Baltimore, MD –  Middle school students set sail aboard three historic ships for a unique learning experience on the Inner Harbor as Living Classrooms Foundation presents the Tall Ships of America’s Sail Training Program of the Year Maritime Education Season Opener on Tuesday, April 7 at 9am with the ships departure at 9:50am. Seventh-grade students from Hardy Middle School in Washington, DC engage in an interactive history and science program sailing in the Inner Harbor aboard the pungy schooner Lady Maryland, skipjack Sigsbee, and Chesapeake Bay buyboat Mildred Belle. Honored by Tall Ships of America National Conference in San Diego as the Sail Training Program of the Year, Living Classrooms maritime education program serves 9,000 individuals annually from April through November as they participate in daily maritime education sailing trips aboard. The three historic ships depart from the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Cardin Pier at 1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, MD 21231. 

Image: Maritime Education students from Farring Elementary/Middle School aboard the Sigbee in April 2025.

The recent Tall Ships of America recognition noted Living Classrooms maritime education programming served more than 9,000 individuals from Baltimore City, Maryland Counties, Washington, DC, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; with 53% of students served coming from Title I schools in 2025. In addition, Tall Ships of America awarded Lady Maryland Captain Laura "LP" Page as the Sail Trainer of the Year which honors a member of the Tall Ships America community who has made a significant contribution to sail training through the demonstration of leadership by means of empowerment and inspiration. 

The Maritime Education program at Living Classrooms underscores applied learning through direct experience, engaging students in hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education. Programs also delve into maritime history, focusing on the War of 1812 and celebrating the significant contributions of Black mariners in the region. Journeys on these vessels offer students a rare chance to immerse themselves in the Chesapeake Bay's diverse maritime heritage while applying their classroom knowledge to tangible activities. Leadership and collaborative skills are developed as students manage sails, analyze marine specimens, conduct scientific tests, and discover the commerce, history, and ecological systems of Baltimore, Washington DC, and the Chesapeake Bay. 

Since 1985, Living Classrooms has delivered hands-on education aboard historic ships, enriching the lives of hundreds of thousands of residents living in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Living Classrooms manages a fleet of seven historic vessels, becoming beacons of hands-on maritime and living history education for thousands of students annually, navigating the waters of the Baltimore Harbor seaport and beyond. The complete fleet of historic ships include the National Historic Landmarks sloop of war USS Constellation, US Coast Guard Cutter WHEC-37, submarine USS Torsk, Lightship 116 Chesapeake, pungy schooner Lady Maryland, skipjack Sigsbee, and buyboat Mildred Belle. 

 For information on Living Classrooms Maritime Education, visit  https://livingclassrooms.org/programs/maritime-education.