NOAA Teacher at Sea
Jeff Lawrence
Onboard Research Vessel Rainier
May 22 – June 2, 2006
Mission: Hydrography survey
Geographical area of cruise: Alaska
Date: June 1, 2006
Weather data from bridge
Visibility: 8.0 miles
Wind direction: 0 deg. (N)
Wind Speed: calm winds
Sea level pressure: 1019 mb
Present weather: light sprinkles, partly sunny, calm seas
Temperature: 51 deg. wet/dry 52 deg.
Science and Technology Log
Alaska has to be one of the most beautiful places on the Earth. Add to this working aboard a beautiful ship like the RAINIER with a wonderful crew and it equals a really good time. I saw a variety of wildlife I never thought I would see up close and personal. I also learned so much about hydrography. Before this trip I didn’t know the term even existed.
NOAA provides a wealth of data and information for the general public, private industries, and scientists all over the world. The trip aboard the RAINIER is a lifetime experience that I will cherish and remember. Any teachers reading this log who have thought about applying for the Teacher at Sea Program ,but for some reason haven’t done so yet, need to apply NOW! If you like to learn new things, meet interesting people, see fascinating wildlife, and see extraordinarily beautiful scenery, than a trip aboard the RAINIER is your ticket. The staff at NOAA, take care of all the travel arrangements— all you have to do is be at the airport on time. I have had the best time of my life. I have been to teacher camps, workshops, and conventions all around the country, but none compare to my time aboard the RAINIER.
Captain Guy Noll and XO Julia Neander have gone out of their way to ensure that I was involved in the activities aboard the ship and a part of the crew. The crew on board the RAINIER, are very helpful and all of them have made my stay at sea a pleasurable experience. I hope I have the opportunity to partake in this program again. Thanks again to the crew of the RAINIER and the staff at NOAA for taking care of everything. In the 19 years I have been teaching this has been one of the most rewarding and exciting opportunities of my career. If you are a teacher thinking about the Teacher at Sea Program, wait no longer, apply today!
Personal Log
Terrific, outstanding, excellent, a perfect 10 on the rating scale of what an exciting teacher learning experience should be. I can’t wait for school to start to share this trip with my students. Developing lessons that correlate with my experience should be quite easy due to the wealth of information I attained from the crew of the NOAA ship RAINIER. Today I helped them take bottom samples from around the area.
Question of the Day
FOR TEACHERS: How do I apply for the Teacher at Sea Program? ANSWER: go here.
