In January, 2010 NSHOF initiated a partnership with Anne Arundel County Public Schools to help students learn math and science through sailing and to raise awareness of marine and maritime careers.

Initial activities with curricular material and students began in April 2010 with a six-week STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Problem Based Learning module with 104 freshmen at South River High School, culminating with a day-long field trip to the NSHOF for sailing time as well as time spent touring the Robert Crown Sailing Center at the United States Naval Academy, where they learned about the newest YP boat on display.

During the summer, NSHOF taught a two-week STEM Summer Bridge Program in July to entering 10th and 11th grade students from the two STEM magnet programs at South River High School and North County High School in Glen Burnie, MD.

In September, 2010 NSHOF taught an eight-week PBL class, “Finding Your Way on Land and Water,” to all sophomores in the STEM program at South River High School in Edgewater, MD. Students learned the use of handheld compasses, bearings, topographic maps, and nautical charts.

One of the highlights of the NSHOF Sailing Center and the NSHOF Education Program is the use of the Sandbaggers, BULL and BEAR.  These two replicas of the 1869 SUZY Q are not only magnificent to look at ashore and under sail but everyone from students to adults who have sailed them, rave about their exhilarating performance.