Wednesday, August 13th at 6 p.m. peer mentors Theo, Wyat, Liam, and STEM Success Coordinator were set to meet the Summer Bridge students outside the Dow Environmental Sciences and Engineering Building for a sailing trip. While waiting for the group, Theo, Wyat, and I spotted Dereck, one of the Summer Bridge students, relaxing with his eyes closed on a nearby picnic table. As we waited a few minutes past the scheduled time. The three of us chatted casually about our weekend plans. The rest of the students soon arrived from Wadsworth Hall, saying they’d been looking for Dereck in the dorms.
Under the warm afternoon sun, we walked across the back of Michigan Tech’s campus toward the riverfront. Members of the Sailing Club were waiting by the water, ready to introduce the students to sailing. With sails fluttering and gentle waves lapping the shore, the students began learning the basics of navigating the wind and water. While they waited their turn to sail, a club member demonstrated how to tie nautical knots. Summer Bridge students Izzy and Kattie asked me to take candid pictures of them on the sailing boats. Afterward, as students took turns on the water, some decided to take a dip. Three of the Summer Bridge students, Anthony, Darren and Mateo decided to see who could swim the farthest and swam out to the middle of the lake and back to shore