March marks a special new beginning for Lake Champlain Maritime Museum! This month is the official start of a new partnership forged between the Museum and the AmeriCorps. My name is Erin Sward, I am a 22-year-old University of Connecticut graduate, and the first AmeriCorps volunteer to join the LCMM team. I couldn’t be more delighted! In the short time I’ve been here it has already become clear that LCMM is far more than just a museum. I am the start of another way the LCMM is expanding their capacity to serve students.
I am an animal science major, so this is an opportunity for me to go out on a limb and try something new. What drew me here was the ecology, and the opportunity to work with kids on environmental education outside of the classroom setting.
My position is to be an integral part of the Museum’s various innovative educational programs. I am looking forward to helping implement the new adventure oriented after school programs at Vergennes Elementary School. I also can’t wait to be in the boat shop this semester providing support to the team boat-building program. I get to help learning impaired students from the Diversified Occupations Program of the Hannaford Career Center build a 32-foot traditional 19th century design wooden longboat. I am ecstatic to be trained as both a coach and a coxswain to support the nine different High School rowing programs that have after-school practice every week and rowing events at LCMM to provide a physical fitness outlet right here on Lake Champlain.
By far I am most excited for the summer months to arrive so I can work as an educator at the numerous summer camps the LCMM has to offer. I’m thrilled to engage in tons of on-water and underwater programs in nautical archaeology and especially lake ecology. There are so many opportunities in the coming months and I hope to make an impact on how Lake Champlain Maritime Museum provides unique learning experiences for youth that they will always remember.