KELP in Action: Sail Newport - Sailors for the Sea

KELP in Action: Sail Newport

 June 13, 2024  | By: Jennifer Brett

Our Kids Environmental Lesson Plans introduce kids to marine science and ocean literacy topics, ranging from aquatic habitats to the challenges facing our oceans. They are designed to be used by parents, teachers, camp counselors, sailing instructors – really anyone who wants to share the wonders of our watery world with kids!

Cortney Kingsley, a Sailors for the Sea Skipper volunteer, is the education programs manager at Sail Newport, a community sailing center. “Our Science and Sailing Program for elementary schoolers and the middle school Marine Exploration Program have lessons made in conjunction with Sailors for The Sea,” she said.

Sail Newport designed these programs as a way to connect local kids to the wonders of Narragansett Bay – from setting sail and enjoying the area’s renowned sea breeze to learning about the marine life that calls it home – and how to protect it.

“Students who visit Sail Newport experience the ocean and all it has to offer, bringing them one step closer to protecting it,” Cortney said. “While at Sail Newport, there is a responsibility learned with being a sailor, including picking up trash, disposing of litter properly, and developing an inherent respect for the water and coastline. These young sailors will be the ones to champion strides toward keeping our waters and beaches clean.”

Our KELP activities play a key role in the programs’ curricula. “The KELP activities have been a perfect addition to our educational programs at Sail Newport,” said Cortney. “They are easy to implement across a variety of age groups and have been a fun way to get the kids engaged with marine science and conservation topics.”

Some of Sail Newport’s favorite KELP activities include:

Beach Bingo: Kids will discover their natural surroundings by playing an interactive game of bingo with items that can be found at your beach or shoreline

Clam Jigsaw: Students create a cutout model of a clam to investigate the anatomy and physiology of these animals.

Sinking Races: Students create various types of plankton with craft materials and race them in a large container of water. Slowest plankton wins!

Build a Coral Polyp: Learn about the anatomy of coral and the symbiotic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae by building an edible coral polyp.

Have questions about how you can implement KELP into your school or program? Reach out — we are happy to help!