Hands-On Great Lakes Adventures Aboard Historic Schooners

Educational sails, night sky cruises, ROV engineering, and dorm lodging — immersive maritime experiences in Traverse City and Suttons Bay.

Featured Experiences

From Schoolship science trips to public night sails and ROV programs — meaningful, curriculum-aligned Great Lakes experiences for all ages.

Traverse City

ROV Registration Experience in Traverse City, Michigan

Join the ROV Registration program in Traverse City to build and operate your own underwater vehicle. Discover engineering