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Maritime Industry Experiential Partners

These organizations are located in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties and offer opportunities to experience maritime careers in a short-term manner. 

Workforce Development Policy Directive

Increasing equitable access to economic prosperity

Priority Hire at the Port

Port Jobs

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Ballard Maritime Academy

Address:

Ballard High School
1418 NW 65th Street
Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 252-1000

www.ballardhs.seattleschools.org/academics/maritime-academy

Contacts:

John Foster
BMA Lead Instructor
Maritime Survey & Maritime Skills
Work: (206) 252-1137 
Cell: (206) 355-0161
[email protected]

Norm Gundle
[email protected]

Overview of Services:

The Ballard Maritime Academy (BMA), was established in 1999 and is supported by the Youth Maritime Training Association (YMTA), Alliance for Education, Ballard High School Foundation, local maritime industries, marine-related educational institutions, and the Seattle Public Schools Career and Technical Education Department.

The BMA is a small learning community within Ballard High School where students focus on a maritime career theme within the context of their overall education. Students are introduced to the career opportunities in maritime related endeavors including oceanography, recreational boating, commercial fishing, shipyards & vessel construction, boat design, maritime law, cruise ships, and the merchant marine or service academies.

The Ballard Maritime Academy provides a real-world relevance to education, meeting the Washington State and Seattle Public Schools academic standards, while preparing our students for college and careers.

Credential: NO

The BMA is an elective process at the high school level that educates students about the next steps on a maritime career pathway, but does not offer credentials.

If pursuing a maritime career path, we recommend enrolling in a 4-yr maritime academy such as the Seattle Maritime Academy at Seattle Central Community College. If pursuing industry certification, we recommend enlisting in the Coast Guard.

Equity Lens:

The BMA is an inclusive program for high school students. Students gain more diversity in their courses from this elective program and are able to easily access more information about maritime career pathways. 

Foss Waterway Seaport

Address:

705 Dock Street
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 272-2750

https://fosswaterwayseaport.org/

Contact:

Julia Berg, Education Director
Cell: (360) 277-6101

Overview of Services:

Foss Waterway Seaport houses historic maritime exhibits including hands-on activities for children; an operating Heritage Boat Shop; an education center highlighting marine and environmental science inquiry and exploration; and high-end event rental spaces for public and private events. In addition, there are over 1200 feet of docks and floats for educational and recreational use.

Public Education Programs: Working boat shop. 

School Programs: Partner with Tacoma Public Schools. Our Seaport launches a salmon program with 12 initial schools, and shares access with all schools in the district. All 7th graders visiting the Seaport gain exposure to maritime topics, history, and marine science through boat rides along the waterway. Our school programs also work with High School students and offer internships. 

Credential: NO

Though our program works with Maritime High School in Des Moines, we do not offer course credit. 

Equity Lens:

Pre-pandemic: Community outreach.

Current: Direct contact with teachers across school districts for more access and connections with students. 

Maritime Blue / Youth Maritime Collaborative

Address:

www.maritimeblue.org
www.youthmaritimecollaborative.org

 

Contact:

Veasna Hoy, Program Director
YMC
(206) 948-9492
[email protected]

Overview of Services:

Maritime Blue is a 2022 finalist in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Build Back Better Regional Challenge. The EDA is awarding $30 million in planning grants to its 60 finalists. Maritime Blue will use the $500,000 award to integrate the region’s blue economy cluster.

See more at www.maritimeblue.org/updates/

Maritime Blue is committed to guiding today’s youth toward maritime-related careers. The YMC Maritime Youth Accelerator curriculum includes modules in areas such as professional communication, time-management, confidence-building, and problem-solving. The program includes job shadow experience with a maritime employer, technical training days that focus on building proficiencies in Microsoft Office, G-Suite, and Adobe, and other platforms, and experiential learning days which include networking opportunities with maritime professionals, site visits to youth-serving maritime organizations, and an opportunity to participate in vessel operator simulations. 

Credential: NO

Equity Lens:

With a focus on reaching underrepresented communities through experiential events and high school internships, the Collaborative works to connect companies with the next generation of workers.

