Maritime Education
About
Maritime Education has provided students with unique, hands-on programs since 1985. These dynamic, “learning by doing” programs emphasize applied learning in math, science, social studies, language arts, and social skills and range in length from one-day expeditions for school and youth groups to extended shipboard and land/sea programs. Participants see how academic skills are used in the real world. Leadership and teamwork are key objectives as students work together to raise and lower sails, trawl for marine life, perform scientific tests and explore the commerce, history, natural resources, and ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay.
Programs
-
Living Classrooms' Maritime Education has opened the Spring 2025 calendar for reservations! This spring we are operating all three of our historic ships, our flag-ship schooner Lady Maryland, skipjack Sigsbee, and power-vessel Mildred Belle. Our season starts in early-April with both boats operating out of Baltimore. The Mildred Belle will begin running programs in Washington, DC from the Navy Yard starting in July of 2025.
Each of our historic vessels can sail with 32 passengers (youth plus adults) and our 4-6 professional crew per trip. Each boat can be booked by the day or by the hour ($200/hour or $850 for a 5-hour day sail). For safety reasons, all youth/students must be at least 9 years old to sail with us.
If you are interested in sailing with us in the spring of 2025, please email us at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org for a list of dates that are still available.
The spring season will fill rapidly, so please reserve your preferred date soon. As you may know, reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. Feel free to call me directly at 410.961.9931 or email us anytime with questions.
I hope you are having a great school year!
Pricing Structure
Educational Full-Day Trip (4-5 hours)
Lady Maryland: $850
Sigsbee: $850
Mildred Belle: $850
Education Sailing Charters by the hour
Lady Maryland: $200 per hour
Sigsbee: $200 per hour
Mildred Belle: $200 per hour
*minimum of 1.5 hours
-
We offer two types of extended overnight programming on our historic vessels: sailing and camping and liveaboard programs. I would love to help you craft a unique program for your group next spring, summer, or fall 2025! Please email us at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org for more information and to explore options for a overnight trip in 2025.
Our smaller boats, Sigsbee and Mildred Belle, offer sailing/cruising and camping programs that can be uniquely crafted for any length of trip from 1-9 days.
Our largest vessel, the Schooner Lady Maryland, offers liveaboard sailing programs that can be any length from 1-12 days.
Sailing and camping programs on our boats offer unique access to the Chesapeake Bay. We offer single or multiple day overnight programs in the spring, summer, and fall and each program can be customized with different port stops, camping locations, and onboard activities and learning opportunities.
Our camping programs can accommodate a maximum of 20 total participants with a minimum of 1 adult from your group and a maximum of 4 adults.
For these camping programs, we provide tents and cooking equipment. Students/Scouts/participants are responsible for personal camping gear (sleeping bag and pad, flashlight etc.)
Our liveaboard programs on the Schooner Lady Maryland offer unique ability for the students to really become the sailing crew of the vessel. They will participate in every aspect of shipboard life from setting sail, navigating, standing look-out, and even preparing meals. We offer single or multiple day overnight programs in the spring, summer, and fall and each program can be customized with different port stops, anchoring locations, and onboard activities and learning opportunities. Our liveaboard programs accommodate a maximum of 10 students and 2 adults.
Extended Programs Pricing
Sigsbee: $2,000 per day+ $500 per night camping fee
Mildred Belle: $2,000 per day + $500 per night camping feeLady Maryland: $2,500 per day + $500 evening liveaboard fee
*Costs include daytime programming on the boat, evening programming, camping and/or docking fees, and food for all participants.
-
The Living Classrooms Foundation offers private charters and adventure sails on the historic vessels Lady Maryland, Sigsbee and Mildred Belle on weekdays and weekends during our April to November season.
Enjoy a relaxing sail or cruise on Baltimore's Harbor. Help the crew raise the sails and navigate the boat. Enjoy learning some local history or just relax with your own libations while enjoying the sounds and activity on the water. You are welcome to bring your own food and drinks.
During our April to November sailing season, Sigsbee and Mildred Belle offer unique hands-on sailing adventures for students from all over Maryland. Private charters and adventure sails book at $500/hour and all money generated by your sail will go to underwrite our education programs.
Feel free to call (410.961.9931) or email me at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org for available dates or more information.
