Preparing for Ship to Shore
Download Health Form
Arriving at Mystic Seaport
Chaperone Guidelines
Packing List
Meet the Educators
Frequently Asked Questions

TO REGISTER:

Call 860.572.0711, ext. 5119
Or email overnight@mysticseaport.org

Download a Health Form

View Conrad
Tweendecks Plan

Purchase a Conrad Overnight
T-Shirt & Cap

Download the 2012-13 Education Brochure

Orion Award for Excellence in Experiential Education

Learn more about this annual award recognizes stellar teachers who are inspiring to their students and to their colleagues.

Ship to Shore: Overnight School Group Program

A field trip like no other!

Are your students ready for a maritime adventure? Ship to Shore at Mystic Seaport offers your school group the opportunity to immerse itself in history. Through exploration of Mystic Seaport's 19th-century village by day and nights spent aboard the training vessel Joseph Conrad, and with a series of educational tours, authentic demonstrations, and hands-on activities, the Ship to Shore program is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Students can learn about life at sea firsthand as they:

• Bunk with their "shipmates" aboard the Joseph Conrad.
• Stargaze in the Planetarium
• Sing sea songs with a chanteyman
• Interact with an 1876 roleplayer
• Create handmade keepsakes using traditional sailor's tools
• Venture aloft by climbing the Conrad's rigging (weather permitting)

Each Ship to Shore program is tailored to the needs of the visiting school. Schools can choose from topics such as Life in a Seaport Town, Whaling, Cargoes, and Immigration, among others. Programs can also be designed around a custom topic of your choosing.

Ship to Shore is open to all school groups, and is especially recommended for students in grades 4-9. The minimum group size for participation is 20 students and the maximum is 50 students. Schools can choose either a three-day, two-night program or a two-day, one-night program. Spring programs run from mid-February to the end of May. Fall programs run from mid-September to mid-November. Overnight programs occur during the week, on any 2-3 day span from Monday to Friday.

Ship to Shore Programs Include:

Two-night programs include two afternoon study tours, three morning workshops, a Planetarium presentation, a chantey show, and rigging climb (weather permitting).

One-night programs include one afternoon study tour, rigging climb (weather permitting), and either a Planetarium presentation or a chantey show.

Afternoon Study Tour Choices:

• Life in a Seaport Town: Learn about living and working in a 19th-century coastal New England town. Each group has their own hands-on activity geared towards a specific profession of the time.
• All in the Same Boat: An overview of the New England whaling Industry in the 19th century. Each group learns about a different job/role aboard a whaleship. Tour includes a harpoon throw.
• Cargos Around the World: How did we transport cargo before diesel and the Panama Canal?
• Harvesting the Sea: A look at the New England fishing industry, focusing on cod fishing, lobstering, and oystering.
• *New* Immigration: Learn how people from around the world entered the United States during the 19th century. After going through a simulation of Ellis Island, explore the grounds as you learn about the struggles and triumphs of immigrants and how they have shaped American culture.
• *New* Ecology: A scientific survey of the Mystic River ecosystem, including the biodiversity of its plant and animal organisms and the symbiotic relationships between them.
  

Morning Workshop Choices (2-night programs only):

• Knot Tying: Learn how to tie key nautical knots, such as the bowline, square knot, and figure eight knot.
• Lanyards: Use half-hitches to make a sailor's lanyard bracelet or keychain.
• Sea Chest: Dig into a sailor's sea chest to see what mariners brought to sea in the 1800s.
• Navigating by Compass: Use compass bearings to navigate a scavenger hunt on Museum grounds.
• Open Hearth Cooking: Cook over an open fire and enjoy the fruits of your labor! (recommended for small groups and younger students)
• Role-playing: Portray a character from the 19th century and learn about primary and secondary sources. (Classroom prep required, including basic research, story telling, reading, and writing.)
• Simple Machines: An overview of basic physics concepts, identifying simple machines around the Museum, and exploring their purposes.
• Other: We welcome any ideas that would help fit your trip into your curriculum!

Ship to Shore Fees and Additional Information:

$200 per student for a two-night program and $150 per student for a one-night program.

• Fees are inclusive of all admission, meals and program costs.
• The minimum group size is 20 (including students and adults).
• A $40 per person non-refundable deposit is required.
• One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students. (There is no fee for required chaperones.)
• Additional adults (over and above the required number) are charged the student fee ($200/$150)
• Up to six adults in total may attend, including required and additional chaperones.
• Boxed lunches (on final day) are available upon request.
  

For more information, or to make a reservation, call 860.572.0711, ext. 5119, or email overnight@mysticseaport.org.