Journals 2008/2009

John Karavias
Walt Whitman H.S. Huntington Station, NY

"Estimation of Primary Productivity and Particle Export Rates as a Function of Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Bering Sea" United States Coast Guard Cutter Healy, Icebreaker July 3 - July 28, 2008

Journal Index: July 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11        12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19        20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27        28 - 29 - 30 - 31

July 17, 2008
Meeting the kids at St. George Island

Jillian, the Polartrec teacher, and I were up late last night preparing a presentation to give to students who were at an ocean science camp on St. George Island. Jillian was to go to the island with five scientists and was to stay on the Healy. On the island were middle school students and high school students that were coming to the ship. It worked out perfectly since I am a high school teacher and Jillian is a middle school teacher. Well, at least it should have.

Once again the Queen of the North was not cooperating. It was very foggy and a slight chop was on the seas. After about 45 minutes, the scientists were away and eight students were on the Healy. We waited another 20 minutes for the remaining four students to get to the Healy but the Captain stopped all additional traffic on the boats because conditions might get worse. Bummer for those kids left on shore!

The students from St. George wearing their mustang suits

The Coast Guard was almost through with their presentation when the Captain ordered the visit to end fearing the seas would get worse. The kids got their mustang suits back on and went back home. I barely had five minutes to talk to them and learn from them about their culture and give my presentation. I felt bummed!

I have learned on this trip that nothing is an absolute. What we think will happen, won't. What we want to happen, might. What shouldn't happen, will. Here on this trip I observed for the first time that plan C is discussed and planned as well as plan A.