Zonta offering Inland Seas experience for local high school girls.

Zonta offering Inland Seas experience for local high school girls.

LUDINGTON — The Zonta Club of Ludington Area has offered opportunities for local girls to attend leadership and science programs in its 62 years working to empower women.

The Zonta Club of Ludington Area is sponsoring a three-day, two-night research-based program for two high school students who have a strong interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).  The Club will cover the $300 cost of the program for a female student in grades 8-12 from Mason, Lake, Oceana or Manistee counties. Transportation costs are not covered by the scholarship.

Participants will eat, sleep, and sail aboard the 77-foot long schooner Inland Seas while deeply exploring the functioning and health of the Great Lakes.  The schooner will travel out of Suttons Bay on Tuesday, June 18 and return to Suttons Bay on Thursday, June 20.

Participants will determine the thermal structure of the lake, and collect fish, plankton, water, and lake sediment for analysis. They will also record daily weather observations and report them to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

With this foundation in Great Lakes limnology research, participants collaborate to design and complete a research project on invasive species or other topics of interest. Participants will also use a professional remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to assist with collecting data for their research project. At the end of the trip, groups will present their research to family members, peers, and the general public who have gathered at the dock.

Shipboard life and the demands of sailing a traditionally rigged vessel are also important components of the experience. Students will learn boating safety, navigation, and sail handling. They will assist the crew with all aspects of vessel operation, including hoisting and handling sails, plotting and steering a course, helping in the galley, and standing watch. The shipboard experience builds personal leadership and cooperative teamwork skills.

Those interested in applying for this sponsored adventure should contact ludingtonzontaclub@yahoo.com no later than May 15.