The Youth Maritime Accelerator Project is an 8-week culturally relevant program that connects underrepresented youth with maritime employers while teaching youth skill-based learning to earn fulfilling jobs in the maritime industry. 

The YMAP internship is targeted at young adults in South King County, ages 18-24.

Maritime High School

Address:

615 S 200th Street
Des Moines, WA 98198
(206) 631-7400

Contact:

Tremain Holloway, Principal
[email protected]

Heather Seely, Office Manager
[email protected]

Overview of Services:

Maritime High School is a new, small high school that opened in September 2021 with its first 9th-grade class. Maritime is a collaborative project of Highline Public Schools, Northwest Maritime Center, Port of Seattle, and the Duwamish River Community Coalition, with many community and industry partners engaged to support our students.

Student learning will center on the environment, marine science, and maritime careers working on or near the water. To do this, students will engage in integrated projects, learning across all high school content areas. Students will have time in the classroom, frequent field experiences and boat-based learning. 

In the 11th- and 12th-grade years, students will participate in internships to gain workforce skills and knowledge. Students will engage in project-based learning, working with teachers, community partners and industry experts in hands-on experiences; an innovative transcript will demonstrate their learning across all academic subject areas.

Credential: NO

By graduation, students will have skills to launch a Maritime career, and will also be ready to continue studying in a 2 or 4-year college.

Equity Lens:

Equitable Access for All: Inclusive programs, policies, and practices ensure that quality education and maritime career opportunities are accessible to all. Focused efforts are made to recruit, engage, prepare, and empower students who are under-represented in maritime and ocean science careers, emphasizing those furthest from educational justice and opportunities, including students of color and girls. The school will actively showcase strong maritime and ocean sciences professionals from these under-represented populations, creating promising pathways for the students.

Northwest Maritime Center (NWMC)

(Merged with Salish Sea Expeditions; also a partner of Maritime HS)

Address:

431 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(360) 385-3628 ext. 100

nwmaritime.org

[email protected]

Contact:

Mia Garcia
Campus Coordinator
(360) 385-3628 ext. 125

Overview of Services:

The mission of the NWMC is to engage and educate people of all generations in traditional and contemporary maritime life, in a spirit of adventure and discovery. We do it in service to our community and maritime industry, but mostly because regardless of the subject, the sea is the most powerful teacher we know.

Maritime Programs for Youth: Our work with youth is at the center of our mission – to create powerful maritime experiences that educate and inspire people to adventure. We offer Summer Programs, School & Group Programs, Year-Round Programs. We also host the sailing team for Port Townsend High School.

Adults: Improve your boating skills and maritime knowledge with sailing, boatbuilding, navigation, and seamanship classes.

We also offer casual activities including Saturday Sails, which allows access to a boat for the day to enjoy the sea without learning or navigation.

Credential: NO

However, you do receive the US Sailing Basic Keel Boat Certificate after completing the rigorous Keel Boat course.

Equity Lens:

Our focus is getting everyone interested in maritime life, regardless of their background or experience. We are proud to have opened Maritime High School this past year, and we continue to push for diversity as a center. We are continuing to focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in both our kids and adult classes. 

Our upcoming 6-week winter series, "Ask An Expert," features a diverse array of speakers and backgrounds to connect audiences with maritime knowledge and experience. 

We offer the Girls' Boat Project for girls aged 11-14 in grades 6-8. Similarly, we offer a women-only Keel Boat course along with girls-only camps to cater to women who prefer to learn with women only. 

 

Puget Sound Maritime (PSM)

Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society
(Operates the Youth Maritime Training Association - YMTA)

Address:

PO Box 81142
Seattle, WA 98108
(206) 812-5464

www.pugetmaritime.org

[email protected]

Contact:

Alicia Barnes, Director

Overview of Services:

In 2014 PSMHS (Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society) acquired the Youth Maritime Training Association (YMTA) with the goal of expanding our student outreach and engagement and preserving the maritime heritage of the Pacific Northwest.  With the expansion of our mission and vision, we adopted the name Puget Sound Maritime (PSM), highlighting our focus on Heritage, Education, Research and Outreach (HERO).

