PORTSMOUTH -- Amid the commercial fishing boats, motor boats and submarines that grace the Piscataqua River, the lateen sail of a gundalow stands out as an historic reminder of the area's long maritime history.

Three hundred years ago, gundalows like the Piscataqua and the Edward H. Adams were a popular mode of travel and transported goods throughout the rivers of the Great Bay watershed.

Now, there are only two, lovingly re-created by shipbuilders to honor the important role the ships played in the area's commerce.

The Edward H. Adams was constructed in 1982, and since the 1990s, volunteers and staff with the nonprofit Gundalow Company have provided on-deck education programs to school groups and the public, but without the ability to take passengers out on a sail.

Last December, the Piscataqua was launched after 10 months of building, certified by the Coast Guard to take passengers out to learn about the river.

Recently, the Piscataqua celebrated its 150th public sail. It is these sails that make educational sails for schoolchildren possible. Educational sails and dockside lessons continue until mid-October, and the Gundalow Company is looking for educational volunteers to help.

Volunteer educators are needed weekday mornings this fall to work with elementary school students onboard the Edward H. Adams during the Great Bay Discovery Center's Cultural History programs.

The gundalow will be docked at Sandy Point in Greenland for the next seven weeks. School fieldtrips include a visit to the landing and a dockside program that includes engaging hands-on activities.

The first training session was held Sept. 5, starting at 10:30 a.m.

On board, students learn not just about the history of gundalows and maritime trade in the region, but the importance of the watershed, how to protect it and what lives in it.

On a Friday afternoon, while most New Hampshire schoolchildren were back in the classroom, two students from Wellesley, Mass., joined a public sail with their parents.

Drew Hawkinson, 15 and his sister, Katie, 12, helped with a “plankton tow,” lowering a net over the edge of the shallow boat to graze for plankton in the water. They then used small magnifying devices to analyze the wildlife they gathered, with the help of crew member Megan Glenn. They also learned what an estuary is, helped to rig the sail and steer the boat.

“Educational sails really try to connect the students to the estuary,” Glenn said.

Glenn said people interested in becoming educational volunteers do not need to have a deep knowledge of the estuary, or of sailing, but an interest certainly helps.

While paid staff provide presentations, educational volunteers help with sailing the ship, or answering questions.

“Volunteers are welcome to learn whatever they want,” crew member Heather Froumy said. “Most volunteers want to help sail.”

Interested volunteers can contact the Gundalow Company at 433-9505.

gmacalaster@newstote.com