The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current, January 16, 2020, Page 29, Image 29

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date, the museum’s Miniboat Program is readying to launch
this year’s fl eet of student built boats — and the community
is invited to get involved. On Tuesday, the museum will host
its fi rst-ever “Miniboat Summit,” where students from three
schools will present their boats, conduct a sparkling apple
cider christening and make an offi cial hand-off to the Colum-
bia River Bar Pilots and U.S. Coast Guard, who will launch
the small boats on their voyage across the ocean.
“Miniboats may be small, but they are mighty,” explains
Nate Sandel, education director at the Columbia River Mari-
time Museum. “They have the power to create substantial and
lasting impact — in the community and well beyond. We’ve
seen these boats capture the imagination of our students, but
also many people from around the world who encounter the
boats, help with a rescue or simply follow the boats’ prog-
ress online. It’s an exciting adventure we’re so happy to share
during this year’s Miniboat Summit.”
‘MINIBOATS MAY BE SMALL,
BUT THEY ARE MIGHTY.’
Nate Sandel, education director at the Columbia
River Maritime Museum
Lasting impact
Through the Miniboat Program, students take on roles as
quartermasters, sail designers, keel engineers, cargo track-
ers and documentarians. Along the way, they learn real
world skills and make friends overseas while they track their
boats online — boats packed with mementos curated by the
students.
“It’s not everyday that you get to balance a keel, design a
sail, or navigate the waters of the Pacifi c Ocean,” Alisa Dun-
lap, Clatsop County
regional business
manager at Pacifi c
If You Go
Power, said. “The
Miniboat Summit
Miniboat Program
10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday
offers an extraor-
dinary way for 5th
Columbia River Maritime Museum,
through 7th grade
1792 Marine Dr, Astoria
students in our
Free
region to learn cru-
cial STEAM skills,
discover future
careers and build international connections that will last
a lifetime. We know STEAM skills are important part of
building opportunity for the future, especially in the small
communities we serve. We are excited to support a pro-
gram dedicated to enriching the education of young learn-
ers and empowering them to try new things and explore their
creativity.”
A student built boat on its voyage.
An international endeavor
Since the program’s start in 2017, 1,213 students on both
sides of the Pacifi c Ocean have been involved in the launch
of 24 miniboats, traveling a total of 55,236 nautical miles
(a number that climbs daily). These boats are tracked every
day and students are still building on the skills they honed to
launch them.
This year’s participants include 7th graders from War-
renton Grade School, 5th graders at Columbia City Elemen-
tary School and 7th graders from Wy’East Middle School in
Vancouver, Wash. These three schools partnered with three
schools in Japan: Tanesashi Primary School, Okuki Elemen-
tary and Kanehama Elementary in Hachinohe City, in the
Aomori Prefecture.
Follow the miniboat adventures on Facebook at CRMM
Miniboat Program or through the museum’s website at crmm.
org.
14 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
Students present their fi nal product.
The program is not only a partnership among organizations, but also nations.