Here is some more information:
We leave from and return to Maritime Park (1417 Thames Street Baltimore, MD 21231) in historic Fell’s Point, but might be able to arrange a pick-up/drop-off somewhere else in Baltimore Harbor with enough advanced notice.
You could choose to have the event catered by a professional (I have a suggested list of caterers if you need) or you could just bring some snacks and drinks with you. We can provide a cooler of ice for drinks (alcohol and glass are OK on our boats but no stemware like wine glasses please) and we have some basic catering supplies like non-skid and a trash can.
On a 2-hour sail or cruise we typically tour the Inner Harbor and go out to see Fort McHenry. The crew is very knowledgeable about Baltimore sights and local history, and they love to share stories with guests.
For safety reasons, everyone who sails with us must be at least 9 years old.
There is a bathroom on the boat if anyone needs to use it.
-
Everyone always asks, "How can I sail on the Living Classrooms' boats?"... well now you can!
The Maritime Education vessels occasionally offer ticketed public sails during the summer and fall months. The next one will be a Sunset Sail on SIGSBEE on Saturday August 2nd from 6-8pm. This is an Adults Only relaxing sunset sail on the harbor. Tickets go on sale on May 1st on Eventbright and are $35/adult (18+). We will announce more public sails on the Schooner LADY MARYLAND, skipjack SIGSBEE, and buyboat MILDRED BELLE starting in January of 2025.
Visit our Facebook Events page or find us on Eventbright for more information and to buy tickets. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram so that you can stay in the loop on upcoming public sails and be the first to know when tickets go on sale. We also post promo codes for reduced priced tickets on out social media channels.
Please feel free to email Nick at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org with any questions.Eventbright link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/living-classrooms-foundation-maritime-education-67688061773
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LadyMaryland.Sigsbee.MildredBelle/
LM IG: https://www.instagram.com/ladymaryland_lcf/
-
The Maritime Education Department is excited to offer Virtual Maritime Education programs for students in Maryland, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
From December to February, we are currently offering virtual programming for all ages. Virtual programs cost $300 per 30- or 45-minute lesson and $600 per 90-minute lesson. Activity supplies for the experiments are $2 per student and can be delivered to your school for a small fee. Please contact Nick Iannacone for more information and to book a virtual program this winter.
Virtual Program via Zoom
During a 30 or 45-minute virtual lesson, we can teach one concept, and you can choose any concept from this list:
Note: We offer a 30 or 45 version of the same material, please decide if 30- or 45-minutes fits better into your school day
Creature Feature: Diamondback Terrapin
We introduce students to the basic anatomy and lifecycle of Maryland's state reptile: the Diamondback Terrapin with our resident terrapin "Dewey".
Creature Feature: Oyster
We will introduce students to the lifecycle and anatomy of the oyster and why oyster conservation is important in the Chesapeake and Delaware ecosystems.
Paper Watershed Experiment: students use provided materials to construct a mini-watershed and then test it by simulating rain with a spray bottle.
Water Filter Experiment: students design, build, and test a mini-water filter using provided materials and ones from the classroom.
Biodegradation and Marine Debris Lesson
We introduce students to the concepts of run-off pollution, why plastics are harmful in our marine environment, and what we can all do to help.
During a 90-minutes lesson, we can teach 3 concepts, please pick any three from this list:
Creature Feature: Diamondback Terrapin
We introduce students to the basic anatomy and lifecycle of Maryland's state reptile: the Diamondback Terrapin with our resident terrapin "Dewey".Creature Feature: Oyster
We introduce students to the lifecycle and anatomy of the oyster and why oyster conservation is important in the Chesapeake and Delaware ecosystems.
our boats
-
LADY MARYLAND is an authentic reproduction of a Chesapeake Bay pungy schooner. Beginning in the early part of the 19th century, pungies were considered to be among the fastest of all Bay watercraft. They were frequently employed in the carriage of perishable cargoes – such as fruits, vegetables, and fish – throughout the region. Similar in design to the famous Baltimore Clippers, pungies were noteworthy for their speed, maneuverability, beauty, and brightly colored green and pink topsides.
LADY MARYLAND is the only pungy schooner in existence today. Built in 1986 by a team of shipwrights and students, she was the first hands-on learning project undertaken by Living Classrooms Foundation. Sailing with thousands of students each year, LADY MARYLAND travels between the Chesapeake region and New England every season to continue her work as a “living classroom.” Students of diverse backgrounds and abilities “learn by doing” as they explore the unique ecology, history, and economics of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal regions.
