Maritime Discovery
Multi-day Program for Schools & Groups
Available for grades 4–12
Our waterfront campus in Port Townsend is a perfect launching point to engage students in experiential learning through place-based maritime education. Schools can pick from a variety of options and design a Maritime Discovery program that works for them.
Contact Simona Clausnitzer at 360.385.3628 x122 or simona@nwmaritime.org for questions, rates, or to design your program.
Build a Maritime Discovery program from a variety of experiential offerings:
On the Water
Sail, row, and navigate aboard historic longboats and other sailing vessels with licensed captains. Learn nautical skills and develop confidence and teamwork skills. Longboats are replicas of 19th century ships’ boats that up to 12 students row and sail together, offering a window into the maritime history of our region. Our other sailboats provide hands-on experience with all aspects of sailing for up to 5 students at a time.
Boatbuilding
Build a Point Hudson Dory or a hand-drive Paddle Wheeler under the guidance of an experienced boatbuilder in our Boatshop. Groups of up to five students can work on one boat, and multiple boats can be built at a time. The Point Hudson Dory is a 12-foot, 75-pound skiff that can be built for row and sail. The Paddle Wheelers are 7-foot punt-style crafts driven by hand crank paddles, incorporating a level of engineering that allows students to utilize their creativity and ingenuity to complete their vessel.
Mariners’ Skills
Learn and explore the skills’ of a mariner. Learn about the history of the region while participating in hands-on activities that engage the students in learning STEM subjects. We offer a variety of topics for land-based classes that utilize our classrooms, Pilothouse Simulator, and outdoor campus. Options include navigation, compass use, soundings, knot tying skills, maritime history, and marine trades.
Marine Science
At NWMC, students take full advantage of our waterfront location as they engage in marine science experiments, collaborate and create team-built STEM projects, collect water samples, peer at plankton, and explore the wonders of the marine environment. If you’re curious about kelp, passionate about plankton, or mesmerized by passing marine mammals—come join us for some science by the sea! Ask us about joint programs with Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
Scholarships Available
Northwest Maritime Center believes that money should not be a barrier to getting your students out on the water. For more information about scholarships, please contact Simona Clausnitzer at simona@nwmaritime.org or 360.385.3628 x122.
We’re proud to be involved in school initiatives in our community!
7th Grade Maritime Discovery Program
Our 7th Grade Maritime Discovery Program brings all local 7th-graders—from schools including Port Townsend, Quilcene, and Chimacum—to our campus for a week of hands-on, experiential learning. The program connects coursework with maritime experiences and real-world problem-solving, fostering leadership skills, self-confidence, and critical thinking. Reading, writing, mathematics, and the sciences come to life through real-world applications—maritime nomenclature and poetry, navigation, and the study of weather, wind, and marine wildlife.