Did you know that the Sailor’s Hornpipe, also known as “The Jig of the Ship,” was a common sight in ports, danced and performed by seafaring lads and lassies, in many areas across the globe? Through the medium of dance, sailors could express their occupational, regional and local identity, creating a bridge between sea and shore. Like sailors of lore, your children will learn about the history of the jig, and will be able to perform the Sailor’s Hornpipe.

From being the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains to being the home of the Coxcomb Hill Cache and the resting place of the Santo Cristo de Burgos (Beeswax wreck), Astoria is an Oregon city rich with history. Children will learn about how Astoria is the end of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, as well as a major shipping port and fishery hub due to its location at the Columbia River/Pacific Ocean estuary. They will also immerse themselves in some pacific ocean pirate history that just might lead them to a burried treasure or two!

Did you know that the first documented messages in bottles were released in 310BC by the Greek philosopher Theophrastus? Also, were you aware that sea glass is made from pieces of glass from broken bottles, broken tableware, or even shipwrecks, which are rolled and tumbled in the ocean for years ? Finally, did you know that originally, a sea shanty was a working song that ensured sailors involved in heavy manual tasks synchronised individual efforts to efficiently execute their collective task? During fall session, children will write and release their own message in a bottle, learn about the colorful world of sea glass, and try their hand at knot tying. They will also be able to belt out a sea shanty or two.

Centuries ago, tired and thirsty sailors would mistake sea creatures such as the manatee or sea lion for mermaids, the half-woman/half-fish creature of myth and legend. Today, sea lions are a common site on Oregon Coast beaches. Along the popular waterfront in Astoria, Pier 39 offers a good vantage point to spot wild sea lions relaxing and sunning themselves. During the fall session, students will learn about the sea life that is native to the Oregon coast, such as the sea lion, orca whale and the sea turtle. We will learn about tides, coastal caves, and Oregon coast reefs. We will get our feet in the sand during our field trip to the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.