December 19, 2024 • 31 mins
From the Cliffs of Moher to the classrooms of Galway, our trip to Ireland in March with Educational Passages highlights the magic of ocean education. This is the second part of a conversation with Juliet Fluty (click here to listen to part 1). It dives into all the details behind the visits we mentioned in our blog post: educationalpassages.org/miniboat-magic-in-ireland/.
The trip to Ireland unveiled profound connections that have been made through our miniboat program, and the impact is has had on communities involved. We explore the journeys of students, the warmth of local hospitality, and the importance of the ocean in education and our lives.
To access the special VIDEO version of this podcast, visit https://youtu.be/FTHFK8uzZ5k.
Educational Passages is a non-profit organization that seeks to connect people around the world to the ocean and each other through unique global experiences.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:24):
you, this is more than a mini boat.
Part two, all about all aboutour trip to Ireland we took back
in March when we had JulietteFlutie with us as an intern, who
, since graduated Lisa Swanson,also joined us.
So hear more about all of theadventures and the things that
we connected with above andbeyond Mini Maine.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Definitely needed a part two because you know there
was so much more than us Like.
Obviously going into theclassrooms were amazing and
connecting with the kids, butthe community members that we
connected with and the real liketrying to process the impact
that educational passages hasjust needed a whole episode into
itself.
(01:04):
So here we are, part two, let'sget into it.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We drove down to the Cliffs of Moher, which was
absolutely amazing, beforeanybody else showed up.
And then we did our trip to Caryand Waterville and reconnected
with Mini Maine and all of that.
But our adventures took us downto Cork which is where Lisa's
project was based.
We were greeted by Nadine andanother student at Berry Row,
(01:30):
which was amazing because Nadineis the niece of Mary Graves who
received the mini boat inNantucket and helped us with
that relaunch.
Nadine had received the CrimsonCurrent at Barry Rowe the
previous school year and shewent back for Thanksgiving got
to see it in person.
(01:51):
So we were warmly greeted bythe students.
They had signs on the doorwelcome Lisa and Cassie and
educational passages and we walkinto the classroom and the
whole bulletin board was aboutthe project and the map and the
tracking and the letters insideand the newspaper article of the
students in the news.
(02:11):
Absolutely incredible, warmwelcome.
We were greeted by the wholecommunity up front of people
that have been involved.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I think the profound impact of, like the
communities just walking in thedoor was just amazing to me
Because again, coming like wewere talking about in the last
episode, like coming in fromkind of an outsider perspective
onto a project that's kind ofbeen ongoing for a really long
time, seeing the impact of thisproject to the kids was just
(02:42):
amazing.
This project to the kids wasjust amazing and seeing how, you
know, rory probably wouldn'thave or maybe he would have,
knowing Rory, the man, the mythand the legend himself, you know
, going into the classroom andconnecting him, you know, kind
of similar to what I'm doingwith the mini main and
connecting him to all thesedifferent topics that go along
with the mini boat.
That may not have happened,like these kids may not have
been, you know, exposed to thatkind of education, and Rory
(03:03):
would have never been able tomeet them and Billy wouldn't be
able to talk about you know,we'll get more into it but be
able to talk about what he doesin fishing around Ireland and
stuff like that, like theconnections and, you know, all
the pinpoints that these miniboats are creating, is just so
amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, that's.
What stood out to me is thatthe Barry Rowe community was a
very intricate community thatgot involved in helping every
single student take part in this.
So when the Crimson Currentended up in the cave, Billy
recovered it and brought it home.
Katie, his daughter, got toopen it and see all the stuff.
She sent the letter toMorristown Baird Hi, I'm Katie
(03:37):
and I could read that wholething off.
But then Rory helped bring itinto the classroom and he made
sure Billy and Katie were in theroom when the boat was brought
to the classroom.
And yeah, Rory's been fantasticand he did these extra learning
projects and he's volunteeringhis time to do that.
But the community that comestogether help the students learn
.
That's another shared thingbetween all of us that we're
(04:00):
seeing it in Ireland, we see ithere in the US.
Part of the mini boat magic andwhat Educational Passages has
to offer, I think with everylittle mini boat.
But the Morristown Bairdstudents back in New Jersey had
been pen-palling with thestudents at Barry Rowe back and
forth multiple times.
They sent each other holiday,Christmas cards and care
packages and just a really greatback and forth.
(04:20):
Back and forth, you know, carepackages and just a really great
back and forth, back and forthand we got to Zoom with them
while we were there at BerryRoad during this visit and one
of the you know the studentsthat had been the original pen
pal students or the receivers ofthe boat had actually moved to
(04:40):
a different school because theyhad kind of graduated to a new
class and so they ended upbusing back to different schools
because the students had spreadout and they all came back and
that room was full.
It was full of a brand new classwith Sinead, her new students
and then her older students andthey all came back for this.
And we heard from Amira on theZoom saying that she really
(05:02):
missed it.
She missed having a pen pal.
Something was missing in herlife.
So glad we get to make theseconnections.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, and I think it was really cool to see both
sides of the generations ofstudents with the exposure to
this project.
I think it was cool forSinead's current students to see
oh, this is what we're going todo.
This is, you know, getting themexcited about the connection
Lisa mentioned that they'restill going to keep doing.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You know, their connection and things like that
with their ongoing yeah, and howdo you again onboard new
students to a project that hadbeen so deeply involved with the
students the year before?
You're right, it was great forthose kids to see that
excitement, to see what waspossible and to know that they
get to be a part of the nextstep as well, because those
boats, that their boat, was backat sea.
(05:49):
It was launched the day that weleft Ireland actually, and so
we can actively track that andsee where it goes and, who knows
, maybe it'll end up back inCork.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Ireland and like that's the thing too, like all
these boats that are still outthere, you're still making the
connections, even if they're outin sea.
Like you don't necessarily needto, you know, have a kit and
build a boat to really makethose connections.
You can make the connectionswith boats that have already,
you know, that are already outthere.
I think that's what you know,that's what mini Maine,
especially, is all about,because my kids don't
necessarily get to actually seethe boat, but they are heavily
(06:22):
involved in the globalcitizenship aspect of EP and
everything that we do.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Yeah, so we talked about that on our part.
One for those that haven'tlistened to it yet.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Go listen to it.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And we're also by being there in person we're able
to talk to Tom McSweeney alittle bit about the bigger
picture and educational passages, that this is one boat of over
200.
