Oct. 16, 2026
In September, Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC) students and faculty traveled to the Detroit River Story Lab for a hands-on learning experience aboard the tall ship Alliance. Coordinated through the Center for High-Impact Experiences (CHIE), the trip was made possible by the Transfer Bridges program and the Mellon Foundation, with Professor Lynn Prince serving as faculty lead.
Prince, who grew up fascinated by sailing, welcomed the chance to experience a vessel of this size for the first time and share the opportunity with students and colleagues.
“I grew up hearing stories about my great-great-grandfather, Captain Symmonds, sailing on Lake Michigan and was always fascinated by them,” Prince said. “Experiencing something like this is one of the beautiful things about GRCC. They offer so many opportunities for people to engage without carrying a financial burden. Some students had never been to Detroit before, and many of us had never been sailing.”
After arriving by charter bus, the group learned from a University of Michigan doctoral student about the Detroit River's history and its connection to the Underground Railroad.
“Learning about the history of the Underground Railroad was new to me,” said Theodore Moua, an architecture major in Prince’s English class. “Learning about how slaves escaped up to Michigan to cross into Canada helped me become more aware of the history of Detroit. I came back with more understanding of the different cultures around me. Taking the time to immerse yourself in new experiences opens up the chance to grow.”
Exploring History and the Environment
Through the Transfer Bridges program, a grant from the Mellon Foundation covered the cost of the trip, making it free for participants.
“I wanted to take advantage of a free trip like this,” said A. Hernandez, another student in Prince’s English class. “You don’t always get this kind of opportunity. Learning new things outside the classroom in a new way helps you gain more perspective.”
Aboard the sailboat, students rotated through five hands-on learning stations, including activities focused on water quality and the river's natural habitat.
“We discovered the impact of over-hunting on beavers and pollution on eagles, and observed plankton via microscopes during water testing,” Hernandez said. “It really gives you more empathy for the different living things around you. I came back to Grand Rapids with more understanding for our environment and other people.”
For Moua, seeing the Canadian border from the river offered a new perspective on the region's geography.
“Being on the sailboat was amazing,” Moua said. “The Canadian border was right there. It was only the Detroit River between us. You don’t always think about how close we are, so it was really neat to be on the boat and feel just how close we are to the border.”
Strengthening Connections
Beyond the lessons in history and environmental science, the trip helped students and faculty connect outside the classroom. Prince led this year's excursion after seeing Dr. Mursalata Muhammad’s experience leading prior trips for students to Detroit and Chicago. “Supporting Professor Prince as faculty lead was an intentional choice,” Dr. Muhammad said. “Leadership is about paying it forward and sharing the responsibility of leading. Sometimes that means stepping up to lead; other times, it means stepping back to support a colleague who is leading. I was glad to do the latter by going on the trip as well.”
“These experiences are powerful because we are really educating the whole student,” Prince said. “Experiences like this provide us with tools that connect classroom lessons to students’ lives and the world around us.”
Students also gained a new perspective on their instructor.
“In school, we’re limited to seeing Professor Prince as just our teacher, giving us this assignment or that assignment,” Hernandez said. “Seeing her outside campus gave us a chance to talk with her and share in the same experience. It felt more relaxed and helped us see we could ask her for help if we needed something.”
Moua said the experience strengthened his sense of belonging at GRCC.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Moua said. “The experience helped me feel more comfortable in my class. Getting out of the classroom made GRCC feel more like a community. You got to see your teachers and peers in a different light. I’m really glad I went.”
Hernandez said the trip changed how he viewed Prince as an instructor.
“I appreciate her more,” Hernandez said. “It brought a greater sense of safety to the classroom. Being on the trip with her, in a different learning environment, removed some limitations. Sometimes you feel like teachers just worry about whether you’re doing your assignments. But she really cares about you as a whole person.”
Bringing Lessons Back to GRCC
The Center for High-Impact Experiences creates opportunities for students and faculty to learn beyond campus, build connections and bring new ideas into the classroom.
“Opportunities like the Detroit River Story Lab challenge GRCC students to stretch outside their comfort zone, establish new relationships, and strengthen their leadership and problem-solving skills in new and exciting ways,” said Leanne Challa, coordinator of transfer and scholarly engagement with CHIE. “It’s also an incredible experience for faculty to be inspired by hands-on, place-based learning for their own classrooms. Whether they bring a lesson or learning station experience back to Grand Rapids or apply ideas from the trip to studies in the Grand Rapids area, we hope these opportunities will inspire classrooms in our own community.”
Prince plans to incorporate lessons from the trip into her next English 102 class, exploring local history and the connection between people and the land.
“I think sometimes we have a bit of a disconnect to where we live,” Prince said. “Here in Grand Rapids, we have this beautiful Grand River. As they’re bringing back the rapids, I want to stay mindful of what that signifies and dig deeper into the history we have right here.”
Visit the Detroit River Story Lab web page to learn more about the organization or visit the Center for High Impact Experiences web page to learn more about taking learning outside of the classroom.
This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell.