Youth Program
for Children
Target age: 7 to 12 years
The following program is geared to children that attend summer programs run by local non profit organizations. Time line of program is July - August. In summer 2006 in NYC, this program reached a demographic of predominately low income children.
Goals
Our specific goals are to introduce children ages 7 to 12 to the rich
history of our waterfront in a fun, informative setting, while teaching
children the importance of our working waterfronts in relationship to
our global economy.
In House Program
In the summer of 2006, the WHC implemented a program that combined in
class workshops followed by a two hour boat tour of the working waterfronts
of NY/NJ. WHC members visited community organizations to talk to the
children about shipping vessels, containers and containerization and
the impact of the maritime industry in our global economy. A Lego model
of a Maersk container vessel was used as a learning tool - all groups
had a chance to assemble the Lego model and then participate in an interactive
workshop on the role of container vessels and containerization.
As part of the workshop, children were asked to guess the contents of the containers - responses solicited from the children ranged from toys to clothes to electronic games to cotton candy! The role of port terminals were discussed, combining the role of tugboats and container vessels.
Water Tour
These workshops were followed by a two hour boat tour of the working
waterfronts of NY/NJ. All involved were given a workbook depicting pictures
of objects and sights they may see on the tour- included were pictures
of tugboats, container vessels, port terminals and barges. All children
were asked to check off pictures of objects they saw, while volunteers
worked with the children to answer questions or assist in identifying
pictures in the workbook.
Guest lecturers were invited on all the children tours - representatives from McAllister Towing, PANYNJ, New York Container Terminal and the Army Corps of Engineers were among the participants. In addition to pointing out sights in the harbor, the guest lecturers talked about the types of jobs afforded in their industry.
A tour of a port terminal would be included in future programs.
Click here for photos from our August kids tour
Children showing a model container ship from a kit supplied by Maresk, Inc.
A scene from a special Hidden Harbor Tour(r) for children, thanks to Circle Line.