Schools, Teachers: Join the Expedition Now!
Wilson Middle School in Lethbridge has integrated the oceanic row into their curriculum!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvFnFkbP0xI&feature=youtu.be
Future ocean rowers dream. Sign up for the education program & virtually hop aboard for the trans-Atlantic row.
Classroom teachers, students and home school groups are invited to become involved online. The OAR Northwest education program aims to motivate student learning through an interactive platform where the students can help formulate the content by posing questions and interacting with the expedition team.
As with any expedition the lessons to be learned are many and varied. This expedition will be no different. This ocean-crossing demands that the rowing team demonstrate expertise in, well…rowing…., meteorology, navigation, nutrition, oceanography, technology, shipboard emergencies, expedition planning, sport medicine, interpersonal communication, leadership and, of course, perseverance. Imagine your students communicating with the expedition team about these topics.
“Let’s face it: Lethbridge isn’t surrounded by a lot of water,” says Dr. Rick Mrazek, Faculty of Education Associate Dean and science educator. “The Oldman River, while picturesque, isn’t massive, there are no great lakes nearby, and what water we do have in this area is highly managed to make sure it supports our regional water needs, agri-business and the farming economy. Working with the Canadian Wildlife Federation to support Adam’s trip and the opportunities we have to be involved as interactive observers on this adventure is extremely exciting.”
Mrazek says it’s one thing to teach students about the Atlantic Ocean, but it’s quite another to follow someone, in real time, who is rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. “Through our relationship with Adam and his team, our education students, teachers in the area and our researchers can take advantage of his trip to bring students authentic data and information about ocean and weather dynamics, marine life, the biomechanics of rowing and movement, and other real-life research opportunities.”
Mrazek says the rowers will be collecting data which could be available to researchers and students here at the U of L. Students in community classrooms will also be following the trip online, and Kreek and his team will be checking in regularly.
CWF Africa to Americas Expedition Facts:
- If successful, the rowers will set a world record as the first team to row from Dakar to Miami
- The expedition is about 6,700 km (4,163 miles) or 3,659 nautical miles
- The ocean rowers will burn 6,000 – 10,000 calories a day
- The rowers are packing 6,000 calories per day for the first 60 days at sea, and 3,000 calories per day for the remaining 40 days at sea. They have a Jetboil stove and may also catch fresh seafood to eat
- The estimated crossing time is 60-100 days
- The ocean rowboat is 8.8 metres long (29 feet)
- The aft cabin is 2.4 metres long (8 feet). This is where the rowers sleep in shifts, record scientific data, blog and upload photos and videos to OARNorthwest.org
- There is no support ship following the crew, but they have deep sea survival training, safety equipment, a satellite phone and GPS tracking
- The rowboat is equipped with a desalination unit to convert salt water to fresh for drinking, a wind turbine and solar panels to power research and communications equipment and a broad spectrum hydrophone to record underwater sounds of marine life
The educational curriculum is free, thanks to the generous financial support from supporting grant funding organizations.
To join the educational experience (through incredible lesson plans) go to OAR Northwest.