Students discover the world: lessons under sailing on Thor Heyerdahl!

Students discover the world: lessons under sailing on Thor Heyerdahl!

Since October 2023, 34 students from all over Germany have been on the "Thor Heyerdahl" for six months. The project, which is entitled "Classroom under sailing" (KUS), was organized by the Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. The group, which consists of 15 students in the 10th classes of German high schools, began their trip after extensive online selection talks and a personal meeting in October 2021.

At the start of your trip, the ship was prepared after a one -week shipyard time and the departure took place under the supervision of families and friends. The trip began with storm warnings, which led to the ship lingering in the port of Borkum for three days. The "Thor Heyerdahl" then continued its route through the English Canal and steered towards Canary Islands. The stormy conditions in the Biskaya meant that almost all students suffered from seasickness.

Learning on the high seas

school lessons play a central role in everyday life on board. This takes place every other day and includes subjects such as German, chemistry and geography, as well as practical nautical knowledge. Teaching units are often designed in terms of situation, for example the examination of flying fish in biology lessons or a test in geography about volcanism that was written in the Caldera of a volcano. Spanish and Portuguese lessons are also offered to prepare the students for the upcoming countries.

A student, Anton, who is 15 years old, last saw his family in October in Dänischenhagen near Kiel and claims for the first time without his family. Christmas was celebrated in the Caribbean Sea north of Curaçao, where the temperatures were 31.5 degrees air and 29.5 degrees water. After the planned Atlantic crossing, the students will spend three weeks in Panama, with activities such as a camp in the rainforest and Spanish lessons. During your stay you live in host families.

The financial aspects are also taken into account. The total costs of the project amount to around 3,770 euros per month, which corresponds to a total of almost 25,000 euros. In order to implement this project, the participants receive support in the form of interest -free loans or scholarships through a donation -financed support association. The prerequisites for participation include a good certificate, openness to other cultures and social commitment. The return trip to Kiel is planned in April and will be via Cuba and the Azores.

The deputy pedagogical director Corinna Göpfert emphasizes the cultural reflection of the students, while Anton reports on a personal change: he has become more relaxed and has learned important skills such as space management, self -care and sleep management.

For further information about the project and life on board, interested parties can report the reporting of view school in Bavaria

-transmitted by West-Ost-media