Matthew Stepita is excited. He has a life jacket, a backpack and a happy face.

“It’s a perfect day for it,” his father, Mike Stepita, says. And it is a perfect day: The afternoon is ripening under a clear October sky. Blue and white Mount Baker breaks the horizon.

The two have come to the University of Washington Labs at Friday Harbor to participate in a research trip in San Juan Channel. The expedition, led by former Labs director Dennis Willows, will see the boat “Centennial” trawling for samples of sea life in the channel. It will be educational, windy and, as Matthew points out, a lot of fun.

The Saturday afternoon trip is an example of some of the educational resources unique to San Juan islanders and their children. The economies forced upon parents seem to strike at every aspect of life, but those imposed upon the school system cast an extra shadow of concern over their children’s future.

This September brought tightened educational budgets and split grades. However, it also bought the opportunity to ride a former salmon fishing boat to witness marine biology in action.

Matthew, now secure in his life jacket, grins as the boat pulls away from the lab.

“You won’t believe the stuff we’re going to pull up,” Willows says to the listening boy.

“Bottom fish?”

“Uh huh, and shrimp … ”

The questions begin to flow. The lesson has begun. And herein lies the point. The San Juan Islands are a haven for extra curricular learning.

“We probably won’t do marine biology this year,” Mathew says. “So there are huge advantages to this.” Intelligent and succinct at 13, Matthew has nothing bad to say about his seventh-grade environment at Friday Harbor Middle School. However, it is undeniable that his general knowledge and level of experience will be boosted by a few hours of Saturday adventure.

Matthew’s dad also has no axe to grind with the school system, but simply enjoys the time with his son.

“I know it’s hard for parents,” he comments. “I’m lucky because I have the time to spend with Matthew, not all parents do. But I just try and expose Matthew to things he might find interesting.”

Another Friday Harbor father, Chad Foley, emphasizes the importance of parents looking to their environment to supplement their children’s education. He says many people do not realize what a fantastic resource is at their disposal.

“You know, for example, a husband will get a job and the family moves here and it just becomes another town.” But it isn’t, Foley says. “So many kids haven’t been on a whale-watching boat, or hiked up Mount Constitution. Even with budget cuts, there is still room for education.”

Back on the Centennial, Stepita and Willows pull the net up from the cold depths. An excited chatter rises from the student passengers as the net, dripping and swollen with living things, splits open. Matthew dives forward as the bright array of sea things are funneled into the viewing trough. Fish, crabs and a thousand variations of starfish flop under the salt-water hose saving them from suffocation. There is even a stingray, big as a beached kite.

Matthew helps the students sort the specimens as the boat turns toward home.

In two hours on the water, the boy has exchanged information about navigation, biomass, types of cuttlefish and the cost of a fishing net. Matthew may never pursue any further interest in marine biology (he fancies mechanical engineering) but the day has encouraged questions and enthusiasm for learning — cornerstones in the very idea of education.

Times are definitely hard, but allowing the islands to assume an educative role in the lives of children replaces recession woes with something constructive and positive.

You may even get a boat ride out of it.