Take part in Whale University
“Whale University” is a program that offers children and adults educational and fun opportunities to learn more about whales and dolphins. The collaboration of efforts has resulted in a living laboratory that provides hands on learning activities as well as observations of whales in their natural environments. It offers individuals the opportunity to learn more about marine mammal research and protection as well as ocean conservancy and stewardship.
The Voyager III has become a mobile classroom with multi-sensory learning stations, including on-board multimedia displays showing whales in their natural habitat; life size infographics of whales and dolphins on her port and starboard sides; marine biologists who teach about whale behavior, social habits and migration; and the newest addition, a hydrophone that will be lowered into the water to listen to the whales. WDC is happy to have partnered with Boston’s Best Cruises for this endeavor.
“Whale University” can be found in the traditional classroom as well. Boston’s Best Cruises and WDC will be visiting local schools to teach students about many things they would learn on a whale watch without leaving their school. “We can’t bring a real whale into the classroom, so we have created interactive educational activities and a life-size inflatable whale that students walk through to learn about the life and habits of these gentle giants” said Monica Pepe WDC Program Lead.
Mike McGurl, principal at Boston’s Best Cruises was confident from the start about Whale University. “We knew Whale University was going to be a success, both in the floating and traditional classroom, with the scope of knowledge and resources that Boston’s Best Cruises and WDC have to offer. We are all acutely aware that many schools don’t have the budget for a whale watching field trip, so we took the whale watch to them.
The floating campus comes complete with a dining hall and store, aka the galley, which is stocked with snacks, sundries, and t-shirts. “This is such an interactive experience.” said McGurl. “We have many other surprises we are working on to further enhance the trip, especially for those wanting to know more about not only the whales, but the many facets of a marine sight-seeing operation. For some, Whale University is one of the most unforgettable experiences of their life.”
Reserve your spot on our floating classroom – it’s experiential, interactive, and breathes life into curriculum frameworks like no other field trip. Boston’s Best Cruises is a proud participant in Whale Sense, a program that recognizes companies committed to responsible whale watching practices and ocean stewardship. Whale Sense is offered by NOAA’s Fisheries Service, NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary and Whale and Dolphin Conservation. Learn more at Boston’s Best Cruises.