Built By Elementary Students, Bound For The Pacific: Kelso Students Christen Miniboats In Astoria (Photo) - 12/19/25

There was poetry, pageantry, and even the ceremonial breaking of bottles as fourth- and fifth-grade students from Barnes and Wallace Elementary Schools officially christened two student-built miniboats at the Columbia River Maritime Museum on Thursday, December 18.

The dual christening ceremony marked the culmination of 10 weeks of hands-on, multidisciplinary STEAM learning through the Miniboat Program, led in partnership with the museum’s education director, Katy Menne, and boat educator, Nathan Yeh. Throughout the project, students designed and built seaworthy vessels while diving into real-world learning connected to oceanography, environmental science, climatology, meteorology, navigation, map reading, naval architecture, and more.

At the celebration, students proudly shared their learning, recited original poems, toasted their vessels, and sent them off with well-wishes for safe travels—just as mariners have done for centuries.

The uncrewed miniboats—M/B Titanic Unsinkabear and M/B Survivor—are equipped with GPS tracking devices that allow anyone to follow their journey once they are launched into the Pacific Ocean. Next week, both miniboats will be delivered to the Buena Ventura, a bulk carrier sailing under the Panamanian flag. During the ship’s southern voyage, the miniboats will be released into the ocean, with tracking expected to begin in January.

Once launched, their journeys can be followed online at:

• M/B Titanic Unsinkabear: https://educationalpassages.org/boats/titanicunsinkabear/
• M/B Survivor: https://educationalpassages.org/boats/survivor/

“This experience brought learning to life for our students in a powerful way,” said Seth Peck, principal of Barnes Elementary. “They weren’t just studying science and engineering—they were applying it, problem-solving together, and seeing how their ideas could become something real that connects them to the world beyond our classroom walls. It’s the kind of learning students remember long after the project ends.”

Wallace Elementary principal Ray Cattin added, “The Miniboat Program gave our students a sense of purpose, pride, and possibility. They learned their curiosity, teamwork, and perseverance can carry their ideas far—sometimes even across oceans. Experiences like this help students see themselves as capable learners and explorers.”

Kelso School District has been fortunate to host the Miniboat Program multiple times thanks to a generous donor who wanted to bring the experience to local students. The program is offered at no cost to schools and is funded entirely through donations and grants.

Kelso students have a proud history with the program:

• In 2022, Wallace students built and launched Boat to Freedom. Its deck was later discovered in Hawaii by a man searching for his lost wedding band and now hangs in Julie Toney’s classroom.
• Barnes students launched Grizzly Bear in 2024, which last reported its location in March 2025.
• Wallace launched Wolverine in Spring 2025—and it is still reporting today.

Each launch connects classroom learning to the wider world, reminding students that their curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills can take them farther than they ever imagined—even across oceans.