Get your tickets to the Annual Benefit now!

A message from Joe Gessert, Harbor School’s Dive Safety Officer and Dive Instructor:

I just spent a week in Maine attending the annual meetings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), the consortium that oversees underwater researchers and their standards and practices. After a steep learning curve and a two-year application process, our request for organizational membership was voted on by their board yesterday, and Harbor School was accepted as the first public high school in the AAUS. We join 138 other member institutions, primarily major research universities, as well as aquariums and consulting firms. A private boarding school in Hawaii is the only other high school member. A full list of organizational members is available at http://data.memberclicks.com/site/aaus/Paid_2011_OMs_August_1.pdf

On a practical level, this membership will help open new research opportunities and partnerships to our dive students (as well as possibilities for our marine science and robotics students), give them a strong addition to their college applications to major universities, give them a head start towards field work in the marine sciences, and hopefully bring in outside researchers for collaborative projects.

Thanks to all Harbor teachers for their flexibility and everyone in the administration, foundation, and oyster restoration project for their support of the program. Special thanks to outside Diving Control Board members Lenny Speregen and Michael Raftery for their expert consultation, without which this membership would not have been possible.

Joe Gessert

The First Annual Harbor School Regatta brought more than 450 supporters participated as sailors, spectators and revelers at the Post-Regatta BASH, raising significant funds to support New York City’s only public high school dedicated to maritime and environmental education. We were thrilled to have 4 America’s Cup Charters 12 meters and 12 of Manhattan Sailing Club’s J24s competing in the Regatta. Team Burnham won the 12 meter class on American Eagle; Virgin Atlantic won the non-spinnaker J24 class and the US Merchant Marine Academy won the spinnaker J24 class. Winners received a first edition Harbor School burgee as their prize. During the race MSNBC’s Willie Geist, NBC TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie and former Harbor School board Chair John Deermount entertained spectators on Manhattan and America 2.0 from the Classic Harbor Line’s fleet.

Press for the event:

http://sailmagazine.com/racing/the_harbor_school_regatta_sets_sail/

http://www.dnainfo.com/20111004/downtown/sailboat-race-raises-money-for-new-york-harbor-school

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204524604576609210871656884.html

Pictures for the event:

http://korenreyes.com/galleries/harbor-school/index.shtml

http://pimvanhemmen.zenfolio.com/nyharborschoolregatta

http://pimvanhemmen.zenfolio.com/bestofnyharborschoolregatta

Visit the newly created Harbor Gear section of the website for a complete Harbor outfit! Show your support of our mission! Help our students’ work towards restoring the health of New York’s Harbor. Shipping is included in the prices!

Harbor School students have been busy sailing Ocean Classroom’s Spirit of Massachusetts over the last 3 weeks. 9th Graders have been treated to day sails in their Introduction to Harbor class, while crews of 9-18 students and staff have sailed her up and down the Hudson on weekend overnight trips. To get a taste of the experience, check out the blog and the slide show posted by educator Abi Iverson.

You can now choose New York Harbor School to donate 1% for the planet! Please visit our donation page and choose New York Harbor School. Every little bit makes a big difference!

Brendan’s Marine Technology class is building and blogging! The construction New York Sloop is well under way. You can follow their work at New York Sloop Blog! Visit, comment, learn, and enjoy!

Keep an eye on what’s happening in Advanced Aquaculture on the snazzy, new, showstopping, eye-catching, (not to mention informative, entertaining, and educational) Advanced Aquaculture Tumblr.

Saturday afternoon, Harbor Corps got a behind-the-scenes tour of the Circle Line Downtown Zephyr, a luxury yacht. We learned about Zephyr’s 4 engines, the unique way Zephyr moves water THROUGH buckets to propel water and turn and glide smoothly (and quickly!) through the harbor. Students also viewed the engine room, where they learned about each engine’s 1100 horsepower and sat in the captain’s quarters with Captain Aaron. This boat is so high tech it has no steering wheel, but a joystick!

Liv writes:

I can’t put into words how odd this is for Bonaire….or anywhere really….