A Story of Our Own: From Finder to Builder

Season 4 of the Educational Passages Podcast continues with our "Imagine This" series — where the magic of miniboats comes alive through the voices and visions of those who make it all possible.

Each episode will paint a vivid picture of discovery, connection, and curiosity — not just tracking the voyages, but exploring the challenges and unexpected outcomes behind them.

Now press play, close your eyes, and imagine this:

What happens when a person that finds a miniboat decides to help build one? Since 2021, Fishery Officer Brittany Jay has answered the call when student-built miniboats wash up along the rugged coast of Newfoundland and Labrador — first the BHS Roweboat from Rhode Island, and P.I.E. on the Tide from Maine. Each recovery sparked classroom connections that stretched across borders, and a new question began to take shape: what if students here could be the ones launching, instead of relaunching? This episode follows Brittany's journey from finder to builder, the partnership with Avoca Collegiate and the Qalipu First Nation in Badger, and the unforgettable day a small community gathered to unveil the Newfie Crew 709 — a boat, a dream, and a story now ready to set sail.

Visit educationalpassages.org/boats/newfiecrew709/ for more information about the boat and project, as well as educationalpassages.org/boats/bhsroweboat/ and educationalpassages.org/boats/pieonthetide/ for more about the other boats mentioned in this episode.

Transcript

Welcome To Educational Passages

SPEAKER_02 0:07

Welcome to the Educational Passages Podcast. Educational Passages is a nonprofit organization that seeks to connect people around the world to the ocean and each other through unique global experiences. I'm your host, Cassie Stymist. Welcome everybody to Season 4. Get ready to set sail on a brand new adventure as we launch our Imagine This series, where the magic of mini boats come alive through the voices and visions of those who make it all possible. In this series, each episode will paint a vivid picture of discovery, connection, and curiosity, not just tracking the voyages, but exploring the challenges and unexpected outcomes behind them. Now press play, close your eyes, and imagine this.

A Mini Boat Washes Ashore

SPEAKER_02 0:53

You're a fisheries officer in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Your days are spent along the coast and out on the water, patrolling, checking, doing the work the job calls for. You know these waters. You know what belongs and what doesn't. So when a phone call comes in one day back in 2021 about something that has washed up, something small, something built by students that sailed in from New England, you go and take a look. A 40-minute boat ride from Conn River takes you directly to the coordinates provided by educational passages. It's a little sailboat, about a meter and a half long, no crew, no engine, driven by the wind and currents and tracked by GPS. That's where the coordinates came from. It sailed all the way from Rhode Island, USA. It's the BHS rowboat. You bring it back to the office and share it with nearby schools. The students there and in the US get to meet on Zoom. You keep sharing with schools, and eventually the boat goes to Fogo Island for an upgrade before getting relaunched. Then, fast forward to summer 2025, when it happened again.

From Finder To Boat Builder

SPEAKER_02 2:06

Another mini boat from Maine this time finds its way to your coast. So you venture out once again on your patrol boat with a new crew this time towards a new set of coordinates. After almost an hour, you spot the pie on the tide nestled on the rocks in the back of a cove. It was perfectly placed, just waiting for you. You bring it back to the office and again help schools and students connect. But this time you now wonder, what if our students could do this too? What if a school here could be the one building the boat, filling the cargo hold, launching it instead of relaunching it? Their story goes out into the Atlantic. So you make it happen. You find the funding and arrange for the kit to be delivered. You find a school in Badger, the Avoka Collegiate, and you partner with the Halapu First Nation, and you get to work. You and the students build together. You learn about boat structure, ocean currents, and what makes a little vessel cross an ocean. You fill her with letters and trinkets and pieces of the community. You decorate the sail and deck. You all name her the Nufie Crew 709. And then came the day to unveil her. This is the story of that day, told by the person who lived it, Britney J, fishery officer, mini boat finder, and now mini boat builder and mini boat captain.

The Big Reveal Of Nufie Crew

SPEAKER_01 3:32

After a few sleepless nights, it finally arrived. The big day. The day we had all been waiting for. Excitement lingered as seats filled one by one, buzzing with anticipation. Parents, grandparents, family, friends, and community members gathered together, eager to witness the result of months of hard work. Even the local news was there to capture the moment. All at once, a hush settled over the crowd. For a moment, all was still, until the unmistakable sound of evil day broke the silence. As the lyrics echoed through the gymnasium and the all-too familiar rhythm filled the room, she made her grand entrance. The Nuffie Crew 709 emerged through a glistening curtain before the crowd, escorted by the words Banvoyage, trailed by her captain and crewmate, guided by her builders. After weeks of careful planning, whispered conversations, hidden details, the secret was finally revealed. Cheers erupted from every corner of the gym. Heads turned, cameras flashed, videos were taken, as people all stretched for a glimpse as she made her way through the sea of smiling faces. Parting a wave of no water, but of excitement, support, and admiration for the job well done. In that moment, every hour of effort, every challenge overcome, and every personal touch could be seen. She was more than a boat. She was the story of a school, a community, a partnership, a shared journey. Completing her voyage around the gymnasium, she was carefully placed upon her pedestal, where all could admire what had been accomplished. Then came the stories, the reflections, the words of gratitude and pride, and finally the christening. As the ceremonial blessing was bestowed upon her future travels, confetti cannons thundered overhead, filling the air with color and celebration. And in that moment, surrounded by cheers and applause, we knew the Nufi Crew 709 was ready. Ready for the next chapter, ready for the open ocean, ready for the adventure ahead. As with any celebration, we gathered around the table and shared a feast. Conversations filled the room with stories we told and imaginations wandering toward what lay ahead.

Risk, Wonder, And What Comes Next

SPEAKER_01 5:51

The ocean is an unforgiving place, a place where nothing is guaranteed. Storms roll and waves crash, winds change and current shift. Every voyage that sets sail carries its own uncertainties. But as we close this chapter of our story, there is one thing we know for certain. A lot of smiling faces left that gymnasium that day. And a lot of little hearts left full, knowing they had been part of something much bigger than themselves. A boat was unveiled, a voyage was set in motion, and a small school from a small community came together to launch a dream.org slash support.

Support And Subscribe

SPEAKER_02 6:47

If you're enjoying this program, please consider subscribing to the podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or from wherever you download your podcasts. Thanks for listening.