Become an ISEA Volunteer Instructor

Become an Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) volunteer instructor and help provide students with a unique Schoolship experience! Volunteer instructor training sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings from 5:30-8:30pm OR Saturday mornings from 9-12pm at NMC’s Water Studies Institute, GL 112 (715 E Front St, Traverse City, MI). The Wednesday and Saturday sessions will cover the same material and can be attended interchangeably. Each session will have a hands-on component that will provide the opportunity to experience the station!

Saturday January 5th & Wednesday January 9th, 2013: Introduction to ISEA’s Schoolship Program: Safety and the Basics

Come learn about the responsibilities of volunteer instructors, and get an introduction to our various education programs. You will also explore topics including the formation of the Great Lakes, physical and chemical characteristics of the lakes, current threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem, and challenges facing the world’s freshwater supply.

Sat January 12th & Wed 16th, 2013: Weather and Limnology Station

What is a Van Dorn bottle? In this session you will learn how students collect samples of fish, water, plankton, and benthos aboard the Schoolship. You will also learn how to collect weather data by measuring wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud types, air and water temperature, and water clarity.

Sat January 19th & Wed January 23rd, 2013: Benthos and Fish

What actually lives at the bottom of the bay? Why are fish an important part of the ecology and economy of the Great Lakes? In this session you will learn how to identify sediment types based on color and texture. You will also learn how to identify bottom-dwelling (benthic) organisms and how these organisms play an important role as nutrient recyclers in the lake. You will also learn how to identify fish and will be introduced to the life history, ecology, and economic importance of fish in this region.

Sat January 26th & Wed January 30th, 2013: Plankton and Water Chemistry

What are plankton and where are they found? How are organisms affected by water quality? In this session you will learn how to identify live zooplankton using our micro-video system and discuss the vital role plankton play in the aquatic food web. You will also learn how to measure pH and dissolved oxygen and discover what levels are considered healthy for aquatic organisms. We will also discuss the thermal structure of the lake and how this structure adapts to each season.

Sat February 2nd & Wed February 6th, 2013: Seamanship and Stewardship

How does a boat float and what makes it move? What is stewardship and what does it mean to me? In this session you will learn about buoyancy, mechanical advantage, the simple physics of sailing and about schooners and their importance in the maritime history of Grand Traverse Bay. You will also learn how it is possible to become stewards of the Great Lakes in your everyday lives. We will discuss stewardship ideas and how to encourage students to practice stewardship at their home and in their school. 

 One Day Volunteer Training Sessions April 3 and April 16, 2013 from 9:00am-5:00pm

If you were unable to attend the volunteer instructor training course this January, ISEA will be holding intensive one day training classes to prepare you for teaching on the Schoolship. The one day versions will be held at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay.   Please contact Emily Shaw, eshaw@schoolship.org or 231.271.3077, if you are interested in the training sessions so that materials can be provided. You are not required to attend every session, but are encouraged to participate in the sessions you are interested in teaching.

Volunteer Instructor Class Wraps Up 3-21-12

The final review session of the 2012 Volunteer Instructor Class was held last evening at the NMC Water Studies Institute classroom.  Each shipboard teaching station was set up so new instructors could practice their newly aquired knowledge.  Thanks to the veteran instructors who helped teach this and all the sessions this winter.  Thanks also to Emily Shaw, ISEA Educaiton Coordinator, who lead the Volunteer Instructor Class this year. 
There is still an opportunity to teach with ISEA this year.  Attend the all-day intensive class on April 4 and get the preparation you need to teach aboard the Schoolships Inland Seas and Manitou.  Call Emily Shaw at 231-271-3077 for registration information.

Kristin Miller reviews the Benthos Station

Bill Maul leads the Water Chemistry Station

At the break I took this photo of big cumulonimbus off to the east.  The beams of light converging on the Hagerty Center are reflections of the ceiling lights in our classroom.

--Tom K.