So think about the amazingconnections and the students
involved and that this is justone of many.
So Tom is a well-known newsreporter.
(07:00):
He's got his own podcast,maritime Ireland, very respected
in the maritime industry allaround Ireland.
He has been following thestudents at Barry Rowe.
He was at the port of Cork whenthey dropped off the mini boat
so that it could be relaunchedoff the independent container
line.
He's been there for every partof the story and I think that
really helps share their work.
(07:21):
And again, those community tiesare really important.
And then you were able to beinterviewed and share a little
bit about your internship, whichmade me really proud.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Having people like that, wanting to share what
these students are doing, justmakes the whole lot of
difference.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
And then we had like a three-hour tea.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh, I love tea.
Teacher's room after.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
It was wonderful, it was a great day, yeah, so we'll
put a link to Tom's podcast andthat interview in the show notes
.
We also recorded that wholeZoom and the connection between
classes so you can see theperspective from the students in
New Jersey, their reactions andalso those in Ireland, and I
think that's what it's about ishow are they responding to these
connections?
It's exciting for all of us andthe community members, but we
(08:04):
really, because that's what it'sall about.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So the next day was another rainy day, but we went
over to Billy McCarthy's houseand he gave us a tour of the
cove where he keeps his boat.
He's a fisherman.
He told us about, you know, hisfamily connection to that place
as well, which was really neat.
And then we kind of climbedaround and went inside this
(08:30):
giant rocky cave where the miniboat had been found and it makes
so much sense as to why it wasthere.
He explained to us how thewinds and the currents work in
that area, where he knew rightaway when we told him that there
was a boat in that area whereit might be.
So thanks and shout out toBilly for bringing us around and
(08:51):
sharing your stories.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
After we went to Billy's, we were able to hang
out with our friend, roryJackson, who runs the Ocean
Plastics Project.
We were able to see his whalewatching boat, which, for me
personally, I'm very passionateabout boating and I'm working on
my captain's license right nowso he was able to share with us,
you know, things that he doeswith his Ocean Plastics Project
(09:13):
and the community outreach thathe does to spread awareness of
marine debris, and it was justamazing to hear someone you know
who's done similar projectsthat I have in the past and
seeing his perspective of theimpact that he does with his
passions.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And then we saw it in real life in the beach where he
keeps his boat and all themarine debris that washes up in
that area.
So that was a littleeye-opening as to some of the
things that we saw there.
Yeah, we went to dinnerafterwards as well.
We had more conversations, wewere able to talk to rory more
about his work and we thankedeverybody involved and gave them
(09:51):
their mini boat crew tumblersand gushers, which is a US candy
.
It was really interesting tosee their reactions to that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
It was a fun interaction.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
So the next day while we were in Cork we went
downtown and we went to the oldCork Waterworks and met Mervyn
and I had worked with Mervyn afew years ago on the HVAS
Cruiser miniboat.
That project had gone throughCOVID and they got some support
from Creative Ireland to make itan art project and they
(10:25):
submitted artwork and designsand ended up printing them on a
vinyl wrap that went around theminiboat.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Fancy schmancy it was awesome.
Those kids were so excitedabout the project and even they
made like a book of all of thestudents artwork that Mervyn was
able to show us, and it was so.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, there was well over 300 entries, I think, and
this is just from one.
This was just cork.
We had very like a half an hourvisit with Mervyn.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
We had to get going.
Yeah, that could have easilybeen a whole day trip in itself.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Because we had a tour up in Galway at the Marine
Institute that we were trying toget there in time for Amazing.
So I had seen the lobby of theMarine Institute through the
eyes of photographs and pressreleases.
The mini boat named Lancer andpress releases the mini boat
named Lancer.
I remember the videos and howthe student named Caitlin and
(11:16):
her teacher, michael Connor, gotto visit Ireland and they got
to take the same tour that wedid.
But yes, I was geeking out.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
We were total nerds, total nerds.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So my background is in ocean observations, the buoys
and the gliders and the thingsthat collect ocean data over
here in the US.
But it was really neat for meto see from the perspective of
the Marine Institute that theyhave this similar infrastructure
.
We also got a tour of their laband they had, like the image
flow cytobot which is actuallymade over in the US, and we saw
(11:49):
gliders which again are actuallymade in near where I live.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
So really to make those connections and be
inspired to then help studentssee those connections, One of
the things that I really enjoyedabout the Marine Institute was
like when we were walking around.
When people like think of labs,they think of you know, people
in white coats, they think ofvery science-y, very you know
black and white and whateverelse.
But even us walking around andseeing the artwork that has been
(12:16):
done and there were so manybeautiful murals and they had
two or three things of, like afish that was entirely made of
shells and just having thataspect of the integration of art
and science I think is soimportant and so rare, because I
feel like science in itself isan art form and like integrating
(12:37):
that into, even visually, ofthe marine institute I think was
really one of my favorite parts.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Being someone who loves you know you, you too,
like being people that love art,love, drawing, love, that
intersection, and and then weended up seeing the similar um
artist artwork at the aquariumwhere we went over there that
had done that mural at theMarine Institute.
But when you were justdescribing about walking around
the Marine Institute, what waseye-opening was that the jobs
(13:03):
are not always in the lab iswhere my brain just went and how
you know.
There was offices but likerooms and just a lot of
collaboration in this commonarea where people just go and
meet and talk, and I thinkthat's something else that's
interesting is that science isnot always in a lab with a lab
coat.
There is the marine technicianand there's the, you know, the
(13:24):
program manager and there's thescience director and there's the
data person.
There's so many different jobsand that was one thing that was
eye-opening for me for all ofour trips around Galway A lot of
working parts and a lot ofopportunity that we can inspire
these students to then go andpursue.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And I think, especially, you know, in the US
and I'm coming from thisperspective of someone who is,
you know, almost done withcollege, has, you know, been
through COVID and all that in mystudent-led career I think, in
our education system, of the waythat we expose our students, of
like, you need to know what youwant to do when you go in, and
(14:02):
there's only, you know, onething that you can do once you
get your degree.
There are so many things thatyou can do with your degree.
I mean, honestly, look atCassie and I I mean she got her
degree in marine science andmine is in marine science and
education.
I think I changed my majorevery single year of my time at
UNE, and that's the thing islike you should do something
(14:23):
that makes you happy and isintegrating everything that
you're learning as well as, likeyou know, bettering the world
and yourself.
And that's a huge thing thatI've learned during my time at
EP and during, you know, ourtrip was that you shouldn't be
able, you shouldn't feel likeyou have to put yourself in a
box with what you want to do,and you should be able to really
(14:43):
like open up your sails andjust coast wherever you feel as
though you're passionate aboutand I think you know going to
places like the Marine Instituteand seeing all of these
wonderful, different people likeShane and Kushala and all of
them work together for a commongoal of, like spreading
awareness of what is going on,you know, in our oceans and you
(15:04):
know the ocean connects us alland everybody's impacted by
what's going on.
So I think that was that wasalso, like, probably my favorite
part.
It's just seeing all of thedifferent people that work
together for a common goal and,even if they're all interested
in the different aspects, theyall collaborate in some way Kind
of reminded that when I went touniversity I didn't know
(15:25):
exactly what I wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I think I was part of the generation of oh, I'm going
to be a dolphin trainer butknowing that that's not really
exactly what I wanted to do andI didn't know what opportunities
were out there, and so I thinkit's kind of like a mini boat
you just got to jump in, launchyourself and see where it takes
you and don't be afraid to justkind of drift along and see what
opportunities.
You go by and plant yourselfsomewhere if you want to.
(15:49):
But it's okay to drift andadventure and learn, and I mean
we're always learning.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And that's the thing too, once you get to a different
place, just like the mini boat,we're going to keep this corny
thing going, just like the miniboat, every time you land
somewhere, you're going to, youknow, turn into something
different and it's going to bebeautiful, and then you just
coast off to the next place.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
You relaunch yourself from another place.
So go down the path that youwant to.
If you want to do marinescience, go for it.
Oceanography, go for it.
You want to build boats, go forit.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
But don't forget where you've been.
Keep that GPS track going.
You can look back at differentpoints, see how you got there,
but keep sailing it.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
So, with that idea of career exploration and
inspiration and education, I dohave to shout out big time to
Kushla and the Marine EducationExplorers Program.
So Friday morning, and this isthe Friday before St Patrick's
Day in Ireland- Still doesn'tfeel real.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
man Still does not feel real.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
I highly recommend being in Ireland during St
Patrick's Day Absolutelyincredible.
But what was really great is wewent to the LACA school in
Galway and they were all deckedout in green, in fanfare and
shamrocks everywhere.
So really proud of theirculture, proud of that heritage,
(17:09):
and we went to LACA.
Of that heritage and we went toLACA.
This is the school that I workedwith through POGO, which is the
Partnerships for Observationsof the Global Ocean.
We did an initiative togetherwhere they built and launched
four mini boats from fourcountries who partnered their
oceanography member with aschool, built a mini boat.
(17:32):
They all got launched off theresearch vessel, the Polarstern,
on a north-south transect fromGermany to Cape Town, south
Africa.
And so the LACA school was thepartner from the National
University in Galway, sheenaFennell had been the lead
oceanographer to help the LACAstudents do the mini boat.
They did such a fantastic joband it reminds me of the work
(17:55):
you're doing with.
You know they had the bulletinboards everywhere and they
really did the science lessonsat every part with the students
as they were building it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
That is just so cool.
Can we just take a second toappreciate what opportunity for
you to give to those studentsLike genuinely?
They're not only getting theirhands dirty making these boats,
learning about learning aboutthe ocean and everything like
that, but they're also gettingsuch global exposure to yeah,
(18:24):
well, and that's something thatpogo provided them.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Sponsoring this project and initiative got these
kids to learn and work directlywith Sheena, an oceanographer,
who is telling them hey, yourboats are going to collect
information about the ocean thatI want.
Right, our oceans are changing.
The information you'recollecting is helpful to me.
You're right, that was anincredible program and model.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Silence man.
That is just so.
That is so, so cool.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
It's going to contribute to everyone's better
understanding of our changingocean, and I can't think of a
better way to do that and tohelp all the generations figure
this out together.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Yeah, it's just so cool.
All right, keep going.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So we talked about it in the last episode of how our
goal really is to help theseexperiences carry forward long
term, and so there's nothinglike hearing from a student what
they remember, what carriesforward with them, and learning.
I got goosebumps at LACAbecause they had done this
(19:56):
project in 22 and remembered allof it.
I got to share with them wheretheir boat went and the status
of it.
They made us posters.
They had made us posters of theexperience.
There's newspapers all over theschool.
They were so proud of thisinitiative to have just built
the boat and sent it out andthat was the accomplishment,
(20:16):
right, and of course there's alot that goes into just to that
moment.
But then their boat waslaunched and it was actually the
first launched in the SouthAtlantic.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
It was cool too because we were able to share
the other mini boat storieswhile we were there and being
able to be, like you know, havethem reflect on their project.
But also this is what otherkids around Ireland are doing
and the connections that they'remaking.
I was able to talk about myproject, lisa was able to talk
about hers and like having thatconnection was really cool and
to see their faces like oh, likethat's where their mini boat
(20:46):
went and connecting them oh yeah, I know there's interest.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I know the boat's there, um we're, we need some
help to to kind of move thatthing forward.
Because I asked the studentswhat do you want to to do next
and their reaction was can we?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
relaunch it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's like well, so they want to see it go somewhere
else again.
So you know we'll have to workon that, and meanwhile they can
track all these other boats thatare out there.
I said at the end that you knowone of the students was.
We had to go because you knowthere was going to be this
concert and, oh, you're welcometo join us if you want yeah yeah
(21:19):
, I just I still can't believethis was real.
So we walked over to theauditorium and there was a few
dozen students up front playingvarious musical instruments,
traditional irish music.
And there we were on the fridaybefore saint patrick's Day in
Ireland, sitting there with thechildren of LACA school
(21:39):
celebrating with their music.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I think that moment of seeing that school come
together we were able to learnabout, you know, irish dances
and they threw us in there andwe were dancing with some of the
other teachers.
It was incredibly embarrassingbut it was super fun.
We were able to dance andlisten to their music and, you
know, they had all of theirstudents from the different
classes in one gymnasium and Ireally think my super one of
(22:07):
many, may I add, but super tearjerker moment was sitting.
We were just about to leave andwe had gone back for something
and we were listening to thestudents and they, oh, I could
cry thinking about it.
They were all just kind of likehand in hand, like hand to
shoulder, singing Ireland's calland they were all singing it
collectively and just, you know,so, so proud to be where
(22:30):
they're, where they're from.
