Throwback Thursday: The Californian

I fondly remember sailing the Californian, a tall ship, for 3 days on an Explorers’ Expedition with the Merit Academy 7th graders.

We worked the decks like they did back when the explorers sailed the seas, and the students took shifts manning the sails.  We slept in bunks with the crew and ate in the galley just like they did in the 1400’s. 

Our history teacher, Barbara Eastburn, says “I felt like Columbus and his sailors – far away from the comfort of land (the sight of land anyway) in search of new territory.  I understand history in a way I never would have without this experience.  I don’t know how exactly to explain it, but I felt more like a teacher on that trip than any other – even though I was not actually lecturing.  It was the preparing for and sharing of the experience with the students.”  

When the captain hollered, “All hands on deck!” at 6:00 am while we were fast asleep, the kids jumped out of their bunks and climbed up to work the sails.  I sat up and brushed my hair and then started to apply some makeup (didn’t want to scare away my fellow mates!) when I heard the captain ask where I was.  When I shouted up to him that I would be up on deck in a few minutes, after I “got ready,” he demanded that I drop what I was doing and get up there NOW.

I learned more about the explorers of history on that trip than I did by reading textbooks and watching movies. 

So glad to have had the opportunity to take sail with the Meritans!  Even if I had to swab the deck.