Throughout the past year, students attending VOA High School, a contract alternative program serving Minneapolis Public School students, had the opportunity to participate in a canoe-building class led by Jim Dagget. Jim, a former VOA High School Social Students teacher who now works for Minneapolis Public Schools as a District Program Facilitator for Contract Alternative Schools, guided students through each step of the canoe-building process.
The high schoolers collaborated to construct a canoe from the ground up. They worked together to create the wooden frame structure, and then stretched nylon over the canoe’s skeleton, carefully sewed each stitch and waited patiently for the polyurethane to dry, all while planning an epic canoe launch.
On the morning of the canoe launch, it was confirmed that “It’s a go!” as the waters of Lake Nokomis remained ice-free. The crisp air and bright sunlight greeted students as they carried the canoe down to the shoreline, donned their life jackets, grabbed paddles, and received a brief tutorial and encouragement from Jim.
As the students settled into the canoe, we all wondered out loud, “Would it float?” YES! With one push off the shore, they set about on their maiden voyage. As they paddled away from shore their confidence grew with each stroke, and they quickly mastered steering as they headed towards open water. Wendy, Director of VOA High School, and Mark, English Language Arts teacher, were also present at the launch. After a few more turns on the lake (by ALL), the special morning was commemorated with conversation and hot chocolate.
It’s truly amazing to see what our students accomplished as they took ownership of this project from start to finish. We are especially proud of their hard work, the relationships they have built, and are excited to walk alongside our students this year as they explore new horizons and embark upon their next adventure.