Um, you know, seeing that kindof community come together for,
you know, the commonality of welove where we're from was just,
it was unspeakable, it was justamazing and I loved it.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
I'm so glad you had that moment.
We had an appointment for atour at the Marine Institute and
along the way the most magicalthing happened.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
We were.
We were driving with if youclose your eyes and imagine it.
We were driving down this longroad.
Give a little asmr moment.
Driving down this long roadwith sheep on one, high on one
side and and cows galloping onthe other, green grass
everywhere, with my celtic irishwomen playing in the background
.
And all of a sudden we look upand there's just this beautiful,
(23:15):
not one, but double rainbowcasting over our car.
And it didn't just happen once,it happened multiple times,
like four or five times.
Four or five times.
We saw these rainbows justcasting over us and it was just
the mini boat.
Magic was there in the car.
I'm telling you, let's talkabout the weekend, shall we?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
So Saturday morning we met Noreen Burke at the
Galway Atlantic Aquaria, whichis the small little aquarium in
Galway.
So nice of Noreen to take herSaturday morning and hang out
with us all morning.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
All morning.
This was my geek moment, to becompletely honest with you.
At the University of NewEngland.
I also minor in aquaculture andaquarium sciences.
It was such an amazing facilitywith so many just diverse
organisms and the displays werejust gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
At one point it was really interesting.
I had asked her you know, howdid you get to be the director
of this aquarium?
Right, because I was reallyinterested in everyone's pathway
and their stories for how theygot to these places.
She said I grew up on a farmand I just thought that was
really interesting, that shedidn't necessarily have the I
want to bring marine biologists,I want to live in the ocean.
It was her path, just kind oftook her there.
(24:31):
So I just I love hearing thosestories.
So after, after the tour, wesat and had more tea, more
delicious snacks I can'tremember the names of any of
them, but I just the hospitalityis absolutely outstanding.
I think I had coffee at thatpoint because it was raining and
we needed a little a littlejava, that was wonderful.
(24:52):
So we got to sit with Noreen andso the another role Noreen
plays is she runs the IrishOcean Literacy Network and she's
also heavily involved in theAll-Atlantic Blue Schools.
So this was a really greatopportunity to sit and chat with
her, because Lisa's school isactually pursuing certification
as a USA Blue School, so we werereally able to have that
(25:13):
conversation, sit around thetable and just talk about
project ideas and how do youmove forward ocean education on
a bigger scale but also being apart of, you know, one small
school.
So that was really greatopportunity to chat about that.
And we got to talk a little bitmore about the Marine Explorers
Program, which has been anothergreat initiative to bring in
(25:35):
ocean education, kind of connecteverybody around Ireland.
But there's this bridge,there's this connection that the
mini boats and EP provides toconnect everyone around the
ocean and it's not just oneproject, one classroom, one
beach cleanup.
I think it's the biggerconversations right, like you're
doing with Mini Maine and thestudents between Maine and
(25:57):
Ireland, that we need to talk toeach other more and collaborate
more and fix the ocean.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah, because genuinely like that's what
connects us and you know, beingable to talk about these things
with students from both sidesand, you know, get that global
perspective of our connectingocean, I think is something rare
but needs to be more normalized.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Right and share ideas and work together to getting
more people involved in doingthat.
While we were sitting there, wehad invited Peter Cain to come
by.
I know Peter from one of theseExplorers education programs.
Peter and his school, kilglasNational School, was actually
the first Irish school to becertified as an EU Blue School
(26:44):
and he did that with theMiniboat Project.
So it was really great to meetPeter and to talk about again
that experience and the work hedoes and kind of what more can
we do when him and his studentsare really interested in doing
more mini boat projects, whichis great and really loops into
that conversation we were havingabout how do we do more and get
more people involved.
(27:05):
We also ended up reconnectingwith another mini boat from
Maine, from Swans Island, calledBlack Rock, which landed up
near the Cliffs of Moher back in2017.
And our last day, on our way tothe airport, we went to the
University of Limerick, whichstill has the boat on the shelf
and wants to do something withit.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yeah, one of the things that I thought was so
cool when we visited Universityof Limerick and being able to
see the boat was the excitementfrom the professors and the grad
students of this project, andGare was talking even about how
there's a school literallyacross the street from the
University of Limerick.
Oh yeah, that his son goes to, Ithink Something like that, and
(27:47):
he was like, oh, I can bring itover there and they could
rebuild it, and we could do thisand we could do that, and there
was even more opportunity forthe grad students to connect
with students from that schoolacross the road or whatever.
Right.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Well, this model of mentorship, exactly what you're
doing the university.
But speaking of grad students,so when Gare was taking us
around, he introduced us toPitar, who said, yeah, I
recovered the boat and he was agrad student at the time.
Now he's doing his postdoc.
He pulled up the website and hesaid, yeah, that's me.
And so he remembered thatrecovering it but really wants
(28:22):
to connect back with thestudents that launched it.
So we also have thatopportunity now.
So after the University ofLimerick and again, that was
another quick, like 30 minutetour.
Really glad we did it, but wehad to rush in and make our
flight.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
And I cried a little inside.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
I cried a lot.
It was.
It was really tough to leave.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It was also amazing yeah, I honestly like words,
don't do all of the things thatwe did justice like it was not
only like an amazing trip.
That felt so right and I thinkfor me personally, it's very
rare for me to feel like I'mmeant to be somewhere, I'm meant
(29:03):
to be here, I'm meant to dothis like in the longterm and
like our trip genuinely.
We were meant to be there, wewere meant to make those
connections because this isgoing to push educational
passages to the next level, Ithink of making those global
connections, of bringingcommunities together globally,
not just locally.
(29:23):
There's so much potential, evenwith just one trip, that I
think really I don't know if itopened your eyes.
It opened my eyes to thepotential of this becoming
really, really big.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
It's amazing to actually resurface something
like the mini Maine that was oneof the very first mini boats to
be launched and that thecrimson tide that was launched
with it 12 years ago now are allback out in the ocean or
getting back out there, and it'seye opening for me to be able
to kind of offer maybe a newprogram or a new initiative for
(29:56):
educational passages that isfocusing on relaunches and
connections and that it's morethan a mini boat absolutely, but
it's more than new mini boatsmuch more than that.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
You're making connections, you're helping
students helping teachers,helping communities and,
(30:31):
ultimately, like, helping theworld dot org slash support.
