Maritime Education

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.

What will the students do on a boat trip?

On the boat, students will spend most of their time rotating through several 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 bio-degradation, 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/AED 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 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. There is no place to buy lunch while we are out on the river. 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.