School at Sea

Objectives:
Each year, 37 students aged 14 to 17 set sail with School at Sea on a six-month voyage from the Netherlands to the Caribbean and back. Aboard a tall ship, they are guided by five teachers and an experienced nautical crew. The program’s goals are to build global awareness, independence, and teamwork. Students work on developing leadership, resilience, and problem-solving skills. They gain hands-on experience with environmental and cultural studies while at sea, connecting classroom learning to real-world challenges.

Activities:
Students engage in a range of activities related to academics and sailing skills. They learn to navigate and maintain the ship while observing marine wildlife up close, like spotting dolphins, whales, birds, and fish while snorkeling in Caribbean waters. Environmental responsibility is a big focus: students help clean up beaches (e.g. on the San Blas islands) and do citizen science projects, like collecting data on ocean plastics for The Ocean Cleanup (photo: https://www.instagram.com/p/CnjY9_DLLuV/?img_index=1) and testing water for microplastics for The Ocean Movement. These activities allow them to understand pollution issues firsthand. At various stops, like Tenerife and Dominica, they connect with local communities, learning about local traditions and history.

Approach:
This program blends hands-on learning with academic lessons. For example, students practice navigation with real sailing exercises, using wind patterns and tools to find their course. When flying fish land on deck, they dissect them to explore marine biology up close. For the plastic pollution project, they use a trawling net to collect water samples, which they analyze for microplastics with the help of a microscope. Teamwork is essential; students rotate roles on board, learning all crew responsibilities. Each students documents their experiences in monthly journals that are sent to parents and teachers, giving them time to reflect and share their growth.