Education
In a coastal community such as ours, the ocean provides a common thread through the study of diverse disciplines: history, science, literature and math. It is the stories of people, explorers and researchers, that bring the ocean to life for students. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is here to tell these human stories, from earlier Chumash seafaring to deep-sea diving and exploration.
We look forward to working with you to design experiences that truly enhances your classroom study.
WHALES TALES WORKSHOP
(Kindergarten — 3rd Grade)
The Santa Barbara Channel is home to diverse species of marine life including blue, gray, and humpback whales. Whales Tales teaches children about the physical characteristics, migratory patterns, and feeding habits of these mammals by combining storytelling and educational activities.
50-minute session
Admission plus $4 per person
DIVING DEEPER WORKSHOP
(4th grade and up)
The State Standard-aligned curriculum encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of Santa Barbara’s unique maritime environment.
50-minute session
Admission plus $4 per person
MERRY TIME ROLLING YACHT:
HANDS-ON NAVIGATION
Merry Time provides students the opportunity to learn basic navigation. After completing a compass training worksheet, children can navigate a course aboard Merry Time. This program can be incorporated as part of a school group visit or is available for school science nights.
Arrangements for Merry Time must be made two weeks prior to your visit or event.
LECTURE SERIES: SHORE TO SEA
California’s Central Coast maritime history is rich with tales and amazing individuals. Lecturers present on diverse topics including history, marine wildlife, art and the environment.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum hosts the National Park Service and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary monthly lecture series, From Shore to Sea. Highlighting current research relating to the Channel Islands, these lectures are free to the public and take place at 7 pm on the second Tuesday each month here in our Munger Theater.
BOATING EDUCATION
Through exciting, educational, and practical courses the Maritime Museum’s adult education program fosters an appreciation of the sea while teaching the skills needed to enjoy the maritime environment.Adult education cover topic such as celestial navigation, cruising skills for the Channel Islands, coastal navigation, and how to buy the best boat.
BOOK CLUB
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Book Club meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10am to discuss maritime themed books. Highlighting both fiction and non-fiction, the diverse selections always bring lively discussion to this group.
See Events Calendar for date-specific information.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Chart your own course! Self-guided tours allow groups to explore specific subject matter and experience the museum at your own pace.
To aid in student discovery, treasure maps are available for group or individual visitors.
SELF-GUIDED TOURS
Admission ONLY
DOCENT-GUIDED TOURS
During a docent-guided tour, volunteer educators engage visitors in active viewing and discussion of topics relating to the Museum’s exhibits and maritime history. Reservations for docent guided tours must be made at least two weeks in advance of your planned visit. Tours typically require 45 minutes but can be adapted to fit needs of the group.
TEACHERS: Working to meet the educational goals of your class, we tailor tours to the age level, learning styles and curriculum connections of your group. Workshops, storytelling or sing-a-longs can be added to any tour program.
SPECIAL OFFERING
Docent-Guided Harbor Tours
Explore Santa Barbara’s working harbor as a Museum docent leads your group on a tour of the harbor’s unique features, outstanding vessels and historic roots. With a long fishing history in the Santa Barbara Channel, the harbor serves as key component in our local community. In touring the harbor, students discover more about our rich maritime history, community structures & the sea animals driving the industry. Harbor tours may be scheduled as part of your group tour. Weather depending.
DOCENT-GUIDED TOURS
45-minute tour
Admission plus $1.50 per person
SPIRIT OF DANA POINT
TALL SHIP EDUCATION PROGRAM
(4th–5th Grade)
This maritime program brings history alive for students, allowing them to spend the night aboard a tall ship living the life of a nineteenth
century sailor.
Based on Richard Henry Dana Jr.’s book Two Years Before the Mast. Students are immersed in the unique world Dana faced as he rounded Cape Horn on his voyage to Alta California, headed to Santa Barbara to trade hides and tallow.
