Boat Day

Boat Day Preparation

1. Bring a large lunch, snacks & extra drinks (no glass bottles please)

2. A change of clothes & a towel

3. Bathing suit with shorts and shirt on top is suitable attire for launching

4. All children need something on their feet at all times on the beach and in the water -- jellies, boat shoes, etc. are appropriate or old sneakers, slip-ons, etc.

5. Sunscreen

6. Extra clothes - sweatpants, sweatshirt, should be brought along also as the children do get wet.

Schedule - to be announced

Back to Top

History

The first milk carton boat, Dragon I, was the result of Susan reading an article in 
Ranger Rick on the Minneapolis annual Milk Carton Derby. The article, besides 
describing the spectacular boats built for the derby, also detailed the mechanics of 
waterproofing milk-cartons, numbers needed in relation to weight of passengers, etc. So the collection of milk cartons began and in a relatively short time we had 300 and the end of the school year was close. We built a basic raft and covered it with a saran-wrap type plastic covering (donated by a Mom whose business involved plastic wrapping). A quickly made dragon-head painted on cardboard and hand-held completed Dragon I � which was transported aloft Susan�s station wagon to Crystal Pond on Middle Road. The next hour was a fun-filled time as the older kids ferried groups back and forth across the pond until an arrogant policeman arrived demanding to know if we had a permit to sail the �boat�. Susan said �No�, apologized profusely and asked about applying for a permit, to which the policeman replied, �It�s no good applying, you won�t get one�. 
During this conversation the last group had set off to paddle across the pond. The 
policeman demanded they be called back, but due to Susan�s soft-spoken voice they didn�t hear her until they had reached the other side!

We decided that the next boat should be sailed elsewhere. Dragon II was built at school by Middle classers and launched on a September day trip to Bass River. This boat was a basic raft shape but also sported milk carton seats (on the back), a dragonhead cut from plywood and painted (on the front), and passenger held umbrellas against rain or sun. 
After the launch and several hours of sailing, Dragon II was dismantled and deposited into a large number of garbage cans at the beach. Only the dragonhead returned to school.

Inspired by the lack of interference at Bass River, the next year the Middle class 
decided to take the milk cartons on the camping trip and build the boat there. 700 milk cartons were collected and transported to Bass River along with all the usual camping paraphernalia. An elaborate raft was constructed outside the cabins with seats and sides and still sporting the dragonhead and was hauled across Abesegami Lake by hundreds of feet of rope until it was safely in the swimming area of the lake. This time Rangers expressed concern about the boat and its lake-worthiness (No, it does not have the good-housekeeping seal of approval!) and would only let it be used in the restricted area with someone holding the rope. No matter, it made for a day of fun for all.

A couple of years elapsed and by then we had established a Columbus Day tradition of protesting the traditional image of Columbus the hero and trying to draw attention to the viewpoint of the Native Americans.

The fourth milk carton boat (no longer a dragon by name) � a spectacular 1,000 milk carton replica of the Santa Maria was built in sections, transported to a riverside dock, assembled and sailed on the Navesink by �Native Americans�. This provided much newspaper coverage for the New School and some great pictures, some of which have been used for our handbook, etc.

A request from the students for individual boats for the following year coupled with 
Jay finding an article in Scholastic Magazine on students in San Francisco building 
individual canoes from a sheet of cardboard and tape prompted the 1994 Columbus Day launches. Over a period of weeks the boat groups (one each from Older, Middle and Younger class plus a helping teacher or parent) planned their boat design and worked on �one person� boats to be launched in the Bay. Many of the boats used milk cartons but were not restricted to them. We even had a parent meeting at which we made each small group design and make a model boat). Despite Columbus Day being overcast and the water choppy and a little cold, 14 boats were launched in the Raritan Bay (3 times each so each �builder� could have a ride). Columbus would probably have questioned our �sea worthiness� as much as the Bass River Park Rangers or the Middletown policeman, but no one bothered us and it was a soaking, exhausting and exhilarating day.

Believe it or not, we are still launching in the Raritan Bay � can it really be so many years of boats? We moved back from Columbus Day to mid-September and Boat Day preparation is our first school activity of each school year. Our boat day is official with the Parks System and an annual event parents schedule on their calendars. They join us to picnic and take pictures. And some even brave the waters to help with launchings!

And milk cartons continue to be collected . . . 

Boat Day Press Releases

Back to Top