Shipyard employees teach elementary school students how dry docks work during Kitsap Water Festival

Shipyard employees teach elementary school students how dry docks work during Kitsap Water Festival

By Ben Hutto PSNS & IMF Public Affairs

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility employees joined forces at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, April 16, 2024 in support of the 2024 Kitsap Water Festival.

The educational event was open to over a thousand third and fourth graders from 15 local elementary schools to learn how their every-day actions impact water quality.

Theron Bergland, docking foreman, Shop 64, Shipwrights, and Steven Meddendorf, shipyard docking manager, Code 340, Docking Office, were there along with a working mock-up of a dry dock to help demonstrate how vessels are repaired and maintained at the shipyard.

Both men smiled and patiently answered questions as the inquisitive students used the pump mock-up to flood and empty the miniature dry dock.

"A lot of people never consider how a boat is docked," Bergland said. "The process is amazing when you think about the amount of water that is moved and the size of the ships. When I tell kids this process is over a hundred years old, they seem impressed."

The two shipyard employees weren't the only Navy presence during the day-long event. Divers from PSNS & IMF Bangor Dive Locker, along employees from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Keyport; the Exceptional Family Members Program from Naval Base Kitsap and Puget Sound Naval Museum & U.S. Naval Undersea Museum were all on hand to help educate and entertain the young audience members.

"This is our second year doing this, and it's a fun time," Meddendorf said. "It's just a great way to get out of the office and give back a little."