Students explore man’s relationship with the ocean, gain an appreciation for our maritime heritage, and learn the concepts of ‘historical perspectives’ and ‘interpretation’. Through challenging hands on activities students develop problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
A more advanced program, based on the novel Carry On, Mr. Bowditch, recreates an adventuresome three-year Mediterranean bound trading voyage in which students have signed on as sailors to escape the economic crisis in Salem caused by the Revolutionary War. In order to survive the turbulent life at sea, students must learn to navigate, defend, and maintain their ship while trading in foreign ports.
The program curriculum offers interdisciplinary lessons in math, science, language arts, social studies, and music. Additionally, the professionally developed curriculum is aligned with the California State Content Standards and highlights California’s rich maritime history.
The Spirit of Dana Point Tall Ship Education Program runs during the month of October and features a special community day and public dockside tours of the tall ship. Sign up your class for an overnight adventure of a lifetime!
SEE CALENDAR FOR FALL PROGRAM DATES
18-hour program (2 pm-9 am)
Call for pricing and scholarship information
Up to 30 participants per overnight
Ditty Box curriculum provided in advance
IMMERSION PRESENTS:
A fun and powerful science education program for kids in grades 3–8.
Famed oceanographer and explorer Dr. Robert Ballard founded Immersion Presents in 2002, and since then he’s brought hundreds of thousands of kids and their families along with him on amazing scientific expeditions throughout the world.
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum brings this standards-aligned program to Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, hosting school groups and teacher trainings. Building on standards-aligned classroom curriculum, students take part in a live broadcast and hands-on exploration at the Maritime Museum. The program features leading researchers, engaging students in their work and connecting with local environments.
Past topics have included Titanic, Ancient Eruptions, Ocean Exploration and Marine Mammals of the Arctic 2010. Sign up your class today!
SEE CALENDAR FOR PROGRAM DATES
2-hour program
$4 per student (call for scholarship information)
Up to 60 participants per session
Teacher training and curriculum offered in advance.
Read more...
FESTIVALS
Santa Barbara’s rich maritime history comes to life during our annual festivals. Each spring, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum hosts the Sea Festival, featuring hands-on activities, performances and vessel tours. Summer Celebration takes place each July, ringing in the Museum’s birthday. The activity-filled celebration includes engaging programs, art, tours and more.
VISITING TALL SHIPS
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum sponsors visiting tall ships throughout the year. These vessels serve as special temporary exhibits that the public can tour, experiencing history firsthand. Many of the visiting tall ships also provide additional education and sailing opportunities.
PASSPORT PROGRAM
As a member of the Santa Barbara Educator's Roundtable, SBMM participates in the annual Passport Program.
From November to April, Passport booklets are available for students in grades K-8. The Passport allows free admission for the student and one adult to participating museums and education sites. Each venue provides an activity for students to complete, earning stamps in their passport. After receiving eight stamps, students will receive a special Passport T-shirt.
KRAZY KARDBOARD KAYAK RACE
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum in collaboration with Semana Nautica hosts the annual Krazy Kardboard Kayak Race. Teams of 4 are invited to challenge friends and fellow community members to a test of wits and design capabilities as they attempt to create a functioning cardboard kayak. After an hour of vessel design at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, competitors parade kayaks to the race location to find out whose design can hold up under pressure and paddling. Recruit family, friends, coworkers and neighbors, and join us for an entirely unique and zany water-sport challenge.
BOATING SAFETY WEEK
Last week of May each year!The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum celebrates Boating Safety Week with a variety of educational offerings for the community and school groups. Special demonstrations on life vests, knot tying and basic navigation prepare visitors to boat safely all year long.
INTERNATIONAL TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY
September 19th each year — SBMM celebrates this zany holiday with an array of pirate activities!
From talking like a pirate to finding ‘ar buried treasure, visitors are in for a swashbucklin’ good time.
PARTNERSHIPS
Educator Resources:
In a coastal community such as ours, the ocean provides a common thread through the study of diverse disciplines: history, science, literature and math. It is the stories of people, explorers & researchers, that bring the ocean to life for students. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is here to tell these human stories, from earlier Chumash seafaring to deep-sea diving and exploration.
We look forward to working with you to design experiences that truly enhances your classroom study.
Interested in accessing pre-visit materials, special offers and over 100 ocean-themed lessons?
REGISTER TODAY to gain access to our downloadable teacher resources!
