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Drew School Educators Help Launch United Nations-Supported Global Climate Education Project
Norwegian tall ship and UN Ocean Decade ambassador “Statsraad Lehmkuhl” to dock in San Francisco November 4–7, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO (October 20, 2025)--Drew School educators are partnering with a global ocean literacy movement recognized by the United Nations. Faculty members Mary Kerr (Science) and Talia Krahling (Social Studies) have developed the educational curriculum for Message in a Bottle, an international learning initiative that connects students across continents through climate education and activism.
The Message in a Bottle project is part of the One Ocean Expedition 2025–2026, a 12-month circumnavigation aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl—a floating ambassador for the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Combining sail training, ocean research, and education, the expedition aims to raise awareness about the crucial importance of the ocean for a sustainable future.
In April 2025, Kerr and Krahling traveled to Bergen, Norway to help officially launch the One Ocean Expedition and the Message in a Bottle project, meeting with international educators, scientists, global leaders, and organizers, and working with Norwegian high school students to create the first contributions to the project, setting the curriculum in motion and launch the ships’ voyage.
As the Statsraad Lehmkuhl sails around the world, it serves as both a training vessel and research platform, linking students, scientists, and educators through shared inquiry and action. The ship will arrive in San Francisco from November 4–7, 2025, marking a major stop on its global voyage.
On Tuesday, November 4, Drew School will host a special ceremony and student event to welcome the ship’s arrival. During the event:
● Drew students will present their Message in a Bottle contributions—ranging from scientific analyses to creative reflections.
● The symbolic message bottle will be passed to continue its journey across the globe.
● Students will tour the Statsraad Lehmkuhl and meet with the crew.
Earlier in the morning, Haakon Vatle, CEO of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation and Expedition Leader of the One Ocean Expedition, will visit Drew School and will speak to the Drew community about the project’s mission and impact.
“This work with One Ocean has been the highlight of my 40-year career as an educator,” said Mary Kerr, Drew science teacher and co-author of the curriculum. “The Message in a Bottle project has made our Climate Academy curriculum go global. It empowers youth to use their voices to drive change—and that aligns perfectly with Drew’s mission of developing individual voice, the confidence to express it, and the empathy to understand its impact.”
Drew’s Climate Academy and Marine Science students were among the first in the world to contribute to the project. Their work—spanning scientific reports, historical and cultural research, personal reflections, and creative media—will be showcased both aboard the ship and on the expedition’s official website.
In April 2026, student projects from around the world—including Drew’s—will be presented at the One Ocean Week closing gathering in Bergen, Norway, before an audience of political leaders, scientists, United Nations representatives, and climate activists. This global stage gives students an extraordinary opportunity to have their voices heard and to influence conversations about the ocean’s future.
The Message in a Bottle curriculum, developed by Drew School, provides free, adaptable classroom resources for middle and high school educators worldwide. These include lesson plans, interactive activities, and writing prompts that invite students to explore ocean sustainability and share their voices globally.
“It’s incredibly powerful to see students from around the world connected through the shared language of science and storytelling,” said Talia Krahling, Drew social studies teacher and project co-author. “When students think beyond the classroom, beyond individual academic disciplines, and beyond borders to understand the ocean's impact on their lives, they better understand their potential to make a difference, and the power in collaborating to do so.”
The One Ocean Expedition brings together scientists, activists, organizers, community members, and students to transform ocean knowledge into global action. As it travels between 27 ports on three continents, the Statsraad Lehmkuhl serves as a living classroom—turning research into real-world education and inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards.
To learn more about Message in a Bottle and Drew’s involvement, visit https://www.oneoceanexpedition.com/message-in-a-bottle.
About Drew School
Founded in 1908, Drew School is an independent high school in San Francisco known for its innovative, student-centered approach to education. With a strong emphasis on experiential learning, creativity, and community, Drew empowers students to think critically, engage deeply with real-world issues, and discover their unique voices.
Many of the students involved in this project are members of Drew's Climate Academy, which is an interdisciplinary opportunity for 9th graders that links the study of biology and world history through the environment and climate change.
About the One Ocean Expedition
The One Ocean Expedition 2025–2026 is a year-long circumnavigation aboard the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, serving as an official ambassador for the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). Combining sail training, ocean research, and education, the expedition seeks to inspire action and foster global collaboration for a sustainable ocean future.
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