Length overall 104’
Rig height 92’
Length on deck 72’
Beam 22’
Gross tonnage 60 tons
Draft 7’6”
-
SIGSBEE is a Chesapeake Bay skipjack, an indigenous vessel designed and built to dredge for oysters. Once numbering in the thousands, only a handful of skipjacks survive today. Together, they constitute the last sailing commercial fleet in North America.
Originally built in 1901, SIGSBEE served in the oystering fleet for 88 years. After Living Classrooms Foundation acquired the vessel in 1990, a team of shipwrights and students rebuilt SIGSBEE and returned her to work as part of the Foundation’s educational fleet. SIGSBEE sails daily as a “living classroom,” offering students unique hands-on opportunities to observe and learn about the history, economics, and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay and to participate in environmental restoration projects.
Length overall 75’
Sail area 1,500 sq. feet
Length on deck 49’
Beam 16' Draft 4’ (centerboard up)
9’6” (centerboard down)
-
MILDRED BELLE is an authentic Chesapeake Bay “buyboat”. Buyboats are an important part of the Bay economy. They serve as “middlemen” on the bay, purchasing fish, crabs, and oysters directly from fishing vessels working under sail and then transporting the catch to market. This allows the sailing fleet to continue to work.
Originally built in Odd, Virginia in 1948, MILDRED BELLE worked the Bay for many years hauling fish, crabs and oysters to market, dredging for crabs in the winter, trawl fishing, and even pioneering sport fishing off the Virginia Capes and Cape Hatteras, NC. Having been rebuilt and certified to carry passengers, she continues to work the Chesapeake Bay, sailing as a “living classroom” for the Living Classrooms Foundation. From April until November, she runs single-day and multi-day educational programs with students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. These programs provide students with unique hands-on learning opportunities and focus on the history, economics, and ecology of the Chesapeake Bay, Anacostia, and Potomac Rivers.
Length 54’
Draft 4’5”
Gross Tonnage 23 tons
Beam 15’
Locate Us
1417 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
Parking
Please meet the ship and crew at Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park | 1417 Thames Street | Baltimore, MD 21231.
There are many parking options around our area, but Living Classrooms does not provide parking, and there is no designated guest parking at our site. Here are my suggested parking options:
Premium Parking (Garage) 3-minute walk from dock: 1530 Thames St, Baltimore, MD 21231
*This garage uses an app on your phone to pay before walking away from your vehicle; it is straightforward and also one of the cheaper garages
Caroline Street Parking Garage ( 5-7 min walk from the dock): 805 S Caroline St, Baltimore, MD 21231 410.276.9141
Many metered parking spaces exist on S. Caroline Street and surrounding neighborhoods.
The Maritime Park is also along the Green Route of the Charm City Circulator (Stop 106/119). The Orange line (stop 226) in Harbor East is a short 10–12-minute walk from the dock.
Here is a Google Maps link for parking in our area:
Motor Coach and School Bus Parking:
PRE-PROGRAM INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
-
Pre-program Information and Reminders
We hope you're looking forward to your upcoming program with Living Classrooms! If you have specific questions, please email us at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org and check out our FAQ section that has some answers to common questions and concerns.
See you soon!
Here is some helpful information to know before your trip:
· LUNCH is required for everyone - there is no place to buy lunch while we're out on the water.
· WAIVERS. All youth and adults sailing with us must have completed Living Classrooms' permission slips. They can be downloaded via the links below and will be emailed to you one month prior to your program. Please give signed and completed waivers to the boat crew on the day of your program.
· Please meet the ships at the Frederick Douglass and Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum. 1417 Thames St., Baltimore, MD 21231 (email us if you need more info about parking)
· Closed toe shoes are required onboard the boat.
· We will sail rain or shine. Make sure everyone dresses appropriately for the weather.
· For spring and fall programs, please make sure that everyone brings lots of warm layers, warm hat, jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle.
· For summer programs, please make sure that everyone wears light comfortable clothing, and brings a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a water bottle.
· The boat will have coolers of water for everyone onboard and we have rain pants, rain jackets, warm jackets, hats, and gloves if needed.
· Per US Coast Guard regulations, no firearms, illegal drugs, or marijuana will be allowed on any Living Classrooms vessel.
· Please have students/youth leave their electronic devices at home. Youth participants will not be allowed to use their phones during the program.
· If you have a payment due, feel free to bring the check with you on the day of your program. You can hand the check to the captain of the vessel. Or contact: Nick Iannacone (MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org) for payment options.
· Please remember our program is very fluid. It can, and does, change all the time based on things like weather and timing. If you've been on our trip before, keep in mind this year's trip could look slightly different.
-
We sail rain or shine as long as it is safe to do so. We have rain jackets, pants, hats, and gloves for every student that comes sailing with us. We very much want to make your trip happen as long as it is safe and we have limited options for rescheduling your trip. That being said, if it is unsafe to go sailing, we will work to reschedule your trip or issue you a full refund. Please contact us at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org with specific questions.
Here is our standard weather policy:
If the weather is safe to sail (no thunderstorms, gale warning, or tornado warning) then we go sailing! Sometimes the best trips happen in the rain. We have rain jackets and rain pants for everyone on both boats. Safe to sail will be determined by the captain and if the weather is deemed safe to sail, we cannot offer you a refund but would be willing to offer you a reschedule date.
If the weather is safe to be outside, but not to sail on the river (no thunderstorms but very windy) then we can run the program on the boats while tied to the dock. This way we can be outside getting as much of the "full experience" as possible.
If the weather is too uncomfortable to be outside (active thunderstorms, very windy, tornado warning), then we will run a portion of, or the entire, program inside the safety of our Maritime Museum which is climate controlled and has a bathroom for everyone to use. The indoor program is not quite as exciting as being on the boats, but the educational content is the same and students would get a chance to appreciate the museum while learning all the same lessons they would have engaged with while sailing on the ships.
If the weather is unsafe (active thunderstorms, gale warning, tornado warning, heat index over 103 F, or air quality code PURPLE) then we will offer you a reschedule date or a full refund.
To get a better view of the inside of the facility, please take a look at our 360 virtual tour at the following link:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=2WeEsQ7Sf7M&brand=0
Specific Policy for High Heat
It can get very hot in Baltimore and DC in the summer. When sailing on our boats you will be outside the entire time, there is no AC or covered spaces on the boat. Please make sure that everyone dresses appropriately for the weather (hats, sunglasses, and light clothing) and everyone should bring a refillable water bottle. We take the heat and humidity very seriously and check the NOAA heat index each morning before going sailing with the public.
If the heat index is at 102 F or below, we have policies in place to run a trip safely. Our crew members received Wilderness First Aid training and have specifically learned about how to keep folks safe and comfortable in high heat environments. We will provide a cooler of ice water for everyone to fill their bottles from. We will take frequent water breaks, have water misting stations, and will regularly check in on everyone's physical state.
If the weather is very hot, we can head inside our climate-controlled Maritime Museum and run all, or a portion of, the program inside with AC. Plus, the museum is a great place to explore.
If the heat index is 103 F or above, we will offer to reschedule your program.
To get a better view of the inside of the facility, please take a look at our 360 virtual tour at the following link:
https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=2WeEsQ7Sf7M&brand=0
Specific Policy for Air Quality
If the Air Quality is index is ORANGE, we will plan to run all or most of the scheduled program outside and if needed we could run some of the program inside our climate-controlled Maritime Museum. We may also have KN-95 masks available for anyone who wants to wear them.
If the Air Quality is index is RED, we can run a portion of the scheduled program outside and then head inside our climate-controlled Maritime Museum. We may also have KN-95 masks available for anyone who wants to wear them.
If the Air Quality is index is PURPLE, we will offer to reschedule your program. If a reschedule date cannot be found, then we can refund any payments you have already made.
-
Would you like to work on the water and teach students about the environment on a historic Chesapeake Bay vessel?
We are looking for talented outdoor educators to work on the Schooner Lady Maryland, Skipjack Sigsbee, and Buyboat Mildred Belle teaching students and adults about the environment and local history.
We are actively looking for mates, educational coordinators and deckhand/educators on the historic vessels Lady Maryland, Sigsbee, and Mildred Belle for a March to November work contract. To apply, please send us your cover letter and resume. Your cover letter can simply be a few well-thought-out sentences about why you would like to work with us this season.
To apply please email your cover letter and resume to Captain Peter Bolster (pete@livingclassrooms.org).
