The students of CE2 and CM1 at Keribin School in Ploudalmézeau, accompanied by some parents and their teachers, experienced an extraordinary day on Monday, March 30, 2026, in Brest. They were welcomed aboard the majestic three-masted Norwegian ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl, which was in port from March 27 to March 30.
This iconic sailboat is currently sailing the oceans as part of a worldwide tour dedicated to raising awareness and protecting the seas. “It echoes the work done by the students,” explained Christelle Nicolas, a CE2 teacher.
“I offered them the chance to deepen their discovery”
This exceptional visit was made possible by the initiative of Lucie Cassarino, one of the scientists on the ship, who happens to live in Ploudalmézeau. Eager to share her passion locally, she said, “I found out that the students followed the scientists of the Under The Pole mission in December 2025 and January 2026. So, I offered them the opportunity to deepen their discovery by boarding the Statsraad Lehmkuhl.”
Thanks to this local connection, they are the first French students to have had the privilege of boarding the ship as part of its current mission.
“We can all take action”
During a poignant moment of the visit, the children handed the captain a message of hope and commitment in a bottle to the sea: “We can all take action, big or small, small gestures or big gestures; all are actors in preserving our beautiful planet,” they wrote. Alongside Lucie, they learned about the daily life of the crew and the scientific challenges of the expedition. They also discussed ocean protection, sparking potential future interests. “It’s an extraordinary experience, we are really lucky,” the students rejoiced in unison.
