Great Lakes Learning: Take to the lakes without a boat

As the author of Great Lakes Now’s Collection of Lesson Plans, educational consultant Gary Abud Jr. is now providing more support for parents, teachers and caregivers who want to incorporate Great Lakes learning into their time with children and students. His series of writings can be found HERE along with the lesson plans and a Virtual Field Trip.

As the weather has gotten warmer in the Great Lakes region, boats have come out of storage, and some of us typically get away for long weekends.

But this year will be different. Many people will stay home. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the water altogether, because you can tour the lakes even without a boat.

Using a combination of videos, maps, and interactive digital tools in our Great Lakes Learning collection, here’s how you and your young learners can see the Great Lakes from the comforts of your screen:

Navigate the Waters Yourself

Several of our activities allow you to take your time exploring the Great Lakes virtually. Allow your child to try out one of these opportunities, either alone or along with your help, to:

• Travel to a Great Lakes island—for dinner!
• Explore the sand dunes of southern Lake Michigan
• Use the gorgeous interactive stories of Google’s Voyager feature of Google Earth to explore the Great Lakes
• Learn what it’s like to sail across Lake Superior in the 2019 Trans Superior sailing race

Watch Great Lakes Now’s segment “The Newest National Park”:

Catch up on other helpful Great Lakes Learning lessons and tips:

Great Lakes Learning: Take a cruise and learn about the lakes

Great Lakes Learning: Water levels, currents and boating speed limits

Great Lakes Learning: Which is the best of the 5 Great Lakes?

Great Lakes Learning: Freshwater science for the youngest learners – Part 1

Featured image: Before the start of the 2019 Trans Superior Race, sailboats go through the Soo Locks. (Photo by Sandra Svoboda)