If you're enjoying this program, please consider subscribing to
the podcast in Apple Podcasts,spotify, google Podcasts or from
wherever you download yourpodcasts.
Thanks for listening.
Thank you.
you, this is more than a mini boat.
Part two, all about all aboutour trip to Ireland we took back
in March when we had JulietteFlutie with us as an intern, who
, since graduated Lisa Swanson,also joined us.
So hear more about all of theadventures and the things that
we connected with above andbeyond Mini Maine.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Definitely needed a part two because you know there
was so much more than us Like.
Obviously going into theclassrooms were amazing and
connecting with the kids, butthe community members that we
connected with and the real liketrying to process the impact
that educational passages hasjust needed a whole episode into
itself.
(01:04):
So here we are, part two, let'sget into it.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
We drove down to the Cliffs of Moher, which was
absolutely amazing, beforeanybody else showed up.
And then we did our trip to Caryand Waterville and reconnected
with Mini Maine and all of that.
But our adventures took us downto Cork which is where Lisa's
project was based.
We were greeted by Nadine andanother student at Berry Row,
(01:30):
which was amazing because Nadineis the niece of Mary Graves who
received the mini boat inNantucket and helped us with
that relaunch.
Nadine had received the CrimsonCurrent at Barry Rowe the
previous school year and shewent back for Thanksgiving got
to see it in person.
(01:51):
So we were warmly greeted bythe students.
They had signs on the doorwelcome Lisa and Cassie and
educational passages and we walkinto the classroom and the
whole bulletin board was aboutthe project and the map and the
tracking and the letters insideand the newspaper article of the
students in the news.
(02:11):
Absolutely incredible, warmwelcome.
We were greeted by the wholecommunity up front of people
that have been involved.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
Yeah, I think the profound impact of, like the
communities just walking in thedoor was just amazing to me
Because again, coming like wewere talking about in the last
episode, like coming in fromkind of an outsider perspective
onto a project that's kind ofbeen ongoing for a really long
time, seeing the impact of thisproject to the kids was just
(02:42):
amazing.
This project to the kids wasjust amazing and seeing how, you
know, rory probably wouldn'thave or maybe he would have,
knowing Rory, the man, the mythand the legend himself, you know
, going into the classroom andconnecting him, you know, kind
of similar to what I'm doingwith the mini main and
connecting him to all thesedifferent topics that go along
with the mini boat.
That may not have happened,like these kids may not have
been, you know, exposed to thatkind of education, and Rory
(03:03):
would have never been able tomeet them and Billy wouldn't be
able to talk about you know,we'll get more into it but be
able to talk about what he doesin fishing around Ireland and
stuff like that, like theconnections and, you know, all
the pinpoints that these miniboats are creating, is just so
amazing.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, that's.
What stood out to me is thatthe Barry Rowe community was a
very intricate community thatgot involved in helping every
single student take part in this.
So when the Crimson Currentended up in the cave, Billy
recovered it and brought it home.
Katie, his daughter, got toopen it and see all the stuff.
She sent the letter toMorristown Baird Hi, I'm Katie
(03:37):
and I could read that wholething off.
But then Rory helped bring itinto the classroom and he made
sure Billy and Katie were in theroom when the boat was brought
to the classroom.
And yeah, Rory's been fantasticand he did these extra learning
projects and he's volunteeringhis time to do that.
But the community that comestogether help the students learn
.
That's another shared thingbetween all of us that we're
(04:00):
seeing it in Ireland, we see ithere in the US.
Part of the mini boat magic andwhat Educational Passages has
to offer, I think with everylittle mini boat.
But the Morristown Bairdstudents back in New Jersey had
been pen-palling with thestudents at Barry Rowe back and
forth multiple times.
They sent each other holiday,Christmas cards and care
packages and just a really greatback and forth.
(04:20):
Back and forth, you know, carepackages and just a really great
back and forth, back and forthand we got to Zoom with them
while we were there at BerryRoad during this visit and one
of the you know the studentsthat had been the original pen
pal students or the receivers ofthe boat had actually moved to
(04:40):
a different school because theyhad kind of graduated to a new
class and so they ended upbusing back to different schools
because the students had spreadout and they all came back and
that room was full.
It was full of a brand new classwith Sinead, her new students
and then her older students andthey all came back for this.
And we heard from Amira on theZoom saying that she really
(05:02):
missed it.
She missed having a pen pal.
Something was missing in herlife.
So glad we get to make theseconnections.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
Yeah, and I think it was really cool to see both
sides of the generations ofstudents with the exposure to
this project.
I think it was cool forSinead's current students to see
oh, this is what we're going todo.
This is, you know, getting themexcited about the connection
Lisa mentioned that they'restill going to keep doing.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
You know, their connection and things like that
with their ongoing yeah, and howdo you again onboard new
students to a project that hadbeen so deeply involved with the
students the year before?
You're right, it was great forthose kids to see that
excitement, to see what waspossible and to know that they
get to be a part of the nextstep as well, because those
boats, that their boat, was backat sea.
(05:49):
It was launched the day that weleft Ireland actually, and so
we can actively track that andsee where it goes and, who knows
, maybe it'll end up back inCork.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Ireland and like that's the thing too, like all
these boats that are still outthere, you're still making the
connections, even if they're outin sea.
Like you don't necessarily needto, you know, have a kit and
build a boat to really makethose connections.
You can make the connectionswith boats that have already,
you know, that are already outthere.
I think that's what you know,that's what mini Maine,
especially, is all about,because my kids don't
necessarily get to actually seethe boat, but they are heavily
(06:22):
involved in the globalcitizenship aspect of EP and
everything that we do.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Yeah, so we talked about that on our part.
One for those that haven'tlistened to it yet.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Go listen to it.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
And we're also by being there in person we're able
to talk to Tom McSweeney alittle bit about the bigger
picture and educational passages, that this is one boat of over
200.
So think about the amazingconnections and the students
involved and that this is justone of many.
So Tom is a well-known newsreporter.
(07:00):
He's got his own podcast,maritime Ireland, very respected
in the maritime industry allaround Ireland.
He has been following thestudents at Barry Rowe.
He was at the port of Cork whenthey dropped off the mini boat
so that it could be relaunchedoff the independent container
line.
He's been there for every partof the story and I think that
really helps share their work.
(07:21):
And again, those community tiesare really important.
And then you were able to beinterviewed and share a little
bit about your internship, whichmade me really proud.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Having people like that, wanting to share what
these students are doing, justmakes the whole lot of
difference.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
And then we had like a three-hour tea.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Oh, I love tea.
Teacher's room after.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
It was wonderful, it was a great day, yeah, so we'll
put a link to Tom's podcast andthat interview in the show notes
.
We also recorded that wholeZoom and the connection between
classes so you can see theperspective from the students in
New Jersey, their reactions andalso those in Ireland, and I
think that's what it's about ishow are they responding to these
connections?
It's exciting for all of us andthe community members, but we
(08:04):
really, because that's what it'sall about.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
So the next day was another rainy day, but we went
over to Billy McCarthy's houseand he gave us a tour of the
cove where he keeps his boat.
He's a fisherman.
He told us about, you know, hisfamily connection to that place
as well, which was really neat.
And then we kind of climbedaround and went inside this
(08:30):
giant rocky cave where the miniboat had been found and it makes
so much sense as to why it wasthere.
He explained to us how thewinds and the currents work in
that area, where he knew rightaway when we told him that there
was a boat in that area whereit might be.
So thanks and shout out toBilly for bringing us around and
(08:51):
sharing your stories.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
After we went to Billy's, we were able to hang
out with our friend, roryJackson, who runs the Ocean
Plastics Project.
We were able to see his whalewatching boat, which, for me
personally, I'm very passionateabout boating and I'm working on
my captain's license right nowso he was able to share with us,
you know, things that he doeswith his Ocean Plastics Project
(09:13):
and the community outreach thathe does to spread awareness of
marine debris, and it was justamazing to hear someone you know
who's done similar projectsthat I have in the past and
seeing his perspective of theimpact that he does with his
passions.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
And then we saw it in real life in the beach where he
keeps his boat and all themarine debris that washes up in
that area.
So that was a littleeye-opening as to some of the
things that we saw there.
Yeah, we went to dinnerafterwards as well.
We had more conversations, wewere able to talk to rory more
about his work and we thankedeverybody involved and gave them
(09:51):
their mini boat crew tumblersand gushers, which is a US candy
.
It was really interesting tosee their reactions to that.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
It was a fun interaction.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
So the next day while we were in Cork we went
downtown and we went to the oldCork Waterworks and met Mervyn
and I had worked with Mervyn afew years ago on the HVAS
Cruiser miniboat.
That project had gone throughCOVID and they got some support
from Creative Ireland to make itan art project and they
(10:25):
submitted artwork and designsand ended up printing them on a
vinyl wrap that went around theminiboat.
Speaker 2 (10:30):
Fancy schmancy it was awesome.
Those kids were so excitedabout the project and even they
made like a book of all of thestudents artwork that Mervyn was
able to show us, and it was so.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
Yeah, there was well over 300 entries, I think, and
this is just from one.
This was just cork.
We had very like a half an hourvisit with Mervyn.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
We had to get going.
Yeah, that could have easilybeen a whole day trip in itself.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
Because we had a tour up in Galway at the Marine
Institute that we were trying toget there in time for Amazing.
So I had seen the lobby of theMarine Institute through the
eyes of photographs and pressreleases.
The mini boat named Lancer andpress releases the mini boat
named Lancer.
I remember the videos and howthe student named Caitlin and
(11:16):
her teacher, michael Connor, gotto visit Ireland and they got
to take the same tour that wedid.
But yes, I was geeking out.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
We were total nerds, total nerds.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
So my background is in ocean observations, the buoys
and the gliders and the thingsthat collect ocean data over
here in the US.
But it was really neat for meto see from the perspective of
the Marine Institute that theyhave this similar infrastructure
.
We also got a tour of their laband they had, like the image
flow cytobot which is actuallymade over in the US, and we saw
(11:49):
gliders which again are actuallymade in near where I live.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
So really to make those connections and be
inspired to then help studentssee those connections, One of
the things that I really enjoyedabout the Marine Institute was
like when we were walking around.
When people like think of labs,they think of you know, people
in white coats, they think ofvery science-y, very you know
black and white and whateverelse.
But even us walking around andseeing the artwork that has been
(12:16):
done and there were so manybeautiful murals and they had
two or three things of, like afish that was entirely made of
shells and just having thataspect of the integration of art
and science I think is soimportant and so rare, because I
feel like science in itself isan art form and like integrating
(12:37):
that into, even visually, ofthe marine institute I think was
really one of my favorite parts.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Being someone who loves you know you, you too,
like being people that love art,love, drawing, love, that
intersection, and and then weended up seeing the similar um
artist artwork at the aquariumwhere we went over there that
had done that mural at theMarine Institute.
But when you were justdescribing about walking around
the Marine Institute, what waseye-opening was that the jobs
(13:03):
are not always in the lab iswhere my brain just went and how
you know.
There was offices but likerooms and just a lot of
collaboration in this commonarea where people just go and
meet and talk, and I thinkthat's something else that's
interesting is that science isnot always in a lab with a lab
coat.
There is the marine technicianand there's the, you know, the
(13:24):
program manager and there's thescience director and there's the
data person.
There's so many different jobsand that was one thing that was
eye-opening for me for all ofour trips around Galway A lot of
working parts and a lot ofopportunity that we can inspire
these students to then go andpursue.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
And I think, especially, you know, in the US
and I'm coming from thisperspective of someone who is,
you know, almost done withcollege, has, you know, been
through COVID and all that in mystudent-led career I think, in
our education system, of the waythat we expose our students, of
like, you need to know what youwant to do when you go in, and
(14:02):
there's only, you know, onething that you can do once you
get your degree.
There are so many things thatyou can do with your degree.
I mean, honestly, look atCassie and I I mean she got her
degree in marine science andmine is in marine science and
education.
I think I changed my majorevery single year of my time at
UNE, and that's the thing islike you should do something
(14:23):
that makes you happy and isintegrating everything that
you're learning as well as, likeyou know, bettering the world
and yourself.
And that's a huge thing thatI've learned during my time at
EP and during, you know, ourtrip was that you shouldn't be
able, you shouldn't feel likeyou have to put yourself in a
box with what you want to do,and you should be able to really
(14:43):
like open up your sails andjust coast wherever you feel as
though you're passionate aboutand I think you know going to
places like the Marine Instituteand seeing all of these
wonderful, different people likeShane and Kushala and all of
them work together for a commongoal of, like spreading
awareness of what is going on,you know, in our oceans and you
(15:04):
know the ocean connects us alland everybody's impacted by
what's going on.
