Sail and Learn with Living Classrooms

Have fun, explore and learn about the commerce, history, natural resources, and ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay this summer aboard the SIGSBEE and MILDRED BELLE with Living Classrooms.  

Everyone always asks, "How can I sail on the Living Classrooms' boats?"... well now you can! SIGSBEE and MILDRED BELLE are hosting a series of Sunset and Adventure Cruises this summer.

Saturday, August 3: SIGSBEE Sunset Sail 6-8 pm. Enjoy a relaxing evening 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. Reservations are a must. This is an adults only event. TICKETS ON SALE NOW

Saturday, August 24: SIGSBEE Sip and Sail with Guilford Hall Brewery 5:30-7:30 pm. Enjoy a relaxing evening sail on the Skipjack Sigsbee with unlimited craft beer provided by Guilford Hall Brewery! Must be 21 years or older to sail with us. TICKETS ON SALE NOW

SIGSBEE

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. 

MILDRED BELLE

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 and the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. 

For more information, visit their Facebook Events page for more information and buy tickets via Eventbrite or email Nick at MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org with questions.

Follow the Sailing Fleet

• Website: MaritimeEducation@livingclassrooms.org

• Facebook: Maritime Education

• Instagram: ladymaryland_lcf, sigsbee_lcf and mildredbelle_lcf 

• Linked In: Maritime Education

ABOUT LIVING CLASSROOMS
Living Classrooms Foundation implements community-driven, research-based, best practices that value the priorities and aspirations of our community members and deliver both opportunity and results. We provide hands-on experiential learning opportunities for individuals of all ages at our Crossroads Public Charter Middle School, community centers, in our workforce development programming, aboard our historic ships, and in our urban green spaces. We endeavor to create both equitable access to opportunity and a sense of belonging in learning environments where students are safe, known, loved, and welcome.

LC MISSION
Living Classrooms Foundation strengthens communities and inspires children, youth, and adults to achieve their potential through hands-on education, job training, health & wellness, and community safety programs using urban, natural, and maritime resources as "living classrooms".

LC VISION
We strive to build strong, equitable, and sustainable communities through effective education, workforce, and health and wellness opportunities that address deeply ingrained challenges, and we set high expectations for academic achievement, living-wage job placement, improved community health and safety, and increased constituent engagement.

MOTTO: "Learning by Doing"

Living Classrooms is located at 1417 Thames Street. MORE INFO