2012 Volunteer Instructor Class #1, January 4th

ISEA Education Coordinator Emily Shaw leading the first session of the Volunteer Instructor Class

This first class of the Volunteer Instructor Class was an orientation to the organization and an overview of the shipboard education program.  We had 30 people in attendance, of which about half were new volunteers and half were veterans. 

If you would like to help to teach on the Schoolship this year, it is not too late to join us.  Our 12 week class meets every Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Room 112, Great Lakes Campus of NMC.  Call Emily at the ISEA office to register 231-271-3077.  The complete class schedule is available by clicking here.

Early Spring Work on the Schooner

Allen making up a new quarter lift.

The snow covers the ground, and Suttons Bay is locked in ice, but work on the ship continued all winter.  Volunteer crew members Allen Wolfe, Bob Hagerman and Dale Whalen have been busy with refinishing brightwork and science gear, splicing new lines, and repairing the steering wheel (Dale crafted a new handle to replace one that was damaged).  Next week Capt. Remy and other volunteers will return and spring outfitting will begin in earnest.

Allen & Bob continue with splicing.

Dale stands beside the wheel with his new ash handle installed.

Beach Clean Up on Earth Day Saturday 4-24-10

Help ISEA Clean Up the Region's Beaches and Steam Banks


It's that time of the year, when the ice and snow has melted off the shorelines, and people start thinking about summer vacations along the beach. Unfortunately many will find the debris left behind from the previous season and from the winter’s winds and currents.

ISEA Beach Cleaners on Mackinac Island

The Inland Seas Education Association is looking for Beach Cleanup volunteers to remove trash from along the shoreline of Lake Michigan and inland waterways starting April 24 during Earth Week and going until May 10, 2010. For the past 20 years ISEA has organized spring Beach Cleanup events that cover shoreline areas of rivers, lakes, and streams in Manistee, Benzie, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, Antrim, Kalkaska, Wexford and Charlevoix counties. Bordering county residents and groups can also take part in the cleanup by picking up trash and debris along rivers, lakes and streams in their area, which are all part of the Great Lakes Watershed.

ISEA will be working with the City of Traverse City volunteers on Saturday, April 24th from 9:00 AM till noon and encourages the beach cleaners to meet in the Farmers Market Parking lot to get a data card and report which area shoreline park you will be cleaning.

Another group will meet at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay, at 9:00 AM on April 24th, to clean Suttons Bay Creek (Waterwheel Park) and the Village Marina area. Bring gloves and wear sturdy shoes. ISEA will provide the bags, data cards and clip boards.

“Volunteers in this event come from all walks of life including: businesses, schools, community groups, family and individuals,” states Sally Somsel, ISEA beach cleanup coordinator. “The volunteers all seem to have two things in common and that is their love for the Great Lakes and their commitment to help keep them clean.” Beach litter is more than unsightly, it’s dangerous. Shoreline debris can cause injury to humans and animals. Small children play with cigarette butts, fish are entangled in balloons, and birds trap their beaks in discarded food packaging. Ingested plastics can cause internal injury, intestinal blockage, and starvation. Thousands of animals, including fish, turtles, and birds die every year from ingestion or entanglement in beach debris.In 2009, ISEA's beach cleanup event held along the shores of the Grand Traverse area in Northwest Michigan was featured by the National Environmental Education Week.

The beach cleanup event held each spring brings together school children, fishermen, boaters, businesses, government employees, scuba divers, scout troops, and others who care about our beaches and waters. For complete instructions on how to help with the Beach Cleanup go to the ISEA website at http://www.schoolship.org/ and click on the “Beach CleanUp” button.

You may down load and print a beach cleanup data card at: www.schoolship.org/files/inlandseas/81.pdf. Or call the ISEA office at 271-3077 and report which beach area you would like to clean, and request a data card. Thank you for your support!

Inland Seas Heads to Traverse City for Winter

Don Goski takes us around Stony Point
Allen Wolfe on the foredeck, dressed for the weather.

