Great Lakes

A sensory experience

Today's blog was written by Sandy Somodi, Great Lakes Conservation Programs coordinator

One morning we took a barometric pressure reading of 997 millibars in the S/V Denis Sullivan’s Pilot house - generally a low pressure morning.  But, it looks as if I have my own barometric pressure gauge internally built into my body… 

As my group worked with the shipmates to identify more that 70 sheets, lines, halyards, and lifts around the boat deck, my brain was telling me something storm-like was a brewing in the distance- and that I should be taking some pre-treatment migraine medicine NOW.  (I have been known to suffer from weather related migraines).  But alas, I was so caught up with connecting the staysail with the staysail halyard, that I kept telling myself to wait “just five more minutes…”

Take a look at the picture I took of the storm rolling in...

Sandy sets sail!

Today's blog was written by Sandy Somodi, Great Lakes Conservation Programs coordinator

As I look back on the High School Lake Ecology trip I spent with 18 fantastic high school students and some very energetic co-workers aboard the S/V Denis Sullivan, a 19th Century, traditionally rigged, Great Lakes wooden schooner, I cannot help but think that I have the best job in the world!

I love my job because I am passionate about the Great Lakes, their health, and inspiring others to experience and appreciate them in their everyday lives.  Oh yeah, I forgot - I also love my job because there are some pretty unbelievable perks!  Who get's to sail on a boat for a whole week on beautiful Lake Michigan for work?

As we left the dock in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and headed Northeast toward Manitou Island you would swear this lake was an ocean.  Well, a very calm, incredibly beautiful, salt free ocean.  We could not see land in all directions so we were left with nothing but the gorgeous view of the moon and stars.

I can’t remember exactly, but I am pretty sure that my job description didn’t detail rigging a boat, charting a course, staying up until the wee hours for boat watch, or engine room check duty.  But I’d be happy to include them when I get back.  Also, for any high school students out there who are adventurous and science-minded, I encourage you to apply for the program next year!

Fascinating inland oceans

Today's blog was written by Colby, Great Lakes ecology educator

For an innately terrestrial creature, being out of view of land can do some funny things to our usual sense of perception.  A ship tied to a dock seems massive and ungainly.  The same ship suddenly becomes more manageable and almost undersized as the coast falls over the edge of the earth behind you. 

By contrast, the water, which formerly shared the horizon with its dry counterpart, becomes overwhelmingly vast. As a young boy first venturing away from the New England coast my mind raced to wrap itself around this shift in scale.   An ocean took over all lines of sight and my perspective changed forever. 

Now, as an educator, I see the same shift in the eyes of students as they come to realize the enormity of an equally important resource; our Great Lakes.  It is revelations like those experienced during High School Lake Ecology that will ultimately transcend the individual and lead to a shared understanding and respect for these vast inland seas.

Below is a picture I took one night of the fabulous full moon we saw on board the SV Sullivan when I was up teaching the students about constellations.

Hands on learning

Today's blog was written by Elizabeth, Great Lakes field coordinator

The High School Lake Ecology Students became sailors and scientists overnight.  One minute these young men and women were enjoying their summer vacations.  The next minute, they are composing a hypothesis, testing water quality and collecting sediment samples from the bottom of Lake Michigan.  Take a look below at a group of students diving into a sediment sample taken close to South Manitou Island.

The students found more than just silt, clay and mud when sifting through the sediment.  One student found a handful of pesky zebra mussels.

All hands on deck

Today's blog was written by Elizabeth, Great Lakes Field Coordinator

All aboard Wisconsin's flagship schooner, the SV Denis Sullivan! 

Last week I had the pleasure of participating in Shedd's High School Lake Ecology program on the SV Denis Sullivan - a 137 foot ship - with a group of 30 energetic students, Shedd educators and sailing crew.  We spent the entire week sailing on Lake Michigan, conducting science projects and learning how to navigate the second largest Great Lake.

I quickly picked up the two main rules aboard the ship: 

1. Safety first!  We practiced man overboard drills as well as the abandon ship protocol.  Good thing we were only practicing!

2.  There are no spectators on board the SV Denis Sullivan!  Everyone handles the sails, steers the ship, navigates, conducts boat checks and washes dishes.  Sailing is fun but there is also lots of hard work involved.  Who knew?

This week Sandy and I will be sharing our experiences aboard the ship.  We will also hear from Maggie, Matt and Colby, the fantastic educators behind the High School Lake Ecology program.  So stay tuned for more pictures, stories and lessons.