Pelican Sailing Boat Excursion
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Overview In February 2016 three culturally diverse and socio economically disadvantaged Primary schools in Melbourne’s West, each participated in the Marine Education experience of a lifetime. Students spent the day on a 65 ft. catamaran out on Port Philip Bay. The catamaran included a classroom for learning, outside learning spaces and on board marine scientists and other educators, who taught and talked with the children, about the marine environment. Children experienced this rich learning opportunity as a team, using all their senses, touching both living and deceased marine organisms, to create a profoundly different learning experience, compared to the classroom. The children’s feedback from the three days was extremely positive, many referring to it as the experience of a lifetime and unique in its ability to help them appreciate and understand the marine environment, particularly the wonder of Port Phillip Bay. The students experience would not have been possible without the generous support of Simon Lindsay (Manager Improved Learning Outcomes), Shelley Waldon (Science and Innovation Team) and Dennis Torpy, Manager of Wellbeing at CEM. Special thanks go to these supporters. Participants Students from, St Theresa’s: Grade 6, Our Lady’s-Grade 5 & Mother of God-Grade 4 In total 56 students participated in this program.