For the past 21 years, Maritime Gloucester’s Ocean Explorers program has brought marine science education to every 3rd, 4th, & 5th grader in the Gloucester Public Schools. We visit the classrooms in all 4 elementary schools and welcome these students to our campus to participate in exciting hands-on experiential learning in our Sea Pocket Aquarium, the Marine Science Education Center, onboard the Schooner Ardelle and so much more. Over the course of the school year, your kids interact with our educators a total of 6 times, offering invaluable access to the harbor, bridging a unique connection with our local youth in our own blue backyard. 21 years participating in our curriculum equates to the educational engagement of over 13,500 students!

As we mark this year’s final 5th grade graduation celebration, we want to emphasize the importance of this program in our schools and we urge you to consider supporting its continuation. Maritime Gloucester annually raises the funds to sustain Ocean Explorers as our gift to the community, but we now are urgently seeking funding to keep this program alive for elementary students across Cape Ann and beyond. To support Ocean Explorers into 2026 and help us keep this essential program going at no cost to the Gloucester Public Schools, please Donate Today: MaritimeGloucester.org/give-1