Stepping into a new role can feel like navigating uncharted waters, and my summer internship as a Great Lakes Waterways Education Intern at Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) was no exception. If those first-day-of-term essays about summer vacation still existed, mine would stretch into volumes, barely scratching the surface of this incredible experience. Yes, it’s the Nerd Boat for a reason, and I embraced every nerdy, wonderful moment.
Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Meghan. My summer title might sound fancy, but it truly reflects the depth of my experience. My time at Inland Seas was nothing short of transformative, fostering a profound connection that runs as deep as the deepest point of Suttons Bay. Rarely have I been so instantly engaged and eager to learn in a new position. This positive environment was entirely thanks to the amazing ISEA office staff, dedicated volunteers, and skilled crew. Their collective energy and passion were infectious, inspiring me to share my own enthusiasm with the next generation of Great Lakes stewards. As I chart my future course, I aspire to emulate the empathy and vibrant energy they shared with me as I was learning the ropes.
I vividly remember stepping off the boat after my first “wet run,” a ridiculous grin plastered across my face. My hands were numb from the cold, yes, but I was invigorated. Surrounded by new faces in a new environment, I knew, whether I felt completely ready or not, I was here to dive in and learn the ropes of this unique internship. And I chose to embrace it wholeheartedly.
After a month and a half of the joyful chaos of scooping mud with kids – a surprisingly educational and fun task – I found a rhythm in the delightful unpredictability of daily sails. Each day brought a new group of students, demanding adaptability in the face of ever-changing weather, diverse group dynamics, and varied learning styles. I relished the challenge, drawing on my best experiences and shaping them into my own evolving teaching approach. Crucially, I discovered the immense value of engaging in meaningful conversations with students about the material. Making an effort to learn each student’s name at the start of each rotation and nurturing those brief yet powerful connections became a deeply rewarding aspect of my daily routine.
A core component of my internship was designing an educational station for our August sail to Detroit. The sheer volume of initial ideas for this station could fill a boat (pun intended!), as anyone in the office can attest. Huge thanks to Jillian for her patience as my constantly buzzing brain wrestled abstract concepts onto paper, transforming them into tangible plans.
Ultimately, I landed on a station inspired by a personal highlight of Schoolship – the profound two minutes of silence observed after the students raised the sails. My research took me to the original observers of this region, the Anishinaabe people, and their holistic approach to education. The station blossomed into an exploration of soundscape mapping, a visual representation of the sounds students perceived in their surroundings. I incorporated Anishinaabemowin maps of the Great Lakes and original Anishinaabemowin terms for the waterways we navigated. While respect for the earth is not exclusive to Anishinaabe culture, recognizing their central role as stewards of the land and water we explore today felt essential and deeply respectful.
My initial internship plan envisioned combining this research project with a summer of public sails, culminating in the Detroit sail. However, reality, in its infinitely wiser form, had other plans, and I am incredibly grateful for the detour. Instead, I spent nearly a month living onboard schooners – experiencing the final leg of Schooner Alliance’s homeward journey and the overnight program to Detroit aboard Schooner Inland Seas.
ISEA is the rare kind of place where the unexpected is not just welcomed but embraced. I stepped onto Alliance with zero crew experience and disembarked overflowing with new knowledge, a deep sense of camaraderie with the crew, and a profound reverence for the water we had sailed. Captain Ben’s words during the safety talk resonated deeply: “You go from the top of the food chain to the bottom of the food chain really quickly out here.” It’s profoundly true. That slight edge of vulnerability when offshore is both invigorating and humbling. It filled me with a sense of aliveness, joy, and deep fulfillment, bringing that ridiculous grin from my first wet run right back to my face as I continued to learn the ropes of seamanship.
Two weeks later, I found myself in the role of Assistant Educator on the overnight program to Detroit. We were fortunate to be joined by an exceptionally mature, compassionate, and determined group from Detroit’s Green Door Initiative, many of whom were just a year or two younger than me. This sail presented a unique challenge, as I was simultaneously learning the ropes of overnight programs and leading the students. I remember the first time I had to throw a dock line – it was during a gusty night as we were tying up at Harbor Beach. My usually methodical brain felt completely overwhelmed, yet the boat was secure, and I had successfully learned the ropes of another essential maritime skill. Again, immense gratitude to the patient crew for their unwavering support through my numerous learning curves. I don’t view these “screw-ups” with shame; they are integral to the learning process. It takes a special kind of person to offer grace and kindness during these vulnerable learning moments, and for that, I am profoundly thankful.
I carried this approach into my final two weeks of teaching in Detroit: meeting new students where they were, adjusting my personal benchmarks for “success,” and embracing the remarkable experience of sharing a confined space with individuals from all walks of life and generations. As my internship concludes, I depart with a deep, almost familial affection for the people who are the heart of this organization and the invaluable wisdom they have imparted.
Goodbye for now, but certainly not for long. Rachel already has my volunteer application – I’m eager to continue learning the ropes and contributing to the ISEA mission.