So I think that was that wasalso, like, probably my favorite
part.
It's just seeing all of thedifferent people that work
together for a common goal and,even if they're all interested
in the different aspects, theyall collaborate in some way Kind
of reminded that when I went touniversity I didn't know
(15:25):
exactly what I wanted to do.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
I think I was part of the generation of oh, I'm going
to be a dolphin trainer butknowing that that's not really
exactly what I wanted to do andI didn't know what opportunities
were out there, and so I thinkit's kind of like a mini boat
you just got to jump in, launchyourself and see where it takes
you and don't be afraid to justkind of drift along and see what
opportunities.
You go by and plant yourselfsomewhere if you want to.
(15:49):
But it's okay to drift andadventure and learn, and I mean
we're always learning.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And that's the thing too, once you get to a different
place, just like the mini boat,we're going to keep this corny
thing going, just like the miniboat, every time you land
somewhere, you're going to, youknow, turn into something
different and it's going to bebeautiful, and then you just
coast off to the next place.
Speaker 3 (16:05):
You relaunch yourself from another place.
So go down the path that youwant to.
If you want to do marinescience, go for it.
Oceanography, go for it.
You want to build boats, go forit.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
But don't forget where you've been.
Keep that GPS track going.
You can look back at differentpoints, see how you got there,
but keep sailing it.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
So, with that idea of career exploration and
inspiration and education, I dohave to shout out big time to
Kushla and the Marine EducationExplorers Program.
So Friday morning, and this isthe Friday before St Patrick's
Day in Ireland- Still doesn'tfeel real.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
man Still does not feel real.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
I highly recommend being in Ireland during St
Patrick's Day Absolutelyincredible.
But what was really great is wewent to the LACA school in
Galway and they were all deckedout in green, in fanfare and
shamrocks everywhere.
So really proud of theirculture, proud of that heritage,
(17:09):
and we went to LACA.
Of that heritage and we went toLACA.
This is the school that I workedwith through POGO, which is the
Partnerships for Observationsof the Global Ocean.
We did an initiative togetherwhere they built and launched
four mini boats from fourcountries who partnered their
oceanography member with aschool, built a mini boat.
(17:32):
They all got launched off theresearch vessel, the Polarstern,
on a north-south transect fromGermany to Cape Town, south
Africa.
And so the LACA school was thepartner from the National
University in Galway, sheenaFennell had been the lead
oceanographer to help the LACAstudents do the mini boat.
They did such a fantastic joband it reminds me of the work
(17:55):
you're doing with.
You know they had the bulletinboards everywhere and they
really did the science lessonsat every part with the students
as they were building it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
That is just so cool.
Can we just take a second toappreciate what opportunity for
you to give to those studentsLike genuinely?
They're not only getting theirhands dirty making these boats,
learning about learning aboutthe ocean and everything like
that, but they're also gettingsuch global exposure to yeah,
(18:24):
well, and that's something thatpogo provided them.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Sponsoring this project and initiative got these
kids to learn and work directlywith Sheena, an oceanographer,
who is telling them hey, yourboats are going to collect
information about the ocean thatI want.
Right, our oceans are changing.
The information you'recollecting is helpful to me.
You're right, that was anincredible program and model.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Silence man.
That is just so.
That is so, so cool.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
It's going to contribute to everyone's better
understanding of our changingocean, and I can't think of a
better way to do that and tohelp all the generations figure
this out together.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Yeah, it's just so cool.
All right, keep going.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
So we talked about it in the last episode of how our
goal really is to help theseexperiences carry forward long
term, and so there's nothinglike hearing from a student what
they remember, what carriesforward with them, and learning.
I got goosebumps at LACAbecause they had done this
(19:56):
project in 22 and remembered allof it.
I got to share with them wheretheir boat went and the status
of it.
They made us posters.
They had made us posters of theexperience.
There's newspapers all over theschool.
They were so proud of thisinitiative to have just built
the boat and sent it out andthat was the accomplishment,
(20:16):
right, and of course there's alot that goes into just to that
moment.
But then their boat waslaunched and it was actually the
first launched in the SouthAtlantic.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
It was cool too because we were able to share
the other mini boat storieswhile we were there and being
able to be, like you know, havethem reflect on their project.
But also this is what otherkids around Ireland are doing
and the connections that they'remaking.
I was able to talk about myproject, lisa was able to talk
about hers and like having thatconnection was really cool and
to see their faces like oh, likethat's where their mini boat
(20:46):
went and connecting them oh yeah, I know there's interest.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
I know the boat's there, um we're, we need some
help to to kind of move thatthing forward.
Because I asked the studentswhat do you want to to do next
and their reaction was can we?
Speaker 2 (20:58):
relaunch it.
Speaker 3 (20:58):
It's like well, so they want to see it go somewhere
else again.
So you know we'll have to workon that, and meanwhile they can
track all these other boats thatare out there.
I said at the end that you knowone of the students was.
We had to go because you knowthere was going to be this
concert and, oh, you're welcometo join us if you want yeah yeah
(21:19):
, I just I still can't believethis was real.
So we walked over to theauditorium and there was a few
dozen students up front playingvarious musical instruments,
traditional irish music.
And there we were on the fridaybefore saint patrick's Day in
Ireland, sitting there with thechildren of LACA school
(21:39):
celebrating with their music.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
I think that moment of seeing that school come
together we were able to learnabout, you know, irish dances
and they threw us in there andwe were dancing with some of the
other teachers.
It was incredibly embarrassingbut it was super fun.
We were able to dance andlisten to their music and, you
know, they had all of theirstudents from the different
classes in one gymnasium and Ireally think my super one of
(22:07):
many, may I add, but super tearjerker moment was sitting.
We were just about to leave andwe had gone back for something
and we were listening to thestudents and they, oh, I could
cry thinking about it.
They were all just kind of likehand in hand, like hand to
shoulder, singing Ireland's calland they were all singing it
collectively and just, you know,so, so proud to be where
(22:30):
they're, where they're from.
Um, you know, seeing that kindof community come together for,
you know, the commonality of welove where we're from was just,
it was unspeakable, it was justamazing and I loved it.
Speaker 3 (22:44):
I'm so glad you had that moment.
We had an appointment for atour at the Marine Institute and
along the way the most magicalthing happened.
Speaker 2 (22:53):
We were.
We were driving with if youclose your eyes and imagine it.
