Port Supports EMBARK Program With $17,000 Donation

By  //  January 17, 2014

provides experiences not possible in classroom

Canaveral Port Authority presentation to Brevard Schools Foundation: Pictured above are school district officials are from front left: Karen Henderson, Chairman of the School Board; Dr. Barbara Murray, immediate past chair and District 2 representative; Ryan Brandt with Brevard Schools Foundation; and Theresa Phelps, Brevard County Writing Resource Teacher, K-6, who helped the Port with development of EMBARK.
Canaveral Port Authority presentation to Brevard Schools Foundation: Pictured above are school district officials are from front left: Karen Henderson, Chairman of the School Board; Dr. Barbara Murray, immediate past chair and District 2 representative; Ryan Brandt with Brevard Schools Foundation; and Theresa Phelps, Brevard County Writing Resource Teacher, K-6, who helped the Port with development of EMBARK.

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Transportation to Port Canaveral for Brevard County third-graders is now a little easier thanks to a Canaveral Port Authority contribution of $8,515 – and a matching pledge from a Port tenant committed to community service, for a total of $17,000 to Brevard Schools Foundation for EMBARK.

A Canaveral Port Authority contribution of $8,515, and a matching pledge from a Port tenant committed to community service, totalled $17,000 for Brevard Schools Foundation for EMBARK. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)
A Canaveral Port Authority contribution of $8,515, and a matching pledge from a Port tenant committed to community service, totalled $17,000 for Brevard Schools Foundation’s EMBARK program. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

The Port curriculum-based EMBARK partnership between the Canaveral Port Authority and Brevard Public School includes web-based instruction that combines the resources of the Port with science, social studies, math, language arts, writing and technology lessons that meet Next-Generation Sunshine State and Common Core Standards.

EMBARK PROVIDES HANDS-ON FIELD EXPERIENCE

Upon completion of the classroom lessons, schools are eligible to visit the Port for a hands-on field experience and on-site lessons. The field trip includes Wild Ocean Seafood, Canaveral Lock, the Maritime Center and Jetty Park.

Tom Weinberg
Tom Weinberg

“Since 2009, we have hosted more than 8,000 children and many of their parents through our EMBARK program and we’ve had more than 8,000 hits on the website from more than 60 counties in Florida, 31 different states and 25 countries,” said Tom Weinberg, chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority Commission.

“The EMBARK website has been viewed by schools in China, South Africa, the Netherlands and Brazil. This partnership allows us to utilize the Port as a local and global classroom.”

ANONYMOUS PORT TENANT MATCHES FUNDS

During the 60th anniversary of Port Canaveral last November, the commission allowed reduced admission fees into the Exploration Tower for the weekend for those who contributed a food item. The food collected was donated to the Central Brevard Sharing Center to help families in need during the holidays.

Kassie Erenstoft
Kassie Erenstoft

The Board set aside the $8,515 collected in admission fees for EMBARK field trips. In a generous show of support for EMBARK, a Port tenant agreed to match the contribution for a total of $17,000 to ensure transportation funds are in place for the next several years.

“This generous commitment to education enriches our students academically and provides them with experiences they otherwise would not have access to in the classroom,” says Kassie Erenstoft, EMBARK Coordinator for Brevard Public Schools.

“We look forward to many more years of collaboration.”