WPES Class Prepares To Launch Boat Project into the Gulf Stream

Washington Park Elementary School fifth grade students in Cheryl Gerber’s class are involved in a special project.

The class is partnering with Educational Passages (@Educationalpassages.org) to build a five foot mini boat.

Once completed, the boat will be placed in the Gulf Stream, near Tybee Island Georgia. All of Jasper County will be able to track the boat wherever it goes because it has a solar powered GPS and can see its location each day.

This project will help the students learn how to use a map and how to read coordinates. The students are learning about ocean currents, salt water density, wind, weather and how to be good helpers of the ocean.

“This is a huge opportunity and learning experience for us. This is something most kids never get to experience, in fact, we’re the only kid’s in Georgia that are doing this, so we would like for everyone to be a part of this journey with us by tracking our boat with us,” said an announcement from the launch team

“Once we launch our boat, named Purple Hurricane, everyone will be able to track it by going to educationalpassages.org and clicking the link to our mini boat (Purple Hurricane).”

The students will take a field trip to the University of Georgia, Marine Science Center in Savannah on Wednesday, Oct. 26. On Thursday, Oct. 27, Watermark Restoration will take the boat to the Gulf Stream for the class. The company is paying for a fishing charter so that the boat can be escorted out to far waters.

A launch ceremony will be held at the Marine Science Center, 30 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah Ga. 31411 on October 26 at 4 p.m. Then the boat will be handed off to Watermark Restoration to head for the Gulf Stream.

The reason the Gulf Stream was chosen is due to its strong currents of warm water which will give the boat the best chance of going to Europe, Africa, etc.

“Who knows where it (Purple Hurricane) might go, but we know we will be able to learn and maybe even contact other students from all over the world,” said a statement from the students