On November 4, Drew welcomed the One Ocean Expedition to San Francisco as the Norwegian tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl arrived in the Bay—one of just 23 ports on its worldwide voyage. The ship, which has been sailing for over a century, is currently traveling across three continents on a United Nations–supported mission to promote ocean stewardship, climate awareness, and global collaboration among young people.
The day began on campus, where our community gathered for an all-school assembly featuring Haakon Vatle, CEO of the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Foundation. He shared the purpose of the One Ocean Expedition: to unite people across cultures in learning about the state of our oceans and in taking collective action to protect their future. His message emphasized something our students know deeply—that meaningful climate leadership isn’t limited to scientists, lawmakers, or adults. Young people are already stepping up, building networks, and inspiring real change.
After the assembly, students from Climate Academy, Marine Science, and Broadcast Media traveled to the San Francisco waterfront to board the historic vessel. There, they participated in a ceremonial exchange centered on Message in a Bottle, the global climate education project born right here at Drew.
Message in a Bottle invites students around the world to research climate challenges in their own regions, connect their findings to personal or community stories, and then share those stories internationally. It’s a curriculum rooted in both science and the human side of environmental change—how climate impacts real people, real cultures, and real futures. The project has now traveled across oceans, classrooms, and languages, linking youth from different backgrounds in shared purpose. And it all began at Drew, developed by educators Mary Kerr (Science) and Talia Krahling (Social Studies), who saw the potential for students to learn not just about climate change, but through collaboration, empathy, and storytelling.
The ceremony aboard the ship was joined by San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Kirsten Hammelbo, Consul General of Norway in San Francisco, along with Drew educators, students, and international guests. Together, they honored the work students have done—and continue to do—to elevate youth voices in the global climate conversation. For many of our students, it was one of those rare moments when the classroom becomes something larger than itself—where what they’ve created in school reaches across borders, cultures, and oceans.
This moment didn’t go unnoticed. We’re proud to share that the event was covered by KTVU Fox News, ABC7, KCBS Radio, and recognized publicly by both the Mayor of San Francisco and the Norwegian Consulate. Their coverage highlighted something we already know well: Drew students are not only learning about the world—they’re shaping it.
Seeing our students step into a global role with confidence, curiosity, and heart is a reminder of why we do what we do. This was more than a field trip or assembly. It was a celebration of youth leadership, meaningful education, and the belief that change begins when we connect, listen, and act together.
Go Drew!!!
Take a look at the news coverage below to see how this moment resonated across our city and beyond