We were driving down this longroad.
Give a little asmr moment.
Driving down this long roadwith sheep on one, high on one
side and and cows galloping onthe other, green grass
everywhere, with my celtic irishwomen playing in the background
.
And all of a sudden we look upand there's just this beautiful,
(23:15):
not one, but double rainbowcasting over our car.
And it didn't just happen once,it happened multiple times,
like four or five times.
Four or five times.
We saw these rainbows justcasting over us and it was just
the mini boat.
Magic was there in the car.
I'm telling you, let's talkabout the weekend, shall we?
Speaker 3 (23:38):
So Saturday morning we met Noreen Burke at the
Galway Atlantic Aquaria, whichis the small little aquarium in
Galway.
So nice of Noreen to take herSaturday morning and hang out
with us all morning.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
All morning.
This was my geek moment, to becompletely honest with you.
At the University of NewEngland.
I also minor in aquaculture andaquarium sciences.
It was such an amazing facilitywith so many just diverse
organisms and the displays werejust gorgeous.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
At one point it was really interesting.
I had asked her you know, howdid you get to be the director
of this aquarium?
Right, because I was reallyinterested in everyone's pathway
and their stories for how theygot to these places.
She said I grew up on a farmand I just thought that was
really interesting, that shedidn't necessarily have the I
want to bring marine biologists,I want to live in the ocean.
It was her path, just kind oftook her there.
(24:31):
So I just I love hearing thosestories.
So after, after the tour, wesat and had more tea, more
delicious snacks I can'tremember the names of any of
them, but I just the hospitalityis absolutely outstanding.
I think I had coffee at thatpoint because it was raining and
we needed a little a littlejava, that was wonderful.
(24:52):
So we got to sit with Noreen andso the another role Noreen
plays is she runs the IrishOcean Literacy Network and she's
also heavily involved in theAll-Atlantic Blue Schools.
So this was a really greatopportunity to sit and chat with
her, because Lisa's school isactually pursuing certification
as a USA Blue School, so we werereally able to have that
(25:13):
conversation, sit around thetable and just talk about
project ideas and how do youmove forward ocean education on
a bigger scale but also being apart of, you know, one small
school.
So that was really greatopportunity to chat about that.
And we got to talk a little bitmore about the Marine Explorers
Program, which has been anothergreat initiative to bring in
(25:35):
ocean education, kind of connecteverybody around Ireland.
But there's this bridge,there's this connection that the
mini boats and EP provides toconnect everyone around the
ocean and it's not just oneproject, one classroom, one
beach cleanup.
I think it's the biggerconversations right, like you're
doing with Mini Maine and thestudents between Maine and
(25:57):
Ireland, that we need to talk toeach other more and collaborate
more and fix the ocean.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yeah, because genuinely like that's what
connects us and you know, beingable to talk about these things
with students from both sidesand, you know, get that global
perspective of our connectingocean, I think is something rare
but needs to be more normalized.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Right and share ideas and work together to getting
more people involved in doingthat.
While we were sitting there, wehad invited Peter Cain to come
by.
I know Peter from one of theseExplorers education programs.
Peter and his school, kilglasNational School, was actually
the first Irish school to becertified as an EU Blue School
(26:44):
and he did that with theMiniboat Project.
So it was really great to meetPeter and to talk about again
that experience and the work hedoes and kind of what more can
we do when him and his studentsare really interested in doing
more mini boat projects, whichis great and really loops into
that conversation we were havingabout how do we do more and get
more people involved.
(27:05):
We also ended up reconnectingwith another mini boat from
Maine, from Swans Island, calledBlack Rock, which landed up
near the Cliffs of Moher back in2017.
And our last day, on our way tothe airport, we went to the
University of Limerick, whichstill has the boat on the shelf
and wants to do something withit.
Speaker 2 (27:27):
Yeah, one of the things that I thought was so
cool when we visited Universityof Limerick and being able to
see the boat was the excitementfrom the professors and the grad
students of this project, andGare was talking even about how
there's a school literallyacross the street from the
University of Limerick.
Oh yeah, that his son goes to, Ithink Something like that, and
(27:47):
he was like, oh, I can bring itover there and they could
rebuild it, and we could do thisand we could do that, and there
was even more opportunity forthe grad students to connect
with students from that schoolacross the road or whatever.
Right.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
Well, this model of mentorship, exactly what you're
doing the university.
But speaking of grad students,so when Gare was taking us
around, he introduced us toPitar, who said, yeah, I
recovered the boat and he was agrad student at the time.
Now he's doing his postdoc.
He pulled up the website and hesaid, yeah, that's me.
And so he remembered thatrecovering it but really wants
(28:22):
to connect back with thestudents that launched it.
So we also have thatopportunity now.
So after the University ofLimerick and again, that was
another quick, like 30 minutetour.
Really glad we did it, but wehad to rush in and make our
flight.
Speaker 2 (28:36):
And I cried a little inside.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
I cried a lot.
It was.
It was really tough to leave.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
It was also amazing yeah, I honestly like words,
don't do all of the things thatwe did justice like it was not
only like an amazing trip.
That felt so right and I thinkfor me personally, it's very
rare for me to feel like I'mmeant to be somewhere, I'm meant
(29:03):
to be here, I'm meant to dothis like in the longterm and
like our trip genuinely.
We were meant to be there, wewere meant to make those
connections because this isgoing to push educational
passages to the next level, Ithink of making those global
connections, of bringingcommunities together globally,
not just locally.
(29:23):
There's so much potential, evenwith just one trip, that I
think really I don't know if itopened your eyes.
It opened my eyes to thepotential of this becoming
really, really big.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
It's amazing to actually resurface something
like the mini Maine that was oneof the very first mini boats to
be launched and that thecrimson tide that was launched
with it 12 years ago now are allback out in the ocean or
getting back out there, and it'seye opening for me to be able
to kind of offer maybe a newprogram or a new initiative for
(29:56):
educational passages that isfocusing on relaunches and
connections and that it's morethan a mini boat absolutely, but
it's more than new mini boatsmuch more than that.
Speaker 4 (30:07):
You're making connections, you're helping
students helping teachers,helping communities and,
(30:31):
ultimately, like, helping theworld dot org slash support.
If you're enjoying this program, please consider subscribing to
the podcast in Apple Podcasts,spotify, google Podcasts or from
wherever you download yourpodcasts.
Thanks for listening.
Thank you.
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