Boatkids

May 24 2023

From Stormy Waters To Tranquil Shores: Discovering Hidden Anchorages

Carolyn Beginnings, Boat Life, Fears, Life Experiences, Sailing, Sailing Education, Traveling, Weather, Zen Beginnings, Boatkids, Boatlife, Education, Learning, Moving, Sailing, Travel, Traveling

Hey there, adventurers! We’re back with another fun tale from the sea. Our week-long stay on Cumberland Island is over, but fret not, we’ve got an incredible three-day journey to share with you. Join us as we sail northward, encountering stormy seas, breathtaking sights, and hidden anchorages along the way. Get ready for an adventure!

Jason enjoying the open ocean

Racing the Storm, Witnessing the MV Golden Ray

As we bid farewell to Cumberland Island’s peaceful shores, we set sail towards St. Simon’s Sound. The ocean welcomes us with a soothing breeze, creating the perfect backdrop for our voyage.

Osiris loves watching the waves

Little do we know that Mother Nature has a surprise in store for us. Dark clouds loom on the horizon, and a storm begins to brew. With hearts racing, we maneuver our way to an anchorage, hoping to find shelter before the tempest arrives.

Storm clouds gather on the horizon

Before we reach our safe haven on Jekyll Island, we spot a magnificent sight—an enormous wreck known as the MV Golden Ray. Due to a miscalculation in it’s ballast they started taking on water while heading out to sea. They chose to leave the channel and ground the boat in the shallows to avoid blocking the navigation channel. It’s a humbling reminder of the power of the sea.

The wreck of the MV Golden Ray

A Serene Passage and the Sand Mountain Hidden Anchorage

Our northward journey continues, now traveling inland along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). Unlike the storm yesterday, today is all about relaxation. We leisurely motor through the calm waters, taking in the scenery that unfolds before us.

Heading north up the ICW

The engine’s rhythmic hum sets the pace as we glide along. And then, like a hidden oasis, we stumble upon a remote anchorage we fondly call Sand Mountain. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen in Georgia—an island of sand nestled amidst the vast salt marshes.

Sunset in the Sand Mountain hidden anchorage

Embracing Morning Delights, Anchoring Under a Starlit Sky

The sun rises on the third and final day of our journey. We venture ashore on Sand Mountain, greeted by the warm morning light and the soft sandy shores. It’s a perfect playground for us to have some fun and explore.

Osiris checking out Sand Mountain as we approach

With sand between our toes, we bid farewell to this enchanting island and set our sights on new horizons. We motor up the ICW again. As the day turns to night, we navigate towards St. Catherine’s Island.

The boat heeling as we sail

Anchoring in the darkness poses a challenge we’ve never faced before. We navigate past bustling fishing boats to find a safe haven deep behind the island. Dolphins serenade us throughout the night, their playful calls whispering to us from the dark.

Deirdre enjoys driving the boat

Our three-day escapade from Cumberland Island to St. Catherine’s Island is a whirlwind of adventure, serenity, and unforgettable encounters. From racing against the storm to witnessing the MV Golden Ray and finding hidden anchorages, each moment reminded us of the untamed forces of nature and the sheer beauty that surrounds us.

Osiris enjoying the sunset by St. Catherine’s Island

Don’t forget to check out our YouTube page, where we’ve captured some moments of this incredible journey. And if you want to stay up to date with our daily adventures and exclusive content, make sure to connect with us on Instagram and Facebook and check out older posts here. So, my friends, let the currents carry you towards new horizons, and may every discovery leave a lasting imprint on your soul.

hidden anchorages and beautiful sunsets

May 17 2023

Uncovering The Secrets Of Cumberland Island: Georgia’s Hidden Treasure

Carolyn Boat Kids, Boat Life, Kids4Sail, Life Experiences, Minimalism, Traveling, Zen Atlantic Coast, Beaches, Boatkids, Cumberland Island, Ecosystem, Education, Georgia, Hidden Gem, Historic Ruins, Island Exploration, Learning, National Park, Natural Beauty, Nature, Remote Wilderness, Salt-Stunted Oaks, Tranquility, Travel, Traveling, Wild Horses, Wildlife

A Remote Wilderness

Cumberland Island is a hidden gem off the coast of Georgia. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we sail to this remote wilderness. The island can only be reached by boat, and with the ferries temporarily suspended, we are in for a unique experience. We find ourselves entirely alone, except for the incredible wildlife that greets us at every turn.

