Gary Whiteley

​Two Voyages About How People Facing Sea-Level Rise Navigate Uncertainty in the Future​

The themes in Sailing Toward Horizon were informed, in part, by the idea that navigating the consequences of sea-level rise will require people to adapt to an uncertain future.  As three coastal regions from Canada and the United States confront the growing realities of climate change, five internationally respected maritime leaders embark on a five-day leadership voyage aboard the RV Smart Ports, guiding scientists, harbor authorities, emergency managers, commercial fishers, engineers, and community leaders through an immersive journey where trust, communication, adaptability, and shared purpose become the keys to protecting both people and the places they call home.

 

Sailing Toward a Hopeful Future focuses on seven respected maritime leaders and their need to respond to feedback from the three coastal teams and adjust the materials used on the initial voyage described in Sailing Toward Horizon.  They also help the new crew of the refurbished RV Smart Ports on a shakedown cruise as they learn about a hydroponic growing station with mushroom spawn blocks, a yoga and meditation space, a cycling center, an espresso bar, and an indoor soccer and lacrosse area.   The maritime leaders seek rejuvenation through lacrosse, indoor soccer, kayaking, surfing, and birdwatching, which they call Leisure Better Together.  The beautiful coast of British Columbia inspires wonder, and the team supports one another through friendship and respect for their differences.  Humor and unique food experiences provide relief from intense conversations and decisions. 

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People Adapting to a Complex Environment

The ideas in Sailing Toward Horizon and Sailing Toward a Hopeful Future were influenced by a third-party program evaluation for the Alaska Administrator Coaching Project, a decade of facilitating strategic thinking and planning for the Lower Kuskokwim School District school board, and consulting for and visiting schools in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta and the Southwest Region School District. The notion that leading in a dynamic, ever-changing, and uncertain environment requires thinking dispositions, or habits of mind, is central to both sailing books. 

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While working with school leaders in rural Alaska for two decades, I came to understand that their role was complex, multi-faceted, and hard to define. I was fortunate to develop and revise leadership curriculum, facilitate institutes, and support the leadership coaches who worked with the principals.  Schools are responsible for teaching, learning, and student activities, the responsibilities of contemporary education. Many schools in remote areas of Alaska also host temporary dental clinics, regional adult basketball tournaments, housing for itinerant support professionals, and, in a few instances, free dog immunization clinics run by veterinarians. Schools also host culture camps, potlatches, and funeral services. School leaders in rural Alaska also manage teacher housing, monitor fuel tank levels, and ensure that food delivered by small aircraft is transported from an airstrip to the school for the lunch program. Schools play a crucial role by providing space for community activities and emergency shelter.    

 

At the Forefront of Climate Change

One example of the complex nature of schooling in remote areas is the Lower Kuskokwim School District's (LKSD) responsibility for school and community infrastructure. The district has twenty-nine schools across about 22,000 square miles, with few roads and access by airplane, boat, and, in winter, snow machines. LKSD provides primary electrical power to two villages, fresh water to thirteen villages, and wastewater to five villages. Maintaining infrastructure, reliable power, water, and transportation during harsh winter weather and severe events like Typhoon Murbok (2022) and Typhoon Halong (2025) is especially daunting.  The leadership coaches and I realized that school leaders “navigate” unique challenges daily, which extends their responsibilities far beyond traditional school leadership. According to the Alaska Statewide Threat Assessment, nearly 150 rural Alaska communities face high to moderate infrastructure risk, underscoring the ongoing challenges schools and their communities face.  People in these communities are on the forefront of climate change and sea-level rise. Planning, monitoring, adapting, and working together will be essential as they face many difficult decisions.      

 

I chose the setting of both books in Pacific Northwest coastal communities, especially in British Columbia, because of its magnificent natural beauty.  I was intrigued by the BC ferry system while making numerous trips to Vancouver and Vancouver Island while playing Junior A hockey for a Seattle-based team. I believe Canadians are generally kind and accept differences, unless, of course, you are playing for a hockey team south of the border; then punching down is acceptable.