Our History and Philosophy
-Tim Bliss
What has become known as the Boat Building class is actually 2 classes that officially are called Natural Resource Applications and Watercraft Design. They are scheduled to run consecutively so we could offer a more advanced environmental studies class as well as a building class. To use our time most efficiently, both class periods are typically used for just the Natural Resources class or just the Watercraft class.
The seed of this idea was planted in me more than 20 years ago when a friend gave me an article about a summer youth camp on Lake Champlain that offers environmental studies and kayak building. Called Champlain Discovery, the students spend a month engaging in outdoor education as well a building sea kayaks for each student. When their studies and kayaks are finished, all of the participants take a ten-day trip on the lake with the kayaks they built and take these boats home with them when the summer program is finished. Superior Central’s program differs somewhat from the Lake Champlain program but the philosophy of environmental stewardship, pride in craftsmanship, and the value of teamwork is the same.
Due to the restricted budget of Public Schools, the materials for this class are fully funded through community donations and grants. This has allowed Superior Central to offer this class free of charge to the students and upon completion of both classes, the students get to take their boats home free of charge. We have been blessed with outstanding support from our community and each spring the students take an evening to display their creations and present a slideshow of their year of work and activities to anybody that wishes to attend.
The following is the course description that the students receive on their first day of class:
The science subject matter will focus on our natural resources; how we use them, how we maintain and monitor their quality and how we ensure their sustainability for future generations. The study of these resources will be leaning heavily towards analysis, application and evaluation. During the 2nd semester of school, each student will be required to identify a natural resource issue that exists at school or within the community, design a project to remedy the issue, carrying out the project and visually document the progression of the project, then present their work to the class upon completion. In the past this has involved contacting local natural resource organizations for information, services, and/or financial assistance for the purchase of materials.
This type of class will require considerable effort and discipline on the student’s part and will also require us to be outside often. During the warmer months we may spend both class periods studying only science or field sketching outside and during the colder months we may spend both class periods only working on boats in-doors.
The art subject matter will focus on the design and evolution of traditional watercraft and field sketching. We will look at traditional watercraft design from many cultures, what materials were used, why they were designed in a particular manner and how modern materials eventually effected the original designs. All students will participate in the construction of solo 13 foot plywood and fiberglass pirogues (flat bottomed canoes). Working in teams the students will construct, from pre-cut kits, a pirogue for each student in the class.
In the spring of the year everybody will be taking a day-long trip to a nearby lake with their pirogue. The first day (this will be a Friday) is mandatory and each student will receive a grade on the quality of their participation in the safe use of their boats, water quality analysis, invasive species identification, littoral land use recommendations, field sketching, etc. Any students who choose can camp out Friday and Saturday night and continue to enjoy each others company and paddling their boats.
All students who pass all semesters of both classes can keep their boats, paddles, seats and life-jackets free of charge.
The seed of this idea was planted in me more than 20 years ago when a friend gave me an article about a summer youth camp on Lake Champlain that offers environmental studies and kayak building. Called Champlain Discovery, the students spend a month engaging in outdoor education as well a building sea kayaks for each student. When their studies and kayaks are finished, all of the participants take a ten-day trip on the lake with the kayaks they built and take these boats home with them when the summer program is finished. Superior Central’s program differs somewhat from the Lake Champlain program but the philosophy of environmental stewardship, pride in craftsmanship, and the value of teamwork is the same.
Due to the restricted budget of Public Schools, the materials for this class are fully funded through community donations and grants. This has allowed Superior Central to offer this class free of charge to the students and upon completion of both classes, the students get to take their boats home free of charge. We have been blessed with outstanding support from our community and each spring the students take an evening to display their creations and present a slideshow of their year of work and activities to anybody that wishes to attend.
The following is the course description that the students receive on their first day of class:
The science subject matter will focus on our natural resources; how we use them, how we maintain and monitor their quality and how we ensure their sustainability for future generations. The study of these resources will be leaning heavily towards analysis, application and evaluation. During the 2nd semester of school, each student will be required to identify a natural resource issue that exists at school or within the community, design a project to remedy the issue, carrying out the project and visually document the progression of the project, then present their work to the class upon completion. In the past this has involved contacting local natural resource organizations for information, services, and/or financial assistance for the purchase of materials.
This type of class will require considerable effort and discipline on the student’s part and will also require us to be outside often. During the warmer months we may spend both class periods studying only science or field sketching outside and during the colder months we may spend both class periods only working on boats in-doors.
The art subject matter will focus on the design and evolution of traditional watercraft and field sketching. We will look at traditional watercraft design from many cultures, what materials were used, why they were designed in a particular manner and how modern materials eventually effected the original designs. All students will participate in the construction of solo 13 foot plywood and fiberglass pirogues (flat bottomed canoes). Working in teams the students will construct, from pre-cut kits, a pirogue for each student in the class.
In the spring of the year everybody will be taking a day-long trip to a nearby lake with their pirogue. The first day (this will be a Friday) is mandatory and each student will receive a grade on the quality of their participation in the safe use of their boats, water quality analysis, invasive species identification, littoral land use recommendations, field sketching, etc. Any students who choose can camp out Friday and Saturday night and continue to enjoy each others company and paddling their boats.
All students who pass all semesters of both classes can keep their boats, paddles, seats and life-jackets free of charge.