Explore to Restore: Day 4

Early morning on the 7th of October the Young Explorers met with the marine biologist Pierre Henkardt for the Severn Riverkeeper to learn about the quality of the Severn River’s water. We practiced using the monitoring devices and taking measurements of pH, salinity, bacteria, dissolved oxygen and other substances that affect the health of this waterway. It was very interesting, and though the quality is bad right now, it is good enough that there can be hope for the restoration of this ecosystem.

Pangaea arrived in Baltimore yesterday afternoon and was greeted by members from the National Aquarium, which is where the boat is docked. Free passes into the aquarium were given out to each of the Young Explorers to look around the exhibits.

Today, the Young Explorers welcomed people onboard to have a look around Pangaea and hear about the Young Explorers program. A large crowd showed up to hear about the program and was interested in learning how a boat as large as the Pangaea could still be environmentally sustainable.

After tours ended at 4:00, the Young Explorers set out on stand-up paddle boards to take a tour of the Baltimore Harbor. A competition began when one person got knocked off their board. Soon, many of the Young Explorers found themselves either in the water, or being chased and pushed in.

The game turned into a clean-up when Saraya and Christen began picking up trash under bridges and near restaurants on the water. “That was one of the most effective clean-up because many were watching and stopped to ask questions about why we were cleaning-up the harbor,” Saraya says. “We didn’t pick up much trash, but the effects were longer-lasting. We set an example,” Says Christen. When Saraya and Christen had found every piece of trash they headed back for the boat and recycled the plastic bottles.