Captain Remy, also dressed for the weather!

R-4 buoy, Lee Point

Today the crew (Tom Kelly, Remy Champt, Allen Wolfe and Don Gorski) took Inland Seas to Traverse City (Greilickville) for winter lay-up. The passage was pleasant dispite the rain and mist. Upon arrival we pumped the holding tanks and took on 145 gallons of diesel fuel. Thanks to Centre Pointe and Harbor West 45 LLC for hosting Inland Seas for the winter. Remy, Allen and volunteer helpers will put on the winter cover in the next few days. -Capt. Tom

Beach & Underwater Clean-Up Coming September 19

ISEA Beach Clean-Up on Mackinac Island, June 2008

ISEA holds two Beach Clean-Ups each season. The fall 2009 date is Saturday September 19. The fall Beach Clean-Up is part of the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Clean-Up, in cooporation with the Great Lakes Alliance.

Beaches and waterways included are from Petoskey to Manistee. To participate please call the ISEA office at 231-271-3077. Let us know which beach you wish to clean. If that beach is already taken, we will help you select another nearby beach. We will also send you a Beach Data Card.

On the day of the Clean Up, you will need sturdy footware, gloves, a plastic pail (this works better than garbage bags), a clipboard and pencil for the Data Card, and a friend or two to help.

Over the last few years northern Michigan has seen a large die-off of diving ducks, loons, and other migratory birds. Click here http://www.schoolship.org/stewardship/?id=693 for more information about the die-offs and what to do if you find a dead bird on the beach.

This year, ISEA is partnering with the Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Preserve to also clean-up the nearshore areas surrounding the Inland Seas dock. This underwater clean-up will also take place Saturday, September 19.

Call the ISEA office at 231-271-3077 for more information on how to get involved.Thank you for helping keep Michigan clean by participating in our Beach & Underwater Clean-Up! We appreciate everything you do to help keep the Great Lakes clean and healthy!! For more information check out the ISEA website http://www.schoolship.org/stewardship/?id=80.

Instructor Training Class to Begin in January

Learning about Great Lakes zooplankton.

The "Wet Run" Instructor Training Cruise

INLAND SEAS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION’S
2009 VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTOR TRAINING SCHEDULE

Come join us in our 2009 volunteer instructor training classes! Become an Inland Seas volunteer instructor & help us provide students with an exciting science & sailing adventure. Not sure if you want to become a volunteer? Come to the introductory session on January 6th to learn more about us. No experience required! Already an instructor? Come back for a review & an update on Inland Seas programs.

Training classes for volunteers will take place on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Glenn Loomis Elementary School (1009 S. Oak Street, at the intersection of Oak and 13th Street) unless otherwise noted. If Traverse City Schools are closed due to weather, no class will be held that evening. Classes will include an introductory presentation and hands-on activities led by ISEA staff and experienced volunteer instructors.

January 6: Introduction to ISEA and our Great Lakes Schoolship/Center Programs
Come learn more about ISEA and our Schoolship/Center Programs! This session will include an overview of our volunteer instructor training, an introduction to our various programs, and the responsibilities of volunteer instructors. You will also learn how to effectively promote Inland Seas. It is a great time to meet the ISEA staff and other volunteers that teach aboard the Schoolship and in the Center.

January 13: The Great Lakes & Global Freshwater
This session is designed to introduce you to the Great Lakes. We will explore topics including the formation of the Great Lakes watershed, physical and chemical characteristics of the lakes, and the food web. We will also discuss current issues affecting the Great Lakes such as lake levels, fisheries, contaminants, and invasive species, as well as Global Freshwater issues.

January 20: Sample Collections and Weather
What is a Van Dorn bottle and who was Fr. Secchi? In this session, you will learn how students collect samples of water, plankton, benthos, and fish aboard the Schoolship. You will also learn how to teach the weather station, by measuring wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud types, air and water temperatures, and water clarity.