The YMTA is a program that provides information, scholarship, and grant resources to students in the Puget Sound region. Founded in 1996 by Norm Manly, YMTA began as a single man’s passion for exposing students to boats and the water. Currently, YMTA awards six or seven scholarships per year, ranging from $1,000 – $5,000.  We attend at least 24 college and career fairs and reach approximately 200 students each year.

Puget Sound Skills Center

Address:

18010 - 8th Avenue S
SeaTac, WA 98148
(206) 631-7300

www.pssc.highlineschools.org

www.pssc.highlineschools.org/programs/marine-science-technology

Contact:

Joe Weiss, Instructor
Marine Science & Technology
(206) 433-2107
[email protected]

Overview of Services:

Puget Sound Skills Center (PSSC) serves high school juniors and seniors interested in specialized career and technical learning. Students spend half of their school day in their home high schools, and half the day at PSSC.

PSSC is one of 14 skills centers in Washington state, offering high-quality, tuition-free technical and professional training. Operated by Highline Public Schools, PSSC serves students from 22 partner high schools in Highline, Federal Way, Tukwila and Tahoma school districts.

The Marine Science Technology program combines practical skills such as seamanship, navigation and marine safety. Students work closely with professionals from the Seattle Aquarium and all students receive a pass that allows them to visit the aquarium whenever they wish. If you are interested in studying the ocean and marine life in high school, this program is for you.

Credential: No

Students receive their high school diploma with a specialization in a specific field. PSSC does not currently have an affiliation with a college.

Equity Lens:

PSSC has high percentage of non-white students. 50% are Hispanic, reflecting the demographics of its surrounding area. 

Salish Sea Expeditions

Address:

431 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
(206) 780-7848

www.salish.org

Overview of Services:

Salish Sea Expeditions inspires youth to connect with the marine environment through boat-based scientific inquiry and hands-on learning, instilling curiosity, confidence, and critical thinking. Youth in grades 5-12 get the opportunity to conduct real scientific research and engage in STEM exploration and maritime skills training. 

Credential: NO

Youth Marine Foundation (YMF)

Address:

820 East D Street
Tacoma, WA 98421
(253) 572-2666
 
www.tacomaymf.org

Contact:

Monique Valenzuela, ED/CEO

Overview of Services:

The Youth Marine Foundation is the premier on-water nonprofit that provides hands-on maritime training and marine science programs for youth year-round. We collaborate with public schools and youth-focused community groups to provide on-water training year-round.

The Youth Marine Foundation operates the Tacoma Youth Marine Center and provides a strong collaboration with Elements of Education high schools including School of the Arts (SOTA), Science and Math Institute (SAMI) and Industrial Design Engineering & Art (IDEA). By providing both on-campus classrooms and charter cruises aboard our commercial vessels, students participate in hands-on marine science classes.  

In addition to the use of the three larger vessels operated by the Tacoma Sea Scouts, the Youth Marine Foundation owns and maintains a small fleet of 45+ small watercraft including kayaks, small sailboats and small motorboats.

Credential: NO

Youth Maritime Training Association

Address:

[email protected]

www.ymta.net

(206) 812-5464

Overview of Services:

At YMTA our goal is to inspire maritime careers. Whether you are looking for information on how to start a career in the maritime industry now, looking for maritime educational activities for your students, or are a student looking for information on maritime careers or scholarships – YMTA is a great resource for all ages and stages of interest! 

One prominent change would be our merger with the non-profit Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society (PSM) where YMTA is a separate committee within the PSM organization to continue with the efforts of raising awareness of maritime careers.

Workforce Development Policy Directive

Increasing equitable access to economic prosperity

Priority Hire at the Port

Port Jobs

Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Explore More

See All Related Content

Contact

Robert Brown
Program Manager & Data Analyst (Maritime and Green Jobs Pathways)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 206.787.3204

Crystal Dome (she/her)
WFD Contract and Budget Specialist

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 206-532-1079

Leslie Horton (she/her)
Program Manager & Data Analyst (Aviation Pathways)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 206.888.3639

Carl Hugle (he/him)
Program Manager & Data Analyst (Construction Pathways)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 206.787.3861

Anna Pavlik (she/her)
Director, Workforce Development

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 206.787.3172

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