Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Tim Baynum, head of school at Free Union Country School, recently returned from an extraordinary voyage aboard the Darwin 200 project. The expedition retraces Charles Darwin’s iconic 19th-century journey aboard the HMS Beagle. Baynum shared his experience on Cville Right Now Right Now Live, recalling his 10-day leg from Easter Island to Mangareva. 

Discussing the isolation of the open ocean, Baynum reflected, “It really has like a sense of place to be in such an environment that is so overwhelmingly full of nature.” By the end of the trip, Baynum had become familiar with the ship’s operations, noting, “I could tell when a sail wasn’t… correct… I knew we’d have to move the spinnaker and adjust the square sail.”  

Baynum’s journey, which included connecting his school’s “Unbounded Science” program to the voyage, emphasized how such hands-on experiences enrich his educational philosophy. 

Listen to the full conversation here: