A wave of excitement swept through St. Michaels University School (SMUS) this week as Junior School students and staff welcomed the crew of One Ocean, marking the very first school visit of the ambitious Around the Americas expedition. Timed perfectly with the launch of the Grade 4 Ocean Stewardship unit, the One Ocean presentation had young minds buzzing with curiosity and enthusiasm for the sea.
Launched from Anacortes, Washington, on May 3, the 14-month, 27,000-nautical-mile journey aims to circumnavigate North and South America. Blending scientific research, environmental education, and community outreach, the expedition highlights the interconnectedness of our oceans and continents. Led by veteran sailor Captain Mark Schrader, this updated voyage retraces the route he completed in 2009–2010, now with new partners and a renewed focus on ocean health and climate science.
“Something that stuck with me was that the presenters were going on a somewhat dangerous journey for 14 months to monitor the health of the ocean and spread the word about the ocean," said Grade 4 student Ethan. "I am inspired to take small actions such as recycling, turning off water and lights when not needed, and other actions. We only have one ocean, so we need to make the best of it!”
Bringing Ocean Science to Life
As part of their ocean-focused unit, Samantha Rizzuto and Heather Sandquist's Grade 4 classes will also partner with Seaquaria Ocean Education, a Canadian charity dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic biodiversity. Students will investigate threats to ocean ecosystems and use their findings to create persuasive podcasts to inspire action. The unit will culminate on World Oceans Day, June 8, with a celebration at Fisherman’s Wharf where students will showcase their learning.
For now, the Grade 4 students were honoured to be the expedition’s first school stop, getting a firsthand glimpse into the world of ocean exploration and conservation. The One Ocean crew even hinted at a return visit after their journey—something students eagerly encouraged. “Remember to visit Grade 5 then!” one student reminded Captain Schrader.
During their visit, the crew spoke about their voyage, while onboard scientist and University of Victoria marine biology student Grace Dalton explained her research on the ecosystems of giant and bull kelp along the west coasts of North and South America. The One Ocean serves as a floating laboratory, equipped with meteorological tools and SWIFT buoys to collect real-time oceanographic data, which will be shared with educators and researchers worldwide.
Students peppered the crew with questions like, “What’s the most dangerous part of the trip?” and “Which direction are you sailing around the continents?” The answer: clockwise. As for the danger? Captain Schrader joked that it might just be answering all of the students’ challenging questions.
As One Ocean sets sail from Victoria, the Grade 4 students remain energized by the crew’s commitment to fostering global awareness and ocean stewardship. This visit not only sparked curiosity but also reinforced the power of collaboration in facing environmental challenges. SMUS looks forward to following the expedition and integrating its discoveries into future learning—while patiently awaiting the crew’s return in 14 months.
Reflections from Grade 4 students
"It is important to save the ocean because it is a big part of the earth. If we continue to pollute the ocean the rest of the world will be negatively affected. We need water and if the water sources are polluted we won’t have fresh water. If the ocean is polluted then all of the animals will die and this will affect the food chain.” — Ben, Grade 4
“It is important to save the ocean because if there is plastic in the ocean we as humans potentially will eat the plastic when we eat seafood. To help the ocean we need to use reusable materials such as cloth grocery bags and wooden forks.” — Eason, Grade 4
“A healthy ocean should not include climate change, noise pollution, overfishing and plastic pollution. From our presentation, I learned that to help keep the sea creatures alive we as humans should stop overfishing one type of sea animal. This is important because it also has an impact on other animals who eat that particular creature.” — Zara, Grade 4
“I think it would be really cool to experience using the technology they use with the underwater cameras to explore the kelp forests!” — Carmen, Grade 4
“Something that really stuck with me was how many cool scientific tools they use to collect their data. I was also shocked that they sometimes free dive to collect data.” — Kingston, Grade 4
“Something that was really cool was them sailing around the continents of North and South America on such a small boat. I didn’t know that it would take the same amount of time as sailing all around the world. It is a really cool expedition to collect research.” —Gary, Grade 4
