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Proctor Academy students embarked upon their Ocean Classroom experience this past fall (2024) with great expectations. The first iteration of this new collaborative program between two historic institutions was a resounding success in the fall of 2023. Returning SEA captain Pamela Coughlin, maritime historian Ben Kochan, and oceanographer Jeff Schell worked closely with Ocean Classroom directors Heidi Thoma and John Bouton, and Proctor Academy learning specialists, to co-create an engaging shore component curriculum that met teaching accommodations for all students (e.g., reduced lecture format, text to audio IT aids, etc.).   

During the shore component, students became conversant in the four disciplines of oceanography as preparation for their independent marine science projects at sea. Field trips to Quissett Harbor and Beebe Woods introduced students to the geologic foundations of Cape Cod coastal ecosystems and hands-on experience with scientific field investigation. Through lab activities and demonstrations, students learned fundamental concepts in physical and chemical oceanography and how to identify plankton. Student research topics in marine science included plankton migration, a search for ‘phytoplankton city,’ Sargassum ecology, and seafloor biodiversity among many others.   

In “Oceans and Society,” the humanities component of Ocean Classroom, students spent the shore component learning about the maritime history of Cape Cod and the North Atlantic. Topics included Wampanoag seafaring, the whaling and fishing industries, and piracy. We also spent considerable time off campus, including a weekend on the Outer Cape kayaking to Sipson Island Conservation Area and visiting the Center for Coastal Studies, Highland Light, and the Truro Historical Society. Another weekend focused on Mystic Seaport, where students attempted to sail Dyer Dhows in challenging conditions and slept aboard the Joseph Conrad. At sea, students kept busy with their “book clubs” (this year’s selections were Captains Courageous and Moby Dick) and journaling.  

Working with Captain Coughlin, students engaged in active learning sessions to build their understanding of the foundations of Nautical Sciences: Navigation, Marine Meteorology, Seamanship, Safety at Sea, and Duties of Watch Standing within a framework of leadership and followership. These aren’t just theoretical concepts, they are essential skills put into practice every day aboard the vessel.  

For more than 30 years, Ocean Classroom has been an integral part of Proctor Academy’s experiential learning philosophy. Students self-select this program with full awareness of its challenges. They’re choosing to enter a demanding environment where they’ll be tested physically, academically, and socially. Yet, each cohort of Proctor students has brought incredible commitment, high energy, and enthusiasm, thereby creating a dynamic and delightful class with whom to build maritime skills and character.  

From Proctor Academy’s website: 

“On Ocean Classroom, you are not just a passenger studying marine science, maritime literature, history, and navigation, but an active crew member. From the first moment you board the vessel, you are divided into ‘watches,’ the core working group on any ocean-going vessel, answering directly to their professional watch officers. Twenty-four hours a day, watches rotate, learning to operate all aspects of the Brigantine, and eventually independently sailing the 135-foot ship.

The program unfolds in two distinct phases. Students first immerse themselves in foundational studies at our partner organization SEA’s campus in Woods Hole. Then, they put their knowledge to the test aboard the SSV Corwith Cramer. After nine weeks, students emerge transformed, not just as learners, but as marine biologists, navigators, and experienced sailors. Ocean Classroom has the potential to be one of the most powerful experiences that a Proctor student can have.” 

Students set sail on the SSV Corwith Cramer from Woods Hole on a predominantly coastal cruise track that explored the Gulf of Maine, shelf waters south of Long Island, the Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, and a short foray into the Gulf Stream during our return to Woods Hole. All the hallmarks of a classic sea component were to be had with a variety of weather and sailing conditions, an array of scientific questions to answer, and the transformative impact of being a shipmate at sea. 

Though Proctor Academy requests that we maximize our days at sea, we cannot overstate the value of our single port stop in Baltimore. Highlights included visits to Historic Ships Baltimore, The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Museum, and the National Aquarium, as well as a day aboard the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s vessel, Snow Goose. These excursions provided memorable experiences and reinforced lessons and topics first introduced in Woods Hole.  

Our exceptional professional crew is essential to the success of Ocean Classroom. These dedicated mariners and scientists provide far more than their considerable nautical and ocean expertise. They are mentors, teachers, and role models who understand that building a competent shipmate requires patience, clear communication, and unwavering support. From teaching students how to properly coil a line to guiding them through their first 100-count to standing their first night of watch, the crew creates a learning environment where mistakes become stepping stones and challenges transform into achievements.  

The professional crew embodies the spirit of seamanship while adapting their teaching methods to meet each student where they are. Whether demonstrating how to plot a course, explaining the physics behind sail trim, or sharing sea stories during morning cleanup, they weave together practical skills with maritime history and ocean science. Their ability to maintain the highest standards of safety and seamanship, while nurturing student growth and confidence, is remarkable.  

As students progress from novice sailors to capable crew members, the professional team skillfully adjusts their guidance. They know when to step back and let students take greater responsibility, and when to step in with additional support. This delicate balance, maintained through long days and nights at sea, creates the transformative experience that defines Ocean Classroom.  

Returning to Woods Hole for the second shore component, students prepared final science posters and created a culminating multi-media performance that was shared with family, friends, and the entire Proctor Academy community during a celebratory symposium.   

By all accounts, the 2024 iteration of Ocean Classroom was another success and the faculty team, committed to return, is already working on plans for next fall!