ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard and Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria continued the Adopt-a-Ship program at Tongue Point, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013 by hosting two sixth grade classes from Hilda Lahti Elementary School in Knappa, Ore., aboard Cutter Fir.
Students toured the cutter and learned about many of the unique challenges that come with working and living aboard a buoy tending vessel.
Students were given hands-on experiences with heaving lines, moving heavy chain, cooking in the galley, wearing firefighting gear and using firefighting equipment.
The Adopt-a-Ship program in Astoria is sponsored by the Columbia River Maritime Museum and provides local school children with education and experience aboard Coast Guard Cutters Alert, Fir and Steadfast in Astoria.
Fireman Corrine Ketzlick (left) and Petty Officer Michael Hernandez, Coast Guard Cutter Fir crewmembers, prepare Brett Spoorseen, sixth grade student at Hilda Lahti Elementary in Knappa, Ore., to fight an imaginary fire aboard the vessel, Feb. 21, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn
Nathan Hoikka, Mikie Bussard, Katie Patterson and Josh Fulton, sixth grade students at Hilda Lahti Elementary School in Knappa, Ore., take turns throwing heaving lines near Coast Guard Cutter Fir at Base Tongue Point in Astoria, Ore., Feb. 21, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn
Lt. j.g. Jonathan Lang (left) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Alan Dumville, crewmembers aboard Coast Guard Cutter Fir, explain some of the buoy tender’s controls to sixth graders Kacie Klein and Katie Patterson (right), aboard Cutter Fir in Astoria, Feb. 21, 2013. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn
