Today was our first Small Craft Advisory (SCA) of the year and we spent time looking at the actual weather happening outside versus what had been happening earlier in the day and what is predicted to happen later in the day (Gale in the Eastern Straits!).

NOAA Admiralty Inlet Forecast for November 2nd showed an SCA posted after 9 am.  Knowing our Certificate of Inspection rules the longboat world, we stayed on land and had some games and initiatives to help us get to know each other better.  We also welcomed a new student to Bravo Team today, Sophia.

We walked out to the Point Hudson Shore Pine and had our snack and Moment of Silence (MOS).  Students shared about what they noticed after the MOS: the confused waves over the shallows of the point, the sound of Red Buoy #2, the light on Whidbey Island, a Common Loon, an Oyster Catcher (which we jokingly called ‘Moisture Catcher’), and the sound of the rain on our raingear.

Moment of Silence

Now it was time to get to work!

Last year’s Bravo Team built Purple Martin Birdboxes in April of 2017 and were surprised to see them being used soon after.  As good stewards of these boxes, we spent the foul weather day today cleaning and closing up the boxes for the winter.  We will return in the spring of 2018 to open them up for new Purple Martin families to live and nest.

We were surprised to find many signs of life and death.  Eggs that hadn’t hatched, a baby P. Martin carcass, an adult P. Martin carcass, and nesting material were found in all of four of the birdboxes.  Using the pivoting design, we used a ratchet and ‘heads up hands on’ to lower the boxes within reach to access them.  With gloves and careful teamwork, we cleaned and closed up the boxes and raised them back up in place.

Having had a productive day ashore, we ended class with short Salish Sea Report from Connor on the Rough Piddock (aka ‘boring clam’).  Each week we rotate through the roles of leadership and naturalist by rotating our wheel of roles.  Coxswain, Navigator (time keeper), Morale Officer, Salish Sea Reporter, Stroke Oar, and Journalist are the roles we share.

Leadership takes practice

In the final reflection we asked students to think of somebody in their life, whether a teacher, friend, family member or coach who is a good leader.  What traits do they exude and why do you admire them?  We shared about those qualities.  Some of the traits that students shared their role models exhibiting were: a good attitude, working hard, a good sense of humor, encouraging and lifting people up, super enthusiastic, can talk to anyone, is a good listener, empathetic, kindness, a big heart, and staying calm.

Thanks for following along!  We will continue the blogs and Happy November. (Captain SoSo)