Twenty-five children from the reception class at St John’s journeyed to the picturesque port at the mouth of the River Dart to find out how it compares to their home town at the head of the Dart estuary.
While there they dropped into Dartmouth’s lifeboat station where they were shown the ropes by RNLI volunteers.
Teacher Sarah Mathys said: “Our ‘learning journey’ enquiry question this half term is ‘how does Sammy the Seagull’s home in Dartmouth compare to our home in Totnes?’
“It has a geography focus with the aim being to compare the physical and human features of Dartmouth and Totnes.
“I thought it would be good to come to the lifeboat station as Totnes doesn’t have one, and also I thought it would be interesting to talk about how the lifeboat goes up the river to Totnes too.
“The children made maps of their journey around Dartmouth and will use these to write a recount of their trip.”
Two helmsmen, one of the lifeboat crew, and one of the shore crew were on hand to show the children how the volunteers all work together to launch the lifeboat from the station at Coronation Park.
The lifeboat station houses the D class inflatable inshore lifeboat Dudley Jane, along with the tractor that tows her to the public launching slip by the Higher Ferry.
Sarah added: “The children were surprised how much life-saving equipment is carried on the small lifeboat and that there are no seats - the three crew kneel down on the bouncing lifeboat floor.
“They were shown the protective clothing that the crew wear, whatever the weather, and of course the controls on the special bright blue tractor Thomas.”
The lifeboat station is now open for group visits which can be booked through Kevin Murphy at www.dartlifeboat.org.uk