A rainbow off the bow, over Cumberland Island

On our very first night, we find the perfect spot to anchor our boat to the southwest of the island. We hop onto our dinghy and make our way to a sandy beach. The untouched beauty of the beach is awe-inspiring, with towering erosion banks and enchanting driftwood trees. Our kids have a blast on this natural playground.

Exploring the beach after the rain.

We later learn that the mud flats approaching that beach are an important part of the habitat and best left undisturbed, so we don’t land there again. Instead, we use a dock farther to the south for the rest of our explorations.

Ferry dock at the south end of the island.

Wildlife Encounters

During our week on the island, we see many creatures including: sea stars, deer, armadillo, manatees, countless birds, and the island’s famous wild horses. The kids even try to adopt some hermit crabs from the beach!

Deirdre watching the wild horses.

The island is home to around 150 horses, making it one of the few places in the United States where wild horses can still be found. They are believed to have descended from horses brought by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. The horses have adapted to the island’s unique environment and climate over time, becoming feral and thriving in the wild.

Wild horses wander the island.

Exploring the Island’s History

We stroll among the crumbling ruins of the island’s former mansions.. Several wealthy families built grand mansions on the island in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The isolation and harsh environment eventually made it difficult to maintain these large estates, resulting in their abandonment.

A bird flies over some ruins.

Today, no one lives on the island. The National Park Service manages Cumberland Island, which is now a protected national seashore.

Walking to the beach

The Unique Shapes of Salt-Stunted Oaks

We love the salt-stunted oaks that decorate the island with their unique shapes. The salt makes it difficult for the trees to absorb water, causing them to grow more slowly and with a distorted shape. The major branches of the trees tend to grow along the ground, creating a characteristic “candelabra” shape that is both beautiful and eerie.

Salt-stunted oaks decorate the island

A Beachside Adventure

One of the highlights of our trip is walking across the island to visit a beach on the Atlantic coast. We traverse past the important mud flats, salt-stunted oak forests, and towering palm trees before reaching the sand dunes and the Atlantic coast. Each of these habitats is vital to the island’s ecosystem. It’s a rare opportunity to be able to experience such a variety of habitats in one walk.

Osiris on the beach

Our time on Cumberland Island is incredibly grounding. The peacefulness of this place has a way of soothing our souls. And oh, the sunsets! They are absolutely breathtaking, painting the sky with vibrant hues of orange and pink. The isolation we experience here is a welcome break from the stress of the time. Cumberland Island truly is a hidden treasure, and we feel incredibly lucky to discover its magical allure.”

Rana in the anchorage.

We’ve created a video capturing some of the calm beauty of this trip, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. Join us in uncovering the secrets of Cumberland Island and experiencing the beauty and tranquility of this hidden gem.

Jason on the beach

You can also read about how we got here in our older blog posts and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for more updates and adventures.

Walking under the oaks.

We’ll be back with more exciting adventures soon! Until then, keep embracing the salty spirit, my friends.

Deirdre in the dinghy in the fog.

May 10 2023

Sailing Journey From Jacksonville To Cumberland Island

Carolyn Boat Kids, Boat Life, Sailing, Traveling, Uncategorized Adventure, Boating, Boatkids, Boatlife, Cumberland Island, Jacksonville, Moving, Nature, Ocean, outdoors, sailboat, Sailing, Travel, Traveling, Women Who Sail

Ahoy, friends! Gather around and let us tell you about our sailing journey from Jacksonville to Cumberland Island, from a while back. We bid farewell to Sisters Creek Free Dock and set sail into the vast, open ocean on a calm overcast morning in June.

Deirdre drives us out into the ocean.

Deirdre takes the helm as we head out of the inlet, but quickly having had enough of the sea spray and salty air, she promptly buries her face in a book.

Her Hermione is showing

Meanwhile, Osiris dutifully keeps watch on the waves, ever vigilant for any signs of sea creatures. Jason and I work together to hoist the sails and catch the wind, feeling the exhilaration build with each passing moment.

His favorite part of boating

We continue on, enjoying another day of sailing, taking in the sights and sounds of the ocean. Even Puppins, our furry first mate, takes a nap while we sail – is there anything more adorable than a dog snoozing on a boat?

napping pup, sleeping dogs, sailing journey

Princess Puppins takes a nap

As we sail into St. Mary’s Inlet, we can’t resist a stop at Fernandina. Even from the boat, we are greeted by some impressive mega yachts and a cruise ship on the horizon. We scan the area and find a good spot where we can anchor when we return at the end of the week for provisioning.

cruise ship, sailing journey, Fernandina

This one is a baby cruise ship!

As we continue north towards our intended destination, we suddenly hear a splash! Our foghorn has fallen off the boat! It had been a foggy morning when we left, and we needed it for safety reasons. Thankfully, we quickly spin the boat around and use our trusty boathook to retrieve it from the water.

The sails billowing, and the open ocean

Soon enough, we anchor at Cumberland Island for a week of adventure. But we’ll save those stories for another post – trust us, it involves mud, manatees, and wild horses!

Jason on the bow

Thanks for joining us on this trip down memory lane, friends. We hope you enjoyed reading about our adventure on the open ocean, and we can’t wait to share more stories with you soon. If you want to read more about our sailing trips, be sure to check out our previous posts here. And don’t forget to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to stay up to date on our latest adventures. Fair winds and following seas!

Jason and I at the helm

September 26 2019

Boatschool with a 4th grader and a preschooler

Carolyn Beginnings, Boat Kids, Boat Life, Homeschool, Life Experiences, Sailing Education 4th Grade, Boatkids, Boatschool, Homeschool, Learning, Plan, Preschool

This year we are homeschooling or boatschooling Deirdre who is in 4th grade and Osiris who is preschool age. We have been homeschooling since Deirdre was preschool age and have tried various different styles over the years but have primarily been relaxed homeschoolers or unschoolers.

We provide an environment rich in books, games and toys that inspire our kids imagination. They learn from everyday experiences and interactions. We spend a lot of time reading together and visiting libraries. We haven’t had formal lessons though we do sit down together to explore topics that some or all of us find interesting.

This style has worked really well for our kids at their young ages. With no regular or formal lessons Deirdre has learned most if not all of the standards through 3rd grade. She learned to read and reads voraciously. She has learned basic math up to multiplication. She makes up stories, poems, and songs. She enjoys hearing stories from history. She creates art on an almost daily basis and enjoys programming with Scratch and Scratch Jr.

We will continue to learn in this very relaxed style with Osiris for the next few years. We believe free play and self directed learning are the best means for brain growth and developing a love of learning, especially at early elementary ages. So what has changed with Deirdre?

Nothing. I find it very easy to organically interact and incorporate early elementary learning into everyday life. Over the past year or so I have struggled to interact with Deirdre as much as either of us would like (can you say toddler?) I have also struggled to incorporate higher levels of learning into everyday living.

At the end of last year we did an annual evaluation of 3rd grade, as required by local homeschool law. In preparing for the evaluation I could see that our learning typically bounces all over the place but it tends to revolve around certain regular subjects.

I identified 7 subjects; History & Cultures, Writing, Math, Science, Spanish, Art, and Coding. We will continue with these subjects and I think we will introduce Music this year.

To build on the themes we already like in a deeper way we are trying to add a bit more structure and intention to our learning, while still maintaining a playful learning environment.

For this year Deirdre and I sat down and discussed what her goals are related to each subject. She decided she would like to learn about; Europe, writing a fiction story, more math, chemistry experiments, art on her own, and she wants to do more programming with Daddy. Deirdre has no goals for Spanish or Music and so we will mostly explore them at Osiris’ level because she enjoys them.

Based on her goals I have set up a more structured linear way for us to work through the year. We already sit down and have some ‘school time’ after breakfast until about lunch time where we work together. We added this in third grade to try to add more structure to our days.

Building on that existing structure we have decided that we will do Math on Mondays. For Math we will be using Beast Academy Level 3 as our framework and adding games and math picture books that are relevant to each Chapter. When we get through level 3 we will work on Level 4. The Beast Academy guide books are one of the only curriculum’s we purchase. The presentation is fun and engaging and the math is presented in intuitive ways rather than by rote memorization. Even outside of “school” Deirdre and Osiris enjoy reading them for fun.

On Tuesdays we will work on story writing. Since I have learned a lot about story writing myself I have created a year long program for us to work through the stages of creating, writing, and revising a story. To supplement this framework we will use story dice and some pages from the Brain Quest 4th Grade workbook.

