Children's Maritime Institute

Every day, young people make discoveries about themselves and the world around them aboard the Children's Maritime Institute's (CMI) majestic 130-foot, three-masted schooner, American Pride - the official tall ship of the City of Long Beach - which calls the Pine Avenue Pier at Rainbow Harbor its home dock. We are proud to expose Long Beach youth to a unique, inspiring and challenging exploration in active-learning as we help them foster STEM comprehension, self-empowerment, curiosity, environmental awareness, problem-solving and teamwork.

The Children's Maritime Institute - a division of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) - offers a number of LAMI's long-standing and diverse programs to youth in Long Beach. This includes the organization's foundational TopSail Youth and TopSail STEM programs, summer camps, monthly dockside activities/tours and more. Our programs are geared toward students from upper elementary school through 12th grade. They are also designed to be customizable to the specific age groups and educational priorities of the youth, teachers and group leaders who participate, and they can include two or three-hour discovery sails, multi-day/night immersive voyages, or semester-long comprehensive courses.

Our programs give students real-life examples of STEM subjects they study in school, and as a result, they are awakened to their potential and their intrinsic connection with others and nature. Our programs also have an enduring positive impact, from staying in school to pursuing careers or vocations in maritime, environmental or other science-related fields after sailing with us. That's why we are proud to partner with our community to provide these young people with a chance to more deeply understand and believe in themselves, look to the future, and care for the world around them.

Through hands-on activities, such as steering and navigation, securing lines, furling and unfurling the sails, viewing and dissecting sea creatures, testing water quality, exploring the LA River watershed and history of California's coast, and discussing maritime history, students are given real-life examples of STEM subjects they study in school. This helps to create "aha" moments for the students, which deepens their understanding of and connection to these important subjects. Numerous studies have shown how outdoor experiential education deepens academic and emotional understanding, an opportunity not afforded to many students, especially those from at-risk and disadvantaged populations. Thanks to the support of our community, we are able to provide this life-changing experience to middle and high school students from the many under-resourced communities throughout the greater Los Angeles area, but our program is not limited to that demographic. We believe that all youth can benefit from this unique at-sea experience.

Testimonials

"We had an amazing time aboard the American Pride and look forward to sailing again soon. Thank you for your commitment to our oceans, the environment, children, and education. We greatly appreciate all you do!" - Elementary School Teacher

"My son did a 5-day Tall Ship camp last year. It was the best experience of his life. I really hope that everyone can have the chance to experience these tall ships. What a window into our past!" - Parent

"During my volunteer work to help the Institute with their planning process, I was very impressed with the staff's experience aboard tall ships, their passion for ocean sailing, and their dedication to helping youth develop skills and gain confidence. Their operational success is a reflection of a great team working so well together to fulfill the Institute's noble goal. So glad they are there to help shape an aspiring future generation." - Volunteer