Waves, Wonder, and Worldwide Collaboration
On November 6th, 2025, middle school students from Morristown Beard School (New Jersey, USA), Barryroe National School (Cork, Ireland), and Senjahopen Skole (Senja, Norway) logged in from across the Atlantic for an extraordinary international Zoom gathering. What connected them? Not a textbook. Not a field trip. But a 1.5 meter school project turned ocean-crossing miniboat — the Crimson Current.
As screens flickered on, the excitement was immediate. Students waved eagerly, held up their national flags, giggled shyly, and smiled wide as they met their new friends from afar.
Special Guests from Around the World
MBS geography teacher Lisa Swanson joined the meeting live from Norway, where she was visiting Senjahopen Skole to strengthen this budding international partnership. She arrived with repair materials, a new sail, and heartfelt encouragement from students back home.
In perfect serendipity, Rory Jackson, an Irish educator and longtime supporter who helped rescue the Crimson Current in Barry’s Cove in 2022, also traveled to Norway and joined the gathering in person.
They were welcomed by Per Eilertsen, the heroic rescuer of the Current, who brought the miniboat to Senjahopen Skole. Students there eagerly opened the hatch and discovered letters, photos, and treasures sent from across the Atlantic.
Revisiting an Ocean-Spanning Adventure
Together, the group retraced the full arc of the miniboat’s transatlantic journey. After reflecting on the many adventures their shared vessel has taken, students exchanged insights about what they’ve learned, compared time zones and communities, discussed their unique relationships with the ocean, and asked questions of their peers in partner countries.
Curiosity Leads the Conversation
During the Q&A, students wasted no time asking thoughtful questions about science, culture, weather, and daily life. They also bonded over sports, school experiences, and even the surprises found inside the miniboat’s cargo hold. Some of the questions included:
“What do your schools do for field trips that involve water activities or the ocean?”
“If we came to your school, what would be a cool place you would like to show us?”
“Can you describe what life is like living in a countryside setting?” (asked of Ireland)
“What sports do you like to do in and out of school?”
“What was your favorite piece of memorabilia found in the miniboat?”
“Why did you decide to put a horseshoe in the boat as an artifact?”
“Does it snow in Ireland?”
“How is it living in Norway?”
“How often do you see the Northern Lights, and what is it like to see them?”
These exchanges opened the door to deeper cultural understanding and highlighted both the similarities and uniqueness of each community.
A Musical “Sea You Later”
Before signing off, students from Barryroe National School surprised the group by pulling out their tin whistles and playing a beautiful traditional Irish tune, they had been learning called “Maggie in the Woods.” It was the perfect reminder that shared learning isn’t only academic — it’s cultural, joyful, and wonderfully human.
A Promise to Stay Connected
The Zoom call wrapped up with students promising to stay in touch, collaborate on the upcoming repairs and relaunch, and keep exploring the world, the ocean, and each other’s cultures through continued conversation.
For every classroom involved, the project reinforced a powerful truth: global learning doesn’t require a passport — sometimes it starts with a little miniboat riding the waves.
Even the smallest vessel can:
✨spark international friendships
✨inspire curiosity
✨teach environmental awareness
✨bring ocean science to life in a real-world, hands-on way
✨show students they are part of a much larger world
As the Crimson Current prepares for its next chapter, its greatest journey may not be across the Atlantic, but between classrooms, communities, and the young explorers steering its story forward.
This meeting brought together students, teachers, and an ocean-spanning story that has carried curiosity, culture, and collaboration farther than anyone imagined.
For more information and to stay updated, visit: https://educationalpassages.org/boats/crimsoncurrent/