January 27: Water Chemistry
What is the physical and chemical make-up of Grand Traverse Bay and how are organisms affected? In this session, you will learn how to teach the water chemistry station by measuring dissolved oxygen and pH, and discussing the thermal structure of the lake.

February 3: Benthos
What type of sediment is found at the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay and what lives there? In this session, you will learn how to identify sediment types and how to separate and identify bottom-dwelling (benthic) organisms. You will also learn about the role of these benthic organisms as nutrient recyclers in the bay.

February 10: Inland Seas Education Center & Wetland (Special time and location: Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay from 3-5p.m.)
The Inland Seas Education Association offers several exciting programs in addition to the Schoolship. At this session, you will learn about the ISEA Boat Shop, the invasive species exhibits at the Inland Seas Education Center, and the newly created Wetland on the waterfront in Suttons Bay. You will also learn effective methods to teach this material to different audiences.

February 17: Plankton
Plankton are microscopic plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) that float freely in the water column and play a vital role in the food web of Grand Traverse Bay. During this session, you will learn how to identify live zooplankton using our micro-video system and how to teach the plankton station aboard the Schoolship.

February 24: Fishes
In this session, you will be introduced to the life history, ecology, and economic importance of Grand Traverse Bay fishes. You will learn to teach the fish station aboard the Schoolship by identifying live fishes, discussing factors affecting fisheries in the Great Lakes, and learning some fun new fish facts.

March 3: Stewardship
What makes up the Great Lakes watershed and what can you do to help protect it? In this session, you will learn how to identify a watershed, explain what organisms make up the Great Lakes food web, and identify organisms with high contaminant levels. You will learn what stewardship means and how you can inspire students to become stewards of the Great Lakes.

March 10: Safety and Seamanship
This session will focus on ship safety and emergency procedures. You will also learn to teach the seamanship station by discussing the physics of sailing, navigation, steering, and maritime history.

March 17: Teaching Strategies
In this session, you will explore a variety of teaching strategies to help you relay all your new Great Lakes knowledge to students aboard the Schoolship. Understand why our hands-on approach is successful and learn effective ways to ask questions, motivate students, and create a positive learning environment. Here we will also discuss effective strategies for our research-oriented summer programs, as well as our center-based programs.

March 24: Review
We will tailor this week’s program to the material you would most like to review. All 6 Schoolship learning stations will be set up so you may practice with the equipment and ask questions of staff and experienced volunteers. This is also a great time to catch up on information you may have missed in an earlier session.

All-Day Inland Seas Training Program
April 7, 2009; 9:00a.m. – 5:00p.m.
If you were unable to attend the volunteer training classes this winter, ISEA will be hosting an intensive all-day training class to prepare you for teaching on the ship, in the center, and at the Wetland. It will be held at the Inland Seas Education Center. Please register for this class in advance.


SPECIAL SCHOOLSHIP PROGRAM FOR NEW VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS
April 30, 2009(8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.) aboard the schooner Inland Seas

Finally, come sail aboard the schooner Inland Seas to see how the Schoolship program actually works! This will be a typical Schoolship program, but YOU and other new volunteers will become our Schoolship students for the day. You will assist in collecting samples, weighing the anchor, and raising the sails. You will rotate through the Schoolship learning stations as a student and see first-hand how you will use the material from the volunteer training classes when it is your turn to teach aboard the Schoolship. Please register for this program ahead of time by calling (231) 271-3077. Meet at the Inland Seas dock in Suttons Bay at 8:30 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.


SPRING SCHOOLSHIP PROGRAMS BEGIN WITH SCHOOL GROUPS
May 4, 2009

For more information about becoming a volunteer instructor, please contact our Education Director, Christine Crissman, at (231) 271-3077 or ccrissman@schoolship.org.

In order to help us prepare materials for the volunteer instructor training program, please register ahead of time by calling (231) 271-3077. You can also register the first night of class (January 6, 2009). Bring a friend!