While on an after school field trip at NESS with his elementary school, when it came time for the kayak program rotation, one of our students was a terrified to join his classmates in the water. He stayed behind on the dock to watch everyone else paddle, but it was the guidance of our Master Educator, Hulapopper, that helped him address his fears and get out on the water.

We started off by attaching his kayak to Hulapopper’s, while he was towed around without a paddle to get accustomed to the kayak, it’s balance, and movement in the water. From there, we progressed to a tow with his paddle, so he could learn how the  kayak moves. After a few laps around the dock, he decided he was ready to try kayaking on his own! With Hulapopper close by, he made his first solo paddle to Sunshine on the other side of the dock! By now, he was feeling confident and excited to join the rest of his classmates on their kayak expedition in Stonington Harbor!

When it came time for their sailing program rotation, this student was excited, eager, and ready to go! He was hopping in and out of his boat, going out for multiple trips, and helping the others come in on the dock! The sailing instructors had NO IDEA that he was terrified of the water not even an hour prior!

We are SO PROUD of him for overcoming his fear and turning it into a love for the water. The Personal Growth we saw in this student is one of our Core Values at NESS that we hope for every student who walks through our doors. Taking students out of their comfort zones is intentional for increasing students’ personal discovery, empowerment, confidence, perseverance, self-control, teamwork, and leadership skills, while also building connections between students, their communities, and a sustainable natural environment.