From April to October we run educational sessions for pupils from local schools. These are ‘hands-on’ trips. The children can steer the boat, conduct safety drills, look out for wildlife, dip their hands in the water and see the warships. This gives them an opportunity to learn more about historic Plymouth and its maritime environment.
The activities are flexible and can be matched to curriculum requirements such as History and Geography. Maths (time & distance) and Science (weather, aerodynamics and geological applications) are also possible and can help to make learning fun, practical and effective.
The children sail in our fleet of Hawk 20 keelboats, along with their school staff, supervised by experienced Horizons people.
We can also run these trips onboard our Mitchell 31 powerboat. (She was named ‘Friendship of Plymouth’ by local children.)
The children can be collected and returned to the schools by our minibus and are away from school for approximately three hours per session.
These trips take into account weather and tidal constraints. They give children an opportunity to see their city from another perspective; learning about Plymouth, its history and its importance as a port for the Royal Navy.
Where do we go?
If we are sailing in the Hawk 20s, we will start out in the River Tamar and usually head out into Barn Pool by Mount Edgecumbe and perhaps go round Drake’s Island and out into Plymouth Sound.
If we are in the big powerboat we can go further afield and maybe up to the Saltash Bridge and beyond.