On Wednesday we will explore cultures and stories from Europe. We are starting with the United Kingdom because we have some friends who just moved to England. We will use picture books, the Atlas, and an Orboot globe to explore the countries. We read Story of the World and other chapter books from around the world at bedtime. We will watch the Spanish immersion show Salsa by Georgia Public Broadcasting. It is available for free online and provides an early introduction to Spanish with fairy tale characters. We will add Spanish books as they are relevant.

Thursdays are when we will explore Chemistry. This is the subject that has been most difficult for me to get my head around. I considered buying a subscription to Mel Chemistry because it is a monthly box with real Chemistry experiments already to use. It is some pretty serious science which is awesome but it is also expensive and we aren’t sure if Deirdre is ready for that level of learning yet. Right now she says she just likes mixing things to see what happens. So I have done a lot of research online and came across the website thehomeschoolscientist.com she has a page with links to Chemistry experiments at progressing levels of difficulty and so I am using that as our framework for the year. We are going to try to do one of those experiments most weeks (assuming I remember to get the supplies). We also have games like Chemistry Fluxx and Valence Plus to explore some more ideas.

Deirdre has one more goal for the year; that we should go to more fun places this year. We regularly visit the library and the park in the afternoons but this year we are going to add Field Trip Friday. In the morning on Friday we will play games. In the afternoon we will visit local museums, children’s museums, trampoline parks, and indoor playgrounds, or parks.

Hopefully this added structure and planning will help us add more depth to our learning. Our goal is always to make learning fun and meaningful.

These are our goals for the year and we have started to implement them as best we can. Homeschool is awesome because of it’s flexibility. So far this school year we have had: a hurricane, a business trip (we went with Jason) and have been sick for almost 2 weeks twice already…

Luckily even when school gets away from our plan for the year the kids always have a fun and educational environment to play in. They learn so much from self directed play and the planned structure for the year lets us know exactly where to pick up from when we get back to school!

August 28 2019

What Kind of Life is This for Kids?

Carolyn Boat Kids, Boat Life, Life Experiences, Minimalism, Uncategorized Boatkids, Boatlife, Education, Friends, KidBoat, KidsOnBoats, Learning, Life, Siblings, WaywardLearning

Boat work has felt all consuming lately. We have been working on the boat a lot. As I was looking at pictures for our last several blog posts it made me wonder, what kind of life is this for kids? Actually it is one that teaches competence and hard work… but that is another point. It is a different kind of life than we had in a house but it feels better.

The kids help with work on the boat sometimes but only because they want to help. We haven’t asked them to do any boat work, other than basic cleaning up after themselves, but we always try to make room for them to be involved when they want to be. They have seen how much we have been doing and sometimes it sparks their curiosity so they come over and want to help.

Though we have done a lot of it, boat work isn’t all we have been doing… In the same time period as all the work, the kids have learned a lot! Not just math and English but life skills.

Deirdre has learned how to swim, and swing across monkey bars. She has become more confident in who she is and what she can do. Osiris has learned how to swing. We have played in the ocean and cleaned up trash from the beaches. Osiris likes to save the world anytime she sees plastic on the ground or in the water now!

We’ve gone to parties. Met kittens. Made friends. Made friends with kittens 🙂 Both kids are a bit obsessed with cats. So we have been learning all about cats and kittens over the summer!

We have gone to children’s museums, parks and the zoo. We regularly visit libraries. The kids enjoy making friends with the librarians and participating in art programs and other activities like summer reading program. We have read LOTS of books! Though the kids do play on tablets and watch shows, we don’t make them readily available so when the kids are bored they either play or read books.

We have fed lettuce to the geese that live nearby and we have watched their goslings grow up. We have investigated ladybugs, snails, other water birds, frogs, lizards and so much more!

Virtually none of these learning moments came from a curriculum or even from stuff. Much of our learning grows organically from the things we do not the things we own. Don’t get me wrong the kids still have plenty of toys to play with but even the things we own are used differently on the boat.

We have had to narrow down the possessions in our lives by quite a lot to move onto the boat. The kids had to pick just their favorite toys to bring and they regularly go through what they have to decide what is worth taking up their limited space. This is teaching them to find what is most important to them and to weed out the clutter.

The kids have picked their favorite toys and now they often play with them for long periods of time. It helps that we mostly kept open ended toys like Lego, play food, dress up, and stuffed animals. These toys all allow the kids to imagine their own story. Imagination fuels play. Too many toys acts as a distraction and rather than engaging the imagination they shut it down.

