For the first time since 2019, students from StockbridgeHigh School’s InvenTeam were back in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS), this time deploying their mini boat, Fautasi, from the glass-bottom boat Lady Michigan on May 25, 2023. Four students and their mentor, Mr. Richards, are a part of Educational Passages, a program that teaches students about ocean currents, weather, and marine technology as they construct, deploy,and track an autonomous mini sailboat. Equipped with a GPS tracker, sensors, and a camera, Fautasi set sail at the surface of the wreck site of the Grecian. In addition to location tracking, the mini boat’s system also allowed the students to collect air and water temperature data. Following their mini boat launch, Stockbridge students assisted in freshwater acidification research, collecting water samples with a peristaltic pump and gathering site data using a handheld casting device. The freshwater acidification monitoring project is an ongoing partnership effort between TBNMS and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) that prioritizes the engagement of students and educators, all funded by NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program. The freshwater acidification project aims to establish a long-term monitoring program to measure Great Lakes water chemistry relevant to freshwater acidification and climate change. Throughout their trip on the Lady Michigan, the students learned about the maritime history of the Great Lakes, specifically Lake Huron and Thunder Bay. They were able to view multiple wrecks through the glass-bottom viewing wells and connect Thunder Bay’s wind and weather patterns to their Educational Passages mini boat project while out on the bay. Stockbridge High School’s visit encompasses one of TBNMS’s top priorities: providing students and educators with the resources and opportunity to expand their knowledge through experiential and exploratory learning.
