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 5

I have been going to a variety of venues on my book tour. Bookstores are the obvious first stop for an author with a new book, and I've been to many great indie bookstores so far (and have many more scheduled through the next few months).

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach has taken me to less traditional book tour stops.

I've been to senior centers, retirement communities, the Inland Seas Education Association, Kingman Museum, Cottage and Lakefront Living Show, several libraries, and a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Whew!

Coming up, the book will take me to REI Stores in several states to
lecture about my adventure and my favorite gear from my hike. I'll also share my secrets for keeping my feet happy for 1,000 miles.

(Okay, my feet were pretty UNhappy for the first 400 miles or so until I learned these tricks.)

Here's a bit of video from the tour this month. A big thanks to Sunset Retirement's Waterford Campus for hosting a reading/signing and for choosing me to be their featured speaker at a dinner that evening. Also in this clip, The Nature Connection Store of Kalamazoo had me sign books during the city's monthly Art Hop. Then I did a reading and signing at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Michigan. I had a fantastic time!







Breaking news:

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach was just named a finalist in the
Science/Nature/Environment category of the
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!