More information:
As a crew member you would assist with safe vessel operations, teach students and members of the public, and help to maintain the historic ships. Crew members on the Lady Maryland, Sigsbee, and Mildred Belle provide high quality, safe, and hands-on experiences for all who board these historic vessels.
Check out the links below for the full job postings and pictures. Pay starts at $15/hour plus housing and some meals.
Job Descriptions:
https://padlet.com/MaritimeEducation/joinourcrew
What would it be like to work on our historic vessels?
https://padlet.com/MaritimeEducation/adayinthelife
Cool Works Profile
https://www.coolworks.com/living-classrooms-foundation/profile
Cool Works Jobs Boardhttps://www.coolworks.com/living-classrooms-foundation/jobs
The 2025 salaries:
Mates and Educational Coordinators - $1320/bi-weekly ($16.50/hour)
Deckhand/educators- $1200/bi-weekly ($15/hour)Lady Maryland cook- $1320/bi-weekly ($16.50/hour)
-
What will the students do on a boat trip?
On the boat, students will spend most of their time rotating through a number of hands-on stations that teach them about maritime science, environmental science, and Chesapeake Bay ecology. Stations include, but are not limited to, trawl net fishing, oyster dissection, aquatic life identification, plankton sampling, navigation, water quality testing, marine biodegradation, and buoyancy. In addition, each student will have a chance to drive the boat! Our crew includes a US Coast Guard certified captain and 3-5 experienced E-STEM educators.
What are the times are available?
We generally run education programs Monday-Friday during Spring, Summer, and Fall from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, however we will make every attempt to work with your schedule. Trips are offered for a half-day (2.5 hours) or full day (5 hours).
How many chaperones do I need to bring?
We require two adult chaperones for each trip. Chaperones and teachers are required to always remain with students and are responsible for student behavior. Additional chaperones are allowed to participate as space allows.
What ages and how many students can be accommodated?
Our programs are designed for grades 4th-12th and we can modify all activities to suit your students’ grade level, interest, and abilities. For safety reasons, everyone who sails with us must be at least 9 years old. We can accommodate up to 30 students and 2 chaperones per boat trip.
Do the students wear life jackets?
All passengers under the age of 18 are required to wear life jackets. The only exception is during very hot weather when the heat index would make it more dangerous for the child to be in a very warm life jacket. This decision is not made lightly, and our captains will always consult with a teacher or chaperone before permitting students to remove life jackets. Adults are always offered life jackets, but they are not required.
What if a student becomes seasick? What if they’ve never been on a boat and we don’t know how they will react?
The rivers that we operate on are generally calm bodies of water and seasickness is not typically an issue. As long as a student eats breakfast, they should be alright. If a student is feeling ill, we will encourage them to drink some water, give them a few minutes to compose themselves and then get them right back into the program. The students are usually too busy learning and having fun to focus or even acknowledge a queasy stomach.
What if a student has severe allergies or needs medical attention?
Safety is our number one priority. Our staff are all Wilderness First Aid and CPR trained. While the typical injuries we deal with are splinters and sunburn we are well equipped and ready for anything. The boats all have extensive first aid equipment aboard. If the injury is minor, we will communicate with the teacher about the situation. If something major occurs we will handle it in the most logical manner and are not at all reluctant to call in the US Coast Guard, or Marine Police for assistance. Additionally, we would of course be in touch with the student’s family. It is important that you provide all requested medical information for your students, so we are well informed in the event of an emergency.
Please let us know about allergies ahead of time. If the student carries an epi-pen, please be sure to send it along with them. Our crew is all trained in administering epi-pens in the event of a life-threatening emergency. Folks who have shellfish allergies are still able to participate in our programs, we just make sure they do not handle the marine life.
Where are you located?
Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park
1417 Thames Street
Baltimore, MD 21231
Is there time for lunch?
On full day trips, we will take a break for lunch in the middle of the day. Please remind your students to bring a lunch on the day of your trip. For half-day trips, students may eat lunch before or after the trip in an area adjacent to the marina.
What happens on rainy / cold days?
Our boat trips run rain or shine. Students should dress appropriately. On colder days, students should be prepared to be outside by dressing in layers and bringing hats and gloves. In the event of school closings due to inclement weather or extreme weather forecasts, we will work with you to reschedule the program. Please check out the “Weather Policies” section of our website or email us at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org with specific questions.
