Sea Scout program looking to expand SB vocational training

SBHS students spend their first day on the river tug Lisa

Vocational Education, or Career & Technical Education (CTE) as it is also known, is an area we can educate students in job training, skill development, and leadership, directly relating to post-secondary career paths.  At South Bend, we have a robust CTE program in the construction trade and computer applications, with growing opportunities in robotics and horticulture.  In fact, we just constructed a second greenhouse to meet the demand of increased student interest.

The above CTE subjects are quite common in most schools.  But here in South Bend, our location is ideal for pursuing another major vocational area--the seaport/marine/shellfish industry.  Being on the Willapa, we are home to the second largest estuary on the Pacific Coast.  It seems logical to take advantage of our unique geography in educating students.

SB students working on the Lisa

Opportunity for Willapa Area Students

We have been working with Tim Quigg, of Quigg Bros Inc., for the last couple months.  Mr. Quigg approached us on developing a Sea Scout program, designed to introduce interested high school students (boys and girls) to areas of maritime industry.  In December, he invited SB High School principal Jason Nelson and me to visit the Hoquiam Sea Scout program, which works with students from Ocosta, Hoquiam, and Aberdeen.  What we witnessed was incredible, where high school students operated a 46 ft. river tugboat, the Lisa, a full operational tugboat training vessel.

Yesterday (1.12.17), twenty South Bend students spent their first day in our new program, where they were oriented to the Lisa and the Sea Scout program. Students learned from experienced captains, retired Merchant Marine mariners, and Mr. Quigg himself.

SB student piloting the Lisa

It is a rare occurrence to have someone like Tim Quigg involved in a project of this nature and potential.  Mr. Quigg purchased, rebuilt, and outfitted the Lisa specifically for the Hoquiam based Sea Scout program.  As South Bend begins our program, students will be traveling to Hoquiam every other Thursday to participate in Sea Scouts, and learning on the Lisa.  As we grow our program, South Bend students will work and learn right here on the Willapa in South Bend.

A Tug for South Bend?

Mr. Quigg, a man with a passion for helping students realize their potential, had another surprise for our students on their first day.  After spending several hours on the Lisa and getting oriented to the program, he brought them to the port at Quigg Bros. home base in Aberdeen, and led them into one of his large warehouses.  What the students saw blew them away.  Mr. Quigg showed them what is to be their very own tug boat training vessel to be based in South Bend, on the Willapa.

SB students posing in front of the eventual South Bend tugboat training vessel

South Bend students spent the next hour going through the boat and learning about its history.  Once the boat's restoration is complete, she will make the trip out of Grays Harbor and come around through the Willapa Bay to arrive in South Bend.

Working With Our Community

It is my belief our school district needs to be responsive to the desire of our local community to provide opportunity for students, especially when such opportunity has the potential to open doors for our kids' future career paths, leadership development, and exploring new experiences.  This helps provide educational opportunities relevant to our students' lives and their future.  We need to do our best to provide education that meets the needs of all students, and be willing to explore ways to meet student interests in non-traditional settings.

Mr. Quigg understands this as well as anyone, and we are grateful for his vision and willingness to partner with us in developing the Sea Scout program in South Bend.

As we build this program, one of my goals is to provide students the opportunity to earn high school credit through this experience.  We also desire to work with local industry and build the program to meet employment needs of the area.  Wouldn't it be great to be able to not only train students on the tug, but also on oyster dredges, aquaculture, and other river/bay/ocean related careers?  We are in the infancy of such programs at this point, but as those who know me have heard me say before, "We'll see what happens..."

How can I help?

If you or anyone you know would be interested in volunteering with our new Sea Scout program, please contact me at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.  We are interested in people who have experience working on the boats, in the oyster/seafood industry, or with the ports.  We are also looking for a place to moor the tug that will soon be in South Bend.  In addition, we are looking for a small space on the river, in a building that will allow students to discuss with adult helpers their Sea Scout agenda and plan for the given day.  No heat required.  It would be ideal if such a space was near the tug moorage.

For more information on this article or about anything related to South Bend School District, please contact superintendent Jon Tienhaara at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.