TRAVERSE CITY TALLSHIP FIELD GUIDE
Aboard Schooner Alliance: A Four-Hour Great Lakes Classroom in Traverse City
A four-hour Schoolship program aboard the tallship Alliance where students conduct hands-on sampling and analysis to learn Great Lakes ecology—this guide explains what to expect and how to plan.
Aboard Schooner Alliance: A Four-Hour Great Lakes Classroom in Traverse City.
Inland Seas Education Association's Schoolship programs place students on the tallship schooner Alliance for a four-hour immersive lesson on Great Lakes ecology, turning classrooms into working research decks where young learners collect fish, plankton and benthic organisms and analyze samples alongside experienced staff and volunteers.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Hands-on science at sea
Students join staff and volunteers in collecting and analyzing Great Lakes samples—fish, plankton and organisms from the lake bottom—to learn field techniques and build environmental stewardship.
Schooner Alliance from Discovery Pier
Schoolship programs are conducted aboard the schooner Alliance, which sails from Discovery Pier in Traverse City and can accommodate groups of students for an onboard educational program.
NextGen curricula tailored for classrooms
Programs offered aboard Alliance include NextGen - Microplastics and NextGen - Seamanship, designed to engage students in contemporary Great Lakes topics through active participation.
What the day feels like
What the Schoolship Feels Like
Over four hours aboard Alliance, students move from boarding to hands-on sampling and onboard analysis, assisting seasoned staff and volunteers as they collect fish, plankton and benthic organisms and translate those catches into lessons about the Great Lakes' ecology and stewardship.
THE CLASSROOM
Hands-on science at sea
Students join staff and volunteers in collecting and analyzing Great Lakes samples—fish, plankton and organisms from the lake bottom—to learn field techniques and build environmental stewardship.
THE VESSEL
Schooner Alliance from Discovery Pier
Schoolship programs are conducted aboard the schooner Alliance, which sails from Discovery Pier in Traverse City and can accommodate groups of students for an onboard educational program.
THE PROGRAMS
NextGen curricula tailored for classrooms
Programs offered aboard Alliance include NextGen - Microplastics and NextGen - Seamanship, designed to engage students in contemporary Great Lakes topics through active participation.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this program is built for—and where limits apply.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Each Schoolship program aboard Alliance runs approximately four hours.
All Schoolship sails aboard Alliance embark from Discovery Pier in Traverse City under the Inland Seas Education Association.
Programs are suitable for students of all ages and the schooner accommodates up to 35 passengers—plan group size and supervision accordingly.
The total cost for a Schoolship experience is $825; a $100 non-refundable deposit reserves a date and the remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the sail.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long is a Schoolship program aboard Alliance?
Schoolship programs aboard the schooner Alliance are four-hour experiences.
Where does Alliance sail from for Schoolship programs?
Alliance sails from Discovery Pier in Traverse City.
What do students do during the program?
Students assist staff and volunteers with collecting and analyzing Great Lakes samples, including fish, plankton and benthic organisms.
What programs are offered aboard Alliance?
Programs offered aboard Alliance include NextGen - Microplastics and NextGen - Seamanship.
How many participants can Alliance accommodate?
The schooner Alliance can accommodate up to 35 passengers.
What is the cost and booking policy for a Schoolship?
The total cost is $825; a $100 non-refundable deposit reserves your Schoolship date and the remaining balance is due 30 days prior to the sail.