This just in from the SULTANA: The crew has arrived, the sails are bent on, and by this time next week the schooner SULTANA will be sailing out on the Chester River, beginning her twelfth season of education under-sail.
The six members of SULTANA’s 2012 crew gathered in Chestertown earlier this March, and have been hard at work rigging and prepping the schooner ever since – all under the watchful eye of fourth year Captain Tanya Banks-Christensen. This year’s crew is an impressive bunch, with undergraduate degrees ranging from Colonial History and Environmental Science to English Literature and Film Production. In addition to their previous experience and academic knowledge, the crew is also participating in extensive training to prepare them for the unique opportunities and challenges of teaching onboard SULTANA.
And once the schooner is up and sailing, and the crew is fully trained, there will be plenty of work to do. SULTANA’s 2012 programming calendar is completely full, with scheduled programs for students in Calvert, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties. SULTANA is also scheduled to appear in this June’s OpSail 2012 festivities in both Virginia and Maryland. By the time SULTANA’s season is complete in November, more than 5,000 elementary and middle school students will have sailed on her decks to learn more about the history and environment of the Chesapeake Bay.
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