Mt. Baker Middle Schools' expedition in the San Juan Islands. The entire cruise track the students chose took them from Anacortes, heading West through Guemes Channel  towards the San Juan Islands for their first overnight at Pelican Beach. The students combined savvy navigating with thoughtful sample site selection which  resulted in their cruise track that allowed them to collect the data they were looking for, all wil carving a figure-eight in their cruise track wake. Notice the weaving around Blakely and Cypress Islands. Fancy nautical work Mt. Baker!

Day one of three(click to view cruise track image)
Today began with lively introductions and the donning of the latest in scientfically fashionable outer wear, yellow rain gear. We came upon great wind as the Wind watch turned North into Bellingham Channel heading up the East side of Cypress Island as we made way for our evening mooring site. After the busy day of sampling and analyzing data, they students communicated from shore to the ship with fancy Kelp bull horns made of giant Bull Kelp stipes that littered the shore just infron of the tents.

Day two of three(click to view cruise track image)
Following a beautiful evening of forest exploration and fashioning horn instruments out of Kelp, the group returned rested and ready to their work aboard Carlyn. The students chose to thread between Cyprss and Blakely Isl. to sample at Bird Rocks in the search of Birds, and most imporantly, to see if the we could find any of the nutrients in the water as a result of their poo. The nautical team made for Spencers Spit on Lopez Island shortly after, chasing the low tide for ideal Seining conditions. Students came up with an amazing variety of small crabs and beautiful, minnow sized fish.

Day three of three(click to view cruise track image)
The past two days had brought great sailing weather, wind and spotty rain storms. The students who reported on the latest forecast for the day predicted much more sun and slightly less wind. Even with this warm forecast, some students had become fond of their rain gear, and donned their yellow pants proudly as they chose to continue the Expeditioin in the rain gear they had come to know so well. If you were a student aboard, you know the feeling of accomplishment, when you have set sail, deployed sampling gear, identified plankton, cooked lunch and set up a tent, all while wearing rubber rain pants and jackets that make you feel sometimes like Stay Puff marshmellow man.

These students, turned field scientists, had begun to know what it is like to prepare a reserearch expedition, and gather not only data, but other details about a place that help to create understanding. They see what it is like, out on the water for plankton to survive, sea lions to thrive and a successful science and sailing Expedition to be accomplished.  That may include things that you have done before, like using a microscope, and things that you may not have done before, like using a plankton net or wearing yellow rain gear.