How to Participate

  

F 

Find a Parther || Work with your Partner || Implement Your Partnership

  
 

Find a Partner

There are three ways to form a partnership in this program:

a teacher may initiate a partnership;

a fisherman may initiate one; or

MIT Sea Grant, acting as a broker, can help bring interested teachers and fishermen together.

Below are the steps that should be taken to find a partner.

Teacher

Fisherman

1st - contact your local fishing organization

2nd - Ask around your local fishing port

3rd - contact MIT Sea Grant

1st - check with your local schools

2nd - talk to teachers you know

3rd - contact MIT Sea Grant

Once you have formed a partnership, it is strongly suggested that either the teacher or the fisherman register with Adopt-A-Boat to receive access to our special members-only site featuring videos, photos, fisherman profiles and other useful materials to enhance the experience.

Work with your partner

Once you have found a partner, you should set up a meeting so that you and the fisherman can talk about needs, limitations and expectations before anything happens in the classroom. This first meeting can be in person or via phone. The following are the common points that need to be addressed during the first meeting:

Teacher

Fisherman

How do you want to use your fisherman in the classroom?

How often would you like to have contact with your fisherman?

How will you communicate -- internet and email capabilities, how often email is checked, etc.

What are some possible project ideas you can share?

Identify busy time of year and down time

How much time are you willing to contribute to the partnership?

How will you communicate -- internet and email capabilities, how often email is checked, etc.

What kind of data from your vessel is available for classroom use?

 

Implement your partnership in the classroom

Depending on how you implement Adopt-a-Boat into your class, the fisherman may visit the school to meet the students or the class may communicate via email/mail before the fisherman visits the classroom. The key to the success of this program is the relationship formed between the students and their fisherman.

 

Teacher

Fisherman

Schedule a date and time with your fisherman to visit your classroom

Give fisherman guidance on what you are looking for from him (topics, etc.)

Use map and nautical chart to show fishing grounds

Make at least one classroom visit

Bring props: nets, rope, traps, pictures, animals, gear, survival suit, etc.

Use nautical chart to show fishing grounds

Community resources of your local fishing industry can be valuable assets . Ice houses, bait houses, gear makers, aquariums, museums, fish auctions, fish piers, seafood processing plants, fish markets, etc. are all potential resources that can help educate students about the integral role of the fishing industry in our communities.