Ocean Literacy – an opportunity for Sail Training

John Hepburn

Plan

• Filmed record, reminder and for website: is everybody happy?

• 15 minutes intro – doing Ocean Literacy as part of sail training

• 20 minutes discussion, 5 groups

• 2 minute resume from each group

• 10 minutes open questions/discussion

Ocean Literacy

• Understanding the ocean’s influence on us and our influence on the ocean

There are 7 Principles of Ocean Literacy • 1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features.

• 2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.

• 3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

• 4. The ocean made the Earth habitable.

• 5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

• 6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

• 7. The ocean is largely unexplored.

Barriers to Ocean Literacy

• Lack of connection with the Ocean

–The very nature of the ocean makes it difficult to experience or understand.

–The sea itself is a barrier.

–The lack of personal experience on the ocean.

Géraldine Fauville et al; Using collective intelligence to identify barriers to teaching 12–19 year olds about the ocean in Europe

Why should you bother?

• You can

• Reputation

• Customers

• Money

• Fun

5 August 2010 - Cornubia

5 September 2013 – European Marine Science Educators Association Inaugural Meeting

Year Bid Received %age

2010 £1,500 £1,080 72

2011 £22,850 £15,571 68

2012 £25,850 £14,638 57

2013 £40,250 £18,884 47

2014 £49,241 £14,824 30

2015 £32,980 £27,983 85

2016 £62,783 £23,163 37

2017 £52,250 £16,375 31

2018 £28,500 £19,922 70

Sail Training

Sail Training

• ... any conception of a ‘mainstream’ of sail training was not supported by evidence from our enquiries of potential participants.

K. McCulloch, P. McLaughlin, P. Allison,V. Edwards and L. Tett: Sail training as education: more than mere adventure, Oxford Review of Education, 2010

Sail Training

• Educational experience that occurs on board sailing vessels of various sizes in various contexts around the world

• Particular focus on personal and social development

• Variety of experiences ranging from day sails in protected waters to yearlong voyages across oceans

• Predominantly connected with youth development

Schijf, Allison, Von Wald: Sail Training: A Systematic Review, Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership 2017, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 167–180

Ocean Discoverability

Day sails for children with disabilities in Plymouth Sound & estuaries

A typical day

Photo: Mount Tamar School 3

How much do you think you know about the ocean and what lives in it?

Almost nothing

1

Just a bit Quite a bit Enough to know how little I know Lots

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

How much do you think you know about what people do with the ocean?

Glimpses of Ocean Life – Marina Pontoons & What They Can Teach Us

“Learning about marine life”

“I enjoyed it all. I now know why the seaweed is a different colour.”

Devil's Tongue Weed – a non-native invasive species

“I got to know about sea creatures”

Science in the saloon – microscope and underwater video.

Science in the saloon – microscope and underwater video.

And off to sea!

“Weather not so great today, but it was great to see the learners in their wet weather gear and really working hard

with crew showing fantastic team work. Thanks to all.”

Extra points for foreign warships

Marine Litter

Trawling for plankton

“I liked learning about the sea and the creatures within it.”

And this is the plankton they found.

“I enjoyed finding the pictures in the book”

And points mean prizes!

“Today was very fun. I would love to come again. Thank you.”

Does it work? How much do you think you know about the ocean and what lives in it?

Almost nothing

1

Just a bit Quite a bit Enough to know how little I know Lots

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

How much do you think you know about what people do with the ocean?

What do you think you got out of your day?

Does it work?

Average level of knowledge of the marine environment and maritime activities At the beginning of the day: 4.05 and 4.11 Children; 4.76 and 4.78 Adults At the end of the day: 5.78 and 5.93 Children; 6.63 and 6.67 Adults.

Does it work?

"What you do grabs their attention and interest and gives them something to improve their concentration, knowledge and education in a very hands on way which they can relate to, since it is actually taking place on location then and there and is the 'real world' in action, so it is very 'hands on' and immediate - no text books involved!" Julia Creeke (a funder)

Does it work?

2019 – Ocean Literacy Voyages

2019 – Ocean Literacy Voyages

2019 – Ocean Literacy Voyages • Ocean Discoverability plus:

– Wildlife log – iNaturalist

– Maritime activities log – Marine Radar

– Beach cleans

– Rockpool safaris

– Pontoon rambles

– Setting lobster pot

– Visits to and from maritime facilities and professionals

– Secchi disc observations

2019 – Ocean Literacy Voyages • Ocean Discoverability plus:

– Reading aloud

– Art

– Snorkelling

– Buoyancy experiments

– Marine Conservation Society Cool Seas workshops – eg “Aliens of the Deep”

– EMDinMyCountry

– Green Blue Cards

They do it differently over there

Adventuress – Photo: E T Becker

Sound Experience Educator/Deckhand Job Description

• Convey the Sound Experience education curriculum.

• Actively participate in all aspects of ship board life and program.

• Assist training new crew in program and deck skills.

• Work positively with youth.

Adventuress – Photo: E T Becker

How are we going to fast-track you?

• Turn sail trainers into marine science educators? –2 day course at Marine Biological

Association, Plymouth –2-3 March –20 people max –£100 max –Sign-up sheet if interested

How are we going to fast-track you?

• Turn marine science educators into useful crew?

–Setting up group of volunteers in Plymouth University

How are we going to fast-track you?

•What do you need to know?

–Toolkit: tales and techniques

Workshop Discussions

• Giving existing sail training staff ocean literacy skills

• Creating a group of volunteer “third hands” with ocean literacy skills

• Having created the additional capacity use it during yacht master/sailing school/commercial sailing voyages

Workshop Discussions

• SWOT Analysis –Strengths

–Weaknesses

–Opportunities

–Threats

Positive Negative

Internal

Strengths Weaknesses

External

Opportunities Threats

Workshop Discussions

• Toolkit: techniques and tales – what does good look like?

•What must it do?

•What would be nice for it to do?

•What must it not do?

Workshop Discussions

• Money –How can we fund creating this

capacity?

–Can we make money out of the capacity?

Workshop Discussions

• Anything you need to know to participate in the discussions?

• Anyone really want to be in a different group?

• 20 minutes discussion

• 2 minute resume from each group

• 10 minutes open questions/discussion