Choose Your Adventure: Field Trip, Cruises, or In-School Visit
Field Trip Options
Building a Wooden Vessel
Grades 2-12
Engineering, History, Environmental Studies, Economics
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The only surviving historic shipyard for wooden vessels in the U.S. is the perfect place to understand shipbuilding's engineering challenges, the people who solved them, and the natural resources the industry demanded. Students hone in on the lumber industry to learn why shipbuilding flourished in Maine and how this history informs the culture of Maine and the world today. Students work as teams to build a model wooden vessel, use period augers to drill holes and set treenails (wooden nails), and try caulking irons to seal a hull.
Being a sailor was–and is–an adventurous, high-stakes profession requiring special skills to survive and prosper! Students tour the galleries to learn why Maine’s geography makes seamanship a part of our culture. They also unpack a sea chest, work as a team to haul an anchor capstan, sing a sea chantey, and examine sailor cuisine.
Available Year Round -
90 minutes Summer
60 minutes Winter
Wabanaki Waterways: Stories and Technology
Grades 2-8
Social Studies, History
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Wabanaki, the indigenous peoples of the Kennebec River region, have a deep knowledge of their ancestral waterways from continuously living in the region for over 10,000 years. Students will learn about Wabanaki culture, history and language to think critically about the region through a decolonization lens. Students will engage with items from our exhibit, such as our birch bark canoe and 1800's European maps.
Available Year Round -
90 minutes
Shipwreck
Detective
Grades 2-8Social Studies, Math, History-
Home to over 1,300 shipwrecks, the Maine coast is a treasure trove for marine archaeologists and underwater explorers. Students examine artifacts to understand the technologies, risks, and preservation efforts involved in uncovering shipwrecks, then search for clues, plot notes, and solve the mystery of a staged shipwreck.
Available April – October -
60 minutes
Lobstering & The Maine Coast
Grades PreK - 8
Marine Biology & Ecology, Environmental Studies, Economics, History
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Our 6,200-square-foot Lobstering and the Maine Coast exhibit is the perfect place for students to learn about the American Lobster species and the history and science of lobstermen, their industry, and fishery management. Students “haul” a trap, prepare fishing gear, and negotiate the “Lobstermen’s Challenge Course.”
Available April – October -
75 minutes
Inspired by our upcoming exhibit Upon that Isle in Maine: The Story & Works of Chris Van Dusen, students will dive into the works of Chris Van Dusen's books and learn about his storytelling from inspiration to illustration. We will examine original works of art, learn his process, and then apply it to tell our own Maine stories. Choose between two of the options below, focusing either on illustrations or story telling. This program can be done as an in-classroom program or as a museum field trip.
Available for Grades 2 – 12
Special Exhibit Programing
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How do you start a story? For Chris Van Dusen, his inspiration came from his childhood memories, an image in a magazine, or even his dreams! In this lesson, students will explore items from Chris Van Dusen's artwork and Maine Maritime Museum collections to inspire telling their own stories.
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Illustrating a book is no easy task. In this lesson, students will learn the process Chris Van Dusen took to create some of his most iconic characters. By examining his artwork, from sketches to final products, students will learn to create their own dynamic illustrations and develop their own characters.
Pricing
Fewer than 15 students: $150 flat rate
Fifteen or more students: $11 per student
All field trips include one free adult for every 10 students
Additional adults are $16.50 each
Interested in booking a field trip with us?
Contact us at education@maritimeme.org
Prepare for Your Visit
Cruises
Depart on an exciting adventure with our educational cruise along the Kennebec River! Get ready to discover the secrets of the river's natural history as we navigate its scenic waters.
Dive into interactive lessons, explore this diverse ecosystem, and uncover the industrial history that shaped the Kennebec River.
Join us for a hands-on journey that will spark your curiosity and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the natural and historical wonders of the Kennebec!
Scheduling
Cruises operate mid-May through October, weather permitting. The cruise last for 2 hours. A maximum of 48 people from your group is permitted on the Merrymeeting at one time, including students, teachers and chaperones. Please inquire about options for larger groups.
Contact education@maritimeme.org to book your cruise today!
Pricing:
Fewer than 15 students: $350
Fifteen or more students: $22 per student
All cruises include one free adult per 10 children.
Additional adults are $35 each
In-School Visits
Splash!
Grades PreK – 2
Let Splash the Sea Monster help your class explore and connect with countless topics and ideas through the power of stories. This program is an interactive story time conducted by a museum educator and Splash the Friendly Sea Monsterr (our favorite museum puppet!). Choose from a selection of books that cover different topics from the wonders of Maine traditions, wildlife, and maritime themes.
Maine & Slavery
Grades 6 – 12
Gr 6-8: History 1 (F1, F2, D1, D2,) History 2 (F1, D1)
Gr 9-12: History 1 (F1, F2, D1, D2,) History 2 (F1, D1)
In this program, students will critically think about primary sources and artifacts from Maine Maritime Museum’s collection to better understand Maine’s connection to the cotton trade and America’s 19th-century slave economy. Through a series of scaffolded activities, students will observe and analyze local letters, shipping documents, newspaper articles, photographs, and engravings to uncover Maine’s history.
Stories Maps Tell
Grades 4 – 8
Gr 4-5: Geography 1 &2, History 2
Gr 6-8: Geography 1 (F3, D1, D2), Geography 2 (F1, D1), History 1 (D1, D2), History 2 (F3, D2, D3)
Maps record information about our world: locations of towns, geographic features, or points of interest. When viewed through a historical lens, maps also record how perceptions of a place can change over time or challenge assumptions, past and present. All maps have a story to tell. Students will examine 17th-18th century maps and primary sources to think critically about how a place and its history is recorded, remembered, or erased. The lesson also includes an opportunity for students to collaborate on designing their own map of their school, town, or region
A Sailors Life for You?
Grades K – 5
Grades K – 2: History 1 & 2
Grades 3 – 5: History 1
Ever wondered what life was like on those large wooden sailing vessels of the 1800s? This program will put students in the shoes (and other clothing) of a sailor working on a cargo vessel in the 19th century. Through interactive lessons, students will explore the jobs, personal items and food on a ship and they will be able to decide if they could have been a sailor in another life or not.
Pricing
In-School Programs: $150 flat rate fee + mileage to and from the museum.
Story Time with Splash: $250 + mileage to and from the museum. (Requires two museum educators)
Ready to book?
Or just have questions? Contact us at education@maritimeme.org or (207) 443-1316 ext 325.