Story

The schooner Appledore IV is owned and operated by BaySail, a 501(C) 3 non-profit corporation. Tall ship adventures aboard the Appledore IV further BaySail’s mission: “To foster environmental stewardship of the Saginaw Bay watershed and the Great Lakes ecosystem and to provide personal development opportunities for learners of all ages through shipboard and land based educational experiences.” BaySail’s environmental education program, Science Under Sail, begins and ends in the classroom with materials designed to prepare students for their sailing experience and reinforce the lessons learned while on board the Appledore IV. During the three-and-a-half-hour excursion, trained volunteer teachers lead small groups of students through hands-on activities including collecting and analyzing water, sediment, and plankton samples. Land use, maritime history, navigation, and weather observation are also discussed.  Since its founding in 1998, more than 44,000 young people have experienced a BaySail education program.  Appledore IV is also available for private charter to companies, organizations, and other groups of up to 48 people, and for weekend public sails from May through October.