Bring your school, class, or educational group to the MMM and experience maritime history first-hand! Our exhibits cover a wide variety of Great Lakes maritime history topics accessible to students of all ages. Make history come alive for your students!

Cost: $5 per student

Length: Groups should plan on an average of 1.5-2 hours for a visit. Bagged lunches are welcome.

To receive the educational group rate, visits must be booked in advance through the Head of Education at (269) 637-8078 ext. 103.

Our educators provide hands-on, interactive tours perfect for any age student. These 1-1.5 hour tours lead students through the majority of Museum exhibits throughout our campus that range from changing exhibits to historic commercial fishing. This tour highlights our newest exhibit Full Steam Ahead: The Golden Age of Great Lakes Passenger Steamships. 

Cost: $6 per student

Length: 1-1.5 hours

Group Size: Min= 10, Max= 30

Grade Levels: Best for high school students. Would not be recommended for younger students.

To receive the educational group tour rate, visits must be booked in advance through the Head of Education at (269) 637-8078 ext. 103.

Friends Good Will Sail Programs

Chart your course for learning and adventure with our Friends Good Will shipboard programming. This program combines hands-on, place-based learning both on the water and off. Students have the opportunity to be part of the crew aboard Friends Good Will while learning about shipboard life, weather, navigation, and team building. The ~1.5 hour on-water program is coupled with a corresponding program on the Museum’s campus with a variety of hands-on learning activities. See program options below.

Availability: Weekdays in Late May-Early June and September. If your group is interested in a weekend date during these times, contact the Museum to discuss options.

Cost: $500 per program

Length: ~3 hours

Group Size: Min=15, Max= 26 (Friends Good Will has a maximum capacity of 28 persons. Each group of 26 students requires 2 chaperones.)

Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of this vessel, it is not ADA compliant and cannot accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. All passengers must be able to board with minimal assistance. If you have questions about this or other concerns for your students, please contact the Head of Education at 269-637-8078 x 103.

Early Michigan History

Step aboard history with our Early Michigan History program. Students will learn about the Great Lakes in the early 19th century, the fur trade, a sailor’s daily life, knot tying, traditional navigation techniques, and even sing a sea shanty!

Grade Levels: While we can adapt our programming to most age groups, these programs are best suited for 3-5 grade levels.

Weather Science

How does the weather affect a ship? What are the characteristics of a wave? How can we predict a storm? We’ll address all of these questions and more with our weather science program. Students will investigate new and traditional weather predicting technology and help to sail to boat around a mock storm during an experiment aboard. They will also get a chance to observe and record current weather, make their own compass, and build a weather vane. 

Grade Levels: Can be adapted to most grade levels.

Immersive Sailing Experience

Our immersive sailing experience provides lots of hands-on, interactive learning that promotes team building and can accommodates every age group. Students will “learn the ropes” and experience the lake as part of the FGW crew all while learning some early Great Lakes maritime history and vocabulary.

Grade Levels: A great program for any age level or mix of age levels.

Friends Good Will Dockside Programs

Chart your course for learning and adventure with our Friends Good Will shipboard programming. This program combines hands-on, place-based learning aboard the ship from the comfort of the dock. Students have the opportunity to be part of the crew aboard Friends Good Will while learning about shipboard life, weather, navigation, and team building. The ~1.5 hour dockside program is coupled with a corresponding program on the Museum’s campus with a variety of hands-on learning activities. See program options below.

Availability: Weekdays in Mid May-Early June and September. If your group is interested in a weekend date during these times, contact the Museum to discuss options.

Cost: $300 per program

Length: ~3 hours

Group Size: Min=15, Max= 26 (Friends Good Will has a maximum capacity of 28 persons. Each group of 26 students requires 2 chaperones.)

Accessibility: Due to the historic nature of this vessel, it is not ADA compliant and cannot accommodate wheelchairs or walkers. All passengers must be able to board with minimal assistance. If you have questions about this or other concerns for your students, please contact the Head of Education at 269-637-8078 x 103.

Early Michigan History

Step aboard history with our Early Michigan History program. Students will learn about the Great Lakes in the early 19th century, the fur trade, a sailor’s daily life, knot tying, traditional navigation techniques, and even sing a sea shanty!

Grade Levels: While we can adapt our programming to most age groups, these programs are best suited for 3-5 grade levels.

Weather Science

How does the weather affect a ship? What are the characteristics of a wave? How can we predict a storm? We’ll address all of these questions and more with our weather science program. Students will investigate new and traditional weather predicting technology and help to sail to boat around a mock storm during an experiment aboard. They will also get a chance to observe and record current weather, make their own compass, and build a weather vane. 

Grade Levels: Can be adapted to most grade levels.

Students will learn about similarities in light, sound, and water waves using real-world examples from the maritime world and demonstrations in the classroom. This program showcases lighthouse technology with Fresnel lenses and fog horns and well as how this technology helps keep boats safe. Students will participate in a hands-on activity using patterns of light and sound to create their own, unique lighthouse.

Cost: $8 per students

Length: ~1 hour

Group Size: 30 per group (Contact the Museum directly for options with 50+ students)

Availability: Weekdays October-April

Grade Levels: Can be adapted for most age groups. Works best for Grade 1 NGSS Waves: Light & Sound.

Semper Paratus! Your students will always be ready for this program that combines history and science. Students learn about the history of the US Life Saving Service and US Coast Guard as well as examine the design and engineering of one of the most complete collections of wooden rescue boats in the country.

Cost: $8 per students

Length: 1 hour

Group Size: 30 per group (up to 2 groups per visit)

Availability: Weekdays October-April

Always Ready!

Students learn about the history of the US Life Saving Service and US Coast Guard with an interactive tour of our exhibits. Classroom hands-on activities may include one of the following programs: knot tying, buoyancy, a tin foil boatbuilding experiment, or Save Steve Rescue Challenge.

Grade Levels: Can be adapted for most age groups.

Rescues & Heroes

This program is a collaboration with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary that combines modern water safety education with history of the US Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard. Students will learn about some of the hazards present around water and how to avoid them as well as see some safety equipment and demonstrations used in water rescues. Students will tour the Museum Coast Guard exhibit and talk about rescue craft technology through time. Hands-on activities include basic knot-tying and a fun game illustrating water rescue and the importance of wearing a lifejacket.

Grade Levels: Can be adapted to most grade levels.

Currently Unavailable

Students will learn about the history of Great Lakes commercial fishing, native and invasive species, and how humans can impact an ecosystem through a variety of hands-on activities and lessons. This program also includes a tour aboard the Museum’s 1939 gill net fish tug Evelyn S.

Cost: $8 per students

Length: 2 hours

Group Size: 30

Grade Levels: K-5

Currently Unavailable

Can’t make it to the Michigan Maritime Museum? We’ll come to you! Our Ship to Shore program is designed to introduce students to early Great Lakes maritime history in a fun and interactive way. Students will learn about the commands on a vessel like the Museum’s Friends Good Will, the life of a sailor, the fur trade, play nautically themed games, and sing a sea shanty.

Cost: $100 for the first class, $50 for additional classes up to three per day with no more than an hour in between classes. *Mileage may be added for any distance farther than 30 miles from the Museum.

Length: 60 minutes

Group Size: Can be adapted for a classroom or assembly 

Grade Level: K-5

We offer a variety of special educational program offerings throughout the year for K-12 and beyond including our Internship Program and STEAM Summer Camp. Please see our Events Calendar for upcoming classes and programs.

Want to create something just for your group? We can tailor our programs and offerings to suit your needs. Contact us to find out how.