While we have been busy getting the boat ready to sail the kids have learned to play happily with each other, sometimes for hours at a time. They have become much closer and really enjoy doing things together. They play with each other a lot more, even when we aren’t working on the boat. In fact as I was writing this post they were happily working together making fake poop out of mud…

I believe that having a small home is forcing us to do something that we never needed to in a house. We have to put thought and intention into everything we have and how we use it. If it doesn’t add value to our life or bring us joy we get rid of it. This is an ongoing process but it is one that the kids are learning to do also!

So what kind of life is this for kids? One that allows childhood to be simple and free from distractions. It is a life where we can engage in and enjoy life in more meaningful ways. You don’t have to live on a sailboat to live this kind of life but the smaller space has really helped us to see what really benefits our lives and what doesn’t. What activities or things in your life are causing unnecessary clutter and stress? Try getting rid of them!

October 1 2018

What Do We Do All Day?

Carolyn Beginnings, Boat Life, Sailing Education Beginnings, Boatkids, Boatlife, Education, Entertainment, Family, Homeschool, Kids, Moving

What is it like to live on a sailboat with kids? What do they do all day? These were some of our biggest questions before buying our boat.

We have had the boat for almost a year now and we moved aboard full time about four months ago.

We decided to do an interview with the kids so they can share their opinions of life on the boat so far…

Who are you? What can you tell us about yourself?

D: “My name is Deirdre Lynn Protzman but I like to be called Super Kitten or Mew Mews. I’m 8 years old and I like playing with dollies and doing crafts. And my favorite color is Yellow.”

O: “Baby Super Kitten. Red. My favorite color is red, because it goes with me. I am 2 years old.”

How do you like living on the boat?

D: “I love it and I love motoring but I’m scared of sailing.”

Why are you scared of sailing?

D: “Because I’m scared it will heal over a bit and also I’m probably scared because before I ever went on a big sailboat I went out on a little one with no motor and there was a storm on the lake we took it out on.”

How do you like living on the boat?

O:”By playing with toys.”

There is a lot of book reading on the boat

Do you miss living in a house?

D: “I miss like the open space and there is a house I used to live in that I miss very much but I like living on a boat more.”

O: “I do.”

What do you miss?

D: “Well there is a house I miss and I miss my friends because we had to move. I miss my friends and the places I knew because we had to move.”

O: “Katherine and Andrew and Windsor house. I miss Zeke.”

Riding bikes from a marina to a local park

What do you do for fun?

D: “Play with my dolls and play games. That’s what. I play.”

O: “Play with my toys.”

Investigating a local art display at the library

What is your favorite part of living on a boat?

D: “I don’t have a specific favorite but I like the handrails to climb on.”

O: “Dinghy rides”

What is your least favorite part?

D: “One of my least favorites is I miss my friends.”

O: “Winching without my gloves.”

How do you learn?

D: “By doing educational things.”

Like what?

D: “I was just playing Dragon box Algebra on a tablet and I was programming on a tablet and I read almost constantly sometimes.”

Trying to get Deirdre to stop reading and play more

How do you learn?

O: “By building train tracks.”

Favorite toys take turns on which one is out

What is it like living on a boat?

D: “It is different and the same. Similar in some ways but strange in others. Different from living in a house.”

O: “Not Anything.”

If you could tell future you something what would it be?

D: “That’s obvious it’s would be ‘something.’ If I were to tell future me something, it would be something.”

O: “Play Mario Kart”

If you could tell past you something what would it be?

D: “I wouldn’t travel back in time.”

O: “I don’t talk, while I’m a baby.”

Life is not about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain

Why do you live on the boat?

D: “Because we decided to move onto a boat and I like it.”

O: “Because I like boats.”

Where do you want to go on the boat?

D: “I want to sail under the golden gate bridge and I want to sail to Ireland.”

O: “Drop the dinghy and motor to the beach, and hop out and go to the beach, and you can bring your shoes, if you want toos.”

Like Deirdre said life on a boat is different but also the same. We read, play, go to the library, park and grocery store and sometimes we even play video games.

The difference is, now we live in a much smaller space. We do just about everything together as a family. We are all learning to be more courteous of others.

We have gotten rid of so much stuff. There is only space for the things that are really important to each of us. So we have all had to learn how to let go of the clutter in our lives.

The kids play together more often than before because there isn’t a whole house full of reasons not to.

We still have a long way to go but I think we are on a good path.