Aquarian Quest's On-board Program: The most sought after programs are our school sails.  A student sail for 33 students plus 2 chaperons lasts for 3 hours.  The Captain, crew and on-board educators are all involved in making this an exceptional experience for participants. Students put on their life vests and hear a safety talk by the captain, crew or a Coast Guard Auxiliary member.  After boarding, the Education Director gives an orientation after which they become part of the crew and raise the sails as the ship reaches sailing waters.  Our on-board educator relates important details about the history of sail on Florida waters and asks questions that involve students in the education process. Participants are divided into 4 equal groups and rotate through the learning stations taught by our trained volunteer educators. The Learning Stations include: 1.  The Plankton Station (the bottom of the food web/chain) 2.  The Fish Station (aquarium with local flora and fauna) 3.  The Water Quality Station (students conduct field test for dissolved oxygen) 4.  The Navigation Station (location of vessel using 2-position fix on nautical chart)  Each station activity lasts 15 minutes.  The stations provide hands-on work that helps integrate the marine ecology concepts being taught.  Children work in teams - we have found this strengthens cooperation and a positive spirit all around. The education director then explains there will be 5 minutes of complete silence.  For many students, this is the first time in their lives they have spent meditative time listening only to the voice of the ship, the sea and the wind.  A soothing strum on the guitar and a new song bring them back to the group where students learn some traditional and ecology-based sea  chanteys.  It is always wonderful to note how great the level of cooperation and participation is among the young people aboard! Time is taken to have a bag lunch and to socialize.  Recycling is provided for lunch containers setting a good example for raising awareness among participants.  The Aquarian Quest program is in compliance with Sunshine State Standards for Science Education.  The cost of the program is $695.00 for 33 students plus 2 chaperons. All students receive a Certificate of Completion of the Aquarian Quest On-board Program. (to schedule a sail for your group, please call 941-587-9313) Aquarian Quest Sponsor Sails (...for kids of any age!) These voyages are designed for groups, families, and organizations of all kinds.  Sails last 2 hours and cost $30 for adults and half price for those under 12.  Sails depart from various locations along the Gulf Coast throughout the year. Part of the proceeds support the AQ Scholarship fund for children. Support from these special sails is crucial in making AQ's mission a success. Special programs can include, weddings, rehearsal dinners, team building sails, business meetings, employee/staff reward sails, and more.  Catering and live music are available. Please call 941-587-9313 for more information and bookings.  Aquarian Quest's Teach the Teacher Program: A 2 hour field trip aboard our 28ft. motor launch SMILEY embarking from the historic village of Cortez and sailing on Sarasota Bay.  The program is targeted at science teachers of grades 3 through 5 and designed to acquaint teachers with the advantages of taking students out of the classroom into the field so they experience the lessons first-hand by seeing the subjects in the natural environment.  The effectiveness of hands-on, participatory instruction are demonstrated with the intention to assist the teacher in applying the methods to their curriculum. Our program will also supply equipment to participating teachers so they will have the ability to use it in the field near their schools and in the classroom.  Our emphasis is to encourage teachers to identify water sources on or near the school grounds that will serve as field site for various lessons in the natural sciences.  Besides the convenience of being able to bring students to a nearby aquatic environment, the field trips will also serve as a focus point for students to understand that they live near the site and underscore the fact we all affect the environment we live in. AQ's Education Director, Robert Killian, will conduct the series of learning stations with the teachers as students.  The stations are described in the first paragraph above: Plankton, Fish & Invertibrates, & Water Testing.  Various other test parameters will be available according to the interest of the teachers, including salinity, turbidity, etc. Upon completion of the learning stations, the Director will conduct a Q & A discussion period.  The teachers will complete a written evaluation of the program on the way back to the dock.  The equipment for the school will be delivered after the teacher has completed the program. AQ personnel will be available to assist in setting up the program at the schools. Aquarian Quest's Living History Program: This program offers a hands-on learning experience expanding participant's understanding of the local heritage of boat building, fishing and the development of communities here on the Gulf of Florida. This onshore program begins with a visit to the Florida Maritime Museum, at the historic Cortez Free School building c.1920. Participants will enjoy a tour of exhibits and view a short presentation about maritime heritage.  Aquarian Quest's experienced Education Director and a museum expert will lead activities at hands-on learning stations. Participants will learn the importance of sailing ships in the development of our Florida Gulf Coast towns. They will learn about how tall ships were built and sailed on our local waters.  Program alternatives may include a nature walk, marine species identification and water quality testing. The learning stations include: 1. A small Replica Ship with rigging the participants will identify and can operate. 2. A Calking Station where participants will learn the technique of installing cotton & oakum in the seams of the planking of a ship. 3. A 'Marlin Spike Seamanship' station enhances participants' understanding of the most important knots used on tall ships and in boating in general. 4. Alternative stations may include a guided shore preserve observation walk and water quality testing. After visiting the Museum and the AQ hands-on learning stations, the group will go to the adjacent N.E. Taylor Boat Works where Aquarian Quest's historic tall ship, the 57ft. wooden gaff-rigged ketch, Spray, is being restored. They can view the restoration in progress and realize how the activities they practiced at the learning stations are applied to the construction and operation of a tall ship.  A Music Presentation and Sea Chantey Sing-Along will complete the onshore program.   This session lasts approximately 2 hours and accommodates up to 35 participants.  The cost is $595. Scholarships may be available depending on available funding.  For more information, please call Captain Robert Killian, Education Director at 941-587-9313.