I was visiting friends in Aberdeenshire at the weekend as we were attending the Portsoy Boat Festival to represent Ocean Youth Trust Scotland. Before leaving to drive back home on Sunday I had a very interesting conversation with my hosts for the weekend, Pam and Stuart Cornwallis. I was talking about teaching the Nuclear Arms Race to my Higher class this week. Pam and Stuart suggested getting balls of various sizes and using these to demonstrate the changing technology and power that the Superpowers were developing at this time. I thought it sounded like a very good idea but was unsure about the logistics of the lesson.

Today I borrowed some table tennis balls, tennis balls and gym balls from a somewhat confused PE department. I laid out some plastic bottles on tables opposite each other to represent the Western Powers and the Soviet Union. Two pupils volunteered to act the part of firing the weapons. We started with the table tennis balls indicating the first atomic bombs. The pupils walked over to the opposing side representing the plane dropping the bombs. We saw that although damage was caused (some bottles were knocked down) the countries did still exist. We then moved on to the tennis balls which were thrown from the ‘home’ table demonstrating the Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). Again some more damage was done. Finally we threw the gym balls at the bottles which of course knocked down the lot (when the aim was on target). This was to demonstrate the theory of Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD). We then watched an episode of the Cold War series which introduced further the Arms race and the concept of MAD and the balance of terror that was created. I will now follow this with a more detailed look at the arms race but this seemed to work as a really great introducation to the topic. 

Thanks to Pam and Stuart for a great idea that I will further develop in the future!

It doesn’t seem very long ago that I was planning a sailing voyage on board Greater Manchester Challenge for 11 S2 and S3 pupils. The trip has now been and gone and we have already started the planning process for next years trip. We left Knox Academy on Monday 19th May and headed to Troon Yacht Haven to meet the 78ft Gaff rigged ketch that was to be our home for the next week. We were welcomed aboad GMC with a lunch of soup and sausage rolls. After a discussion on our aims for the week and all the relevant familiarisation and safety briefings we departed a plan to get to Campbelltown.  After alot of ‘feeding the fishes’ we arrived at Campbelltown where we stayed the night. The next day was another long sail round the Mull of Kintyre to Bowmore on the Island of Islay where we anchored for the night. Both days had been tiring for all the pupils so we made the descision to stay in Bowmore on the Wednesday. This allowed the pupils to have a look round Bowmore and go swimming. On the Thursday we left Bowmore at 7am to head back to Campbelltown. Due to weather and tidal conditions the sail took us 21 hours and we arrived in Campbelltown at 4.30am on Friday morning, just in time to watch the whole of Cambelltown fishing fleet leave - quite a sight to see! Friday morning was spent catching up on some well needed rest and buying goodies for the remainder of the trip. We left Campbelltown late afternoon to enjoy a short sail up the Mull to Carradale Bay where we played lots of games around the table. On Saturday we sailed up round the top of Arran and headed back down towards Troon before heading off to the beach to play rounders. We cleaned the boat on Sunday morning before leaving on the bus to go back to Haddington. A great week was had by all and I must thank my colleague Peter Doig for stepping in to help at the last minute.

Last week we were visited by Matt Roache from Ocean Youth Trust Scotland who delivered a very enjoyable presentation to both parents and pupil involved in the sailing trip. Matt explained what it would be like for the young people from the minute we arrive on the boat until we leave 7 days later. He showed some video clips including a snapshot of a typical voyage. This was a real eye opener to the pupils as they saw what life was like at sea from the people working on deck to people enjoying their time off watch by reading a book or chilling in their bunks. Matt also told the pupil about ‘Happy Hour’ which we will have every morning. This is when the music is put on and we clean through the boat.

I was really pleased when one pupil came up to me the next day and told me that he is even more excited (I didn’t think this would be possible!) than he was before.

I would like to thank Matt for braving the horrendous weather and coming into Knox to give a fantastic presentation.

My S4 classes are currently working through unit 3D of the Standard Grade Course. The course requires them to study events inside Germany from the end of World War One until Hitler is in power including his dictatorship. Kath Anderson, a colleague of mine at Knox Academy has very kindly allowed me to borrow her Hitler, the Rise of evil DVD. Robert Carlyle is excellent in the title role and brings to life the events in Germany. The pupils are really relating to the film and I highly recommend it to anyone teaching this unit.

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland has been named Sail Training Organisation of the Year by Sail Training International at its annual conferance held in Liverpool. OYTS was selected from organisations across 20 countries, recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding performance.

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland announced this week that they are to add a third boat to their fleet.

Further to discussions at the Gathering last weekend our Patrons, Curly and Barbara Mills have indicated that they are in a position to provide the necessary funds to support the purchase of another vessel from the BT Global Challenge fleet.
Following unanimous support from the last board meeting to support the purchase of another vessel, and the further generous support from our Patrons, we made an offer for one of the remaining vessels early this week, which has just been accepted.

Last year at this time Curly and Barbara Mills made another very generous donation providing the finance for OYTS to double it’s capacity by buying Alba Explorer an ex-BT Global Challenge boat. This proved to be a successful addition to the fleet. This third boat will again increase the capacity of the organisation allowing more young people the chance to experience Adventure Under Sail.

Congratulation to OYTS and a massive thank you to Curly and Barbara.

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland held their annual gathering this weekend. The gathering is a celebration held to mark the end of the sailing season. It is a chance for all the young people who have sailed with us throughout the season to meet up and have fun whilst learning more about the organisation. It also allows the voluntary Sea Staff, such as myself, to meet up with friends. For the past 5 years the gathering has been held at the Benmore Centre in Dunoon. However, this year the venue was the PGL centre at Dalguise. Having been at Dalguise just 2 months ago for the S6 weekend, I was very much looking forward to getting the opportunity to try out the activities again.

This time the activities offered to the group were raft building, trapese, initiative excersises, challenge course and absailing. Running alongside this was the OYTS organised events. During Saturday afternoon we were given presentations of various voyages that have happened throughout the year. The highlight undoubtedly being the video of this year’s Challenge Voyage, a circumnavigation of Ireland. It is great to see more and more of these presentations being made into DVDs. On Satudary evening we were treated to a ceilidh in the main hall which was a great success. The theme for the ceilidh was ‘Around the World’. The ceilidh was finished off with an excellent fireworks display.

I would like to thank the staff at PGL Dalguise for their hospitality and for organising the activities. In addition, I must thank Matt Roache and the other OYT staff for organising another successful gathering.

Ocean Youth Trust Scotland is a charity dedicated to giving young people, from all backgrounds, to experience ‘adventure under sail’. The trust runs 5 and 7 day youth work voyages for up to 12 youngsters between the ages of 12 and 24 on board one of their fleet of sail training vessels. OYTS relies heavily on over 200 volunteers who help to staff the boat, all are trained to a high standard.

This week I have been organising a trip on one of the OYTS’s boats for Knox Academy’s Activities Week in May next year. I was advised yesterday that the Southeasterlies support group, one of the regional fundraising groups based in Edinburgh, have agreed to donate us £1000 towards the cost of the voyage. This is excellent news as it will dramatically reduce the cost involved to the pupils. I would like to express my thanks to the Southeasterlies.

In return, a plug for the Southeasterlies who are having a quiz night in the Lothian and Borders Police Association Club on Thursday 18th October at 8pm. Entry is £5 per person. If you can make it, then come along and support this great cause and maybe win some fantastic prizes.