On Friday, September 19, the two classes of CE2 from Juan-les-Pins had the chance to participate in “School at the Port.” During this morning, the students had the opportunity to discover port professions but also, and most importantly, to be made aware of environmental actions.
At ten o’clock, the port of Antibes-Gallice welcomed the two CE2 classes from the primary school Guillaume Musso of Juan-les-Pins. Upon arrival at the port, despite the overwhelming heat, the students and their chaperones were immediately taken to various workshops. The schoolchildren were divided into small groups to participate in the six workshops for about thirty minutes each. They learned about plastic cap recycling, nautical knot tying, marine wildlife awareness, and had a workshop with Antibes sea rescue volunteers…the young students, accompanied by their teachers, enjoyed a half-day filled with discoveries at the port.
An Introduction to Rescue
Two volunteers from the SNSM (National Sea Rescue Society) explained the different lifeguard roles during the morning. Boat rescuers, lifeguard swimmers, the association trains volunteers wishing to engage. Then, the children witnessed the deployment of a life raft, described as “quite impressive and a bit loud because they pulled on a cord and the suitcase exploded and the raft came out” by the present children.
The volunteers introduced the items found within it: oars, sea anchor, life jacket, distress flare, first aid kit… However, the highlights of this unique workshop were the water and the survival cake that the students and their chaperones got to taste, “for a survival cake, it is one,” exclaimed a student’s mother, describing the special taste of this food.
The “attraction” that was unanimously appreciated by the children during this trip to the port Gallice was discovering a fishing boat. They had the chance to board the moored vessel while the fishermen tried their best to explain their activity to the excited students facing this unusual workshop.
Workshops Conducive to a Vocation
Imran, at the age of eight, is already certain of his future career: “I already knew that I wanted to be a sea rescuer/diver but with school at the port, I’m sure now. The fishermen taught us a lot of things, but I already knew a lot too.”
A vocation may have been revealed or reinforced in the children thanks to this morning at the port, and for the teachers, the initiative is supported, “it is important to make children understand that they are lucky to live by the water and therefore it is imperative to preserve this marine environment.” Likewise for the parents, “we will ensure to continue this marine environmental education at home.”
