- The Wisdom of a Sailor

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: John Filmer (maritime studies, business management) Major areas of study include history, critical reasoning, writing, navigation, literature, communications, leadership and seamanship. Sea time can be documented toward USCG mariner's license Class Standing: Sophomores or above; transfer students welcome. Faculty Signature: Students must submit a one-page hand written summary of their goals and objectives as well as their expectations of the program. Acceptance into the program will be based on the student's background and aspirations. For information and to schedule a faculty interview, contact John Filmer, (360) 867-6159 or write to The Evergreen State College, Seminar 2 A2117, Olympia, WA 98505. Qualified students will be accepted until the program fills. The challenge of sea and sail inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things. It is truly a metaphor for life and it will open up exciting vistas of opportunity. Wisdom handed down through the generations by ancient mariners, explorers, merchant seamen, fishermen and all those intrigued by venturing out on open waters will provide the "mainstay" for all we do in this year long program. What they did and what you will learn comprise the "wisdom of the sailor" and an incentive to learn even more about the world and about yourself. Our waters define the history, ecology and economy of the region. Placing vessels and students into that environment helps us make a strong public statement about the centrality of the marine environment to our economy, our identity and our future. The excitement of sailing and the challenge of sea and sail focus the talents and energies of the students while building strong learning communities aboard the sailing vessels. During fall quarter in the classroom, we will study the origins and patterns of world trade and exploration, U.S. and Puget Sound history and an introduction to nautical charts and the use of vector geometry in Coastal Navigation. Emphasis in our seminar discussions and in the writing assignments will be on critical reasoning and an articulate analysis ofthe issues. Students will be expected to develop and defend detailed responses to a series of sharply focused essay questions based on the readings. In the winter quarter classroom, we will examine the role of international trade, seaports and the maritime industries as drivers of the economic engine of the Puget Sound region. We will continue our study of the principles of coastal navigation and maritime history. As always adherence to critical reasoning principles will be emphasized in our discussions and essay writing. Spring quarter's class work will include material on navigational history, the physics of sail and the development and refinement of coastal navigation skills. Reading, seminar discussions and writing assignments will focus on understanding and developing team building and leadership strategies and their application in the teaching of seamanship and boat handling. Every quarter while on board a well-tuned sail-training vessel, we will "plunge into the past" and learn to apply traditional sailing techniques. This is an opportunity to study power cruise and sail seamanship, become part of a working crew, learn The Rules of the Road, tides and currents, weather, coastal navigation and various sailor's arts including knots, splices, hitches, reefs and the correct use of lines. While hauling down on a halyard or hardening up on a sheet, you will find the ship comes alive and you become a part of her. More importantly, you will learn about yourself, overcome your fear, develop self-confidence, self-discipline, responsibility and self-sufficiency while also learning teamwork, management and leadership skills. You will be challenged both physically and mentally to do things you never thought you could do. All this will be closely coordinated with our classroom work. Indeed, the title of this program is no accident. A sailor's wisdom covers a plethora of s

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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