High Seas Interest Project Patch
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council’s own interest
project for girls 11-17
Skill Builders
1. What is the maritime industry and who are Merchant Mariners?
Find out what role, if any, they play in assisting the United
States Armed Services, i.e. Navy, Army. Suggested Web sites
to assist with your research are www.marad.gov, www.socp.org,
and www.msc.navy.mil.
2. Ships are floating, movable cities. How are they similar
to dry land cities? What makes them different (besides being
on water)? Make an organizational chart of the cruise ship
staff and their duties. Be sure to include the captain and
his direct staff, as well as the support services that keep
guests comfortable and entertained.
3. What are the major parts of a modern ship? Draw a diagram
from your own research and label the parts. Compare different
types of ships like a tanker, dry cargo, hospital, Navy, research,
and cruise ships.
4. Some ships carry cargo in their holds or tanks. The weight
of the cargo helps keep the ships stable (safe) as they
move through the water. How do ships compensate for the missing
cargo weight when the holds/tanks are empty? Using what
you learn and using a styrofoam cup in a pail of water, demonstrate
this principle to another Girl Scout.
5. Steel is a heavy metal and usually sinks in water. Because
of the design and the principle of buoyancy, ships built of
steel float rather than sink. How does the scientific principle
of buoyancy explain this? Experiment with buoyancy in fresh
water and salt water using everyday objects around the home.
Record your observations.
6. Model shipbuilding is a popular hobby around the world.
Select a ship (any type from any time period) and put the
model together.
7. Ships can be floating hospitals. What types of services
are offered on a hospital ship? Is this a full service hospital? What
organizations have such ships? Create a scrapbook for a troop
of younger Girl Scouts, showing a hospital ship and some of
the activities onboard, including the operating amphitheater,
the wards, and how critically ill patients are taken to land-based
care facilities.
Technology
1. Visit a Maritime Museum and research the history of
the whaling industry.
2. With no landmarks out at sea, it is very difficult
to determine what direction you are traveling. All ships’
deck officers must know how to determine direction at
sea by using gyrocompasses and magnetic compasses. What
is the difference between a gyrocompass and a magnetic
compass? What is meant by “dead reckoning?”
Why does a ship need radar equipment?
3. Because ships travel through and float on the water,
they are affected by the wind and by the currents of
the sea. What kinds of effects do the wind and sea currents
have on a ship? Hold a toy sailboat regatta in a wading
pool filled with water with other members of your troop.
Practice blowing from different directions on your boats’
“sails” to see which way they go. Watch
the drift of the boats when no wind is applied. Is there
a pattern?
4. The land places where ships load or unload their
cargoes are called ports. What makes a location a good
site for a port? Are all ports located on the coast?
What do modern ports offer to make distribution of the
ship’s goods to market efficient? Take a driving
or boat tour of a local port. Look for technology in
action.
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5. A ship cannot turn on a TV to view a
local weather forecast. So, the National Oceanographic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U. S. government
weather people, provide Marine Weather Forecasts to ships
and boats. NOAA provides weather information on their
Web site. If a ship cannot connect to the Internet, how
else do they receive NOAA forecasts? Visit NOAA’s
Web site and track the weather for a period of three consecutive
days.
Service
1. A Seamen’s Center meets the needs of ship crews
in foreign ports. Learn more about a local Seamen’s
Center (see their Web site). Participate in a Seamen’s
Center sponsored service project.
2. Create a game for younger girls using the maritime
knowledge gained in the Skill Builders or Technology
section of this interest project. Introduce them to
geography, countries, land forms, navigable waters,
economy, science, technology, etc.
3. Contact a maritime group that can connect you or
your troop/group to a ship and its crew. Chart their
course over a period of time and learn about their ports
of call. Send letters or e-mails to the crew. Visit
the Web site “Follow the Voyage.” If possible
send small gifts you or your troop/ |
group have made. [Remember to follow Safety-Wise rules
for pen pals.]
4. Create a treasure hunt for younger girls to help
them learn nautical and orienteering skills. Be creative.
Careers
1. Learn about college degree programs in maritime.
2. Contact a cruise line and find out what types of
employment are offered. If possible, tour the behind
the scenes area of a ship.
3. Contact your local armed service recruiter to find
out what naval or marine careers they offer. Are there
jobs in the armed forces that give beneficial experiences
for a civilian job later?
4. What is the Coast Guard? What is its role in peacetime
or during conflict? What types of skills are needed?
5. Is a degree in the hotel and hospitality industry
compatible with a ship? Find out what schools offer
degrees in this area.
6. Attend a maritime career day. Make a list of careers
available. Were there any surprises? What is the pay
scale for an entry-level position? What does a naval
architect do? |
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