The next day I gave my first set of children’s classes at the library. There were about twelve kids in attendance from the ages of 8-12. We started with some coloring and making paper boats. Next, we sat on the carpet in a circle and did the Food Web activity using the stuffed animals. We discussed how these animals were connected to each other in the ocean and what happens to these connections when the web is disrupted. Also we talked about bioaccumulation and its effects on a marine ecosystem (see Educator’s Toolkit for more information). Finally, using their paper boats the kids played the game about Sustainable Fishing (see online curriculum). All the kids were really sweet and well behaved and they all looked like they had a great time.
On Wednesday, Feb. 10th the boat finally arrived. They had been battered by storms and difficult onboard guests and all were clearly in need to a break. We all had a happy reunion and then most checked into the hotel and went to sleep. David and Kirsty were kind enough to accompany me to my next day of children’s classes that afternoon. This time I gave a slide show presentation to the kids, we talked about ocean acidification and went outside for a cloud observation activity. Word must have spread from the day before because that day the attendance nearly tripled! Plus the library teacher had been inspired from the day before and brought in some fun ocean themed decorations for the room, including some turtle pillows, stuffed sharks and even a stuffed catfish! David got some great pictures of me with the kids, there’s a couple posted on the website even (www.aroundtheamericas.org).
This was the first day that the sun had some out in Puerto Montt so after class I decided to go take a drive. I went north armed with a couple crude maps and found my way to a town called Frutillera (Strawberry town?) on Lago Llanquihue. The town is an old German settlement that still maintains its character and that afternoon along the lake there was even a band playing. Behind the lake were two perfectly clear volcanoes, Orsorno and Cabulco. I took some great pictures and wished I could’ve stayed longer. I drove along the lake on the way back with the sun shining across grassy fields of wildflowers, happy looking cows, and willow trees. Between the travel and the work my life has been stressful at times just lately but this afternoon totally recharged my energy and my faith.
Thursday was somewhat uneventful. We cleaned the boat and I beat the rugs until I got a blister but the sunshine kept everyone cheerful enough. Then Friday was the day for the Open House.
Unfortunately Dave and I had to run an errand to the hardware store which ended up making me a little behind schedule that morning, but once the guests starting arriving things went very well. Everyone was in awe of the boat and the kids had fun running around the dock looking at fish and listening to the hydrophone (underwater microphone) I brought out. The parents commented on how special this event was because these marinas are not generally open to the public so this was a chance for them to see a part of their own town they’d never experienced.
Saturday came the day to leave for Valparaiso. We checked out, loaded up, fueled and headed out into the Chilean canals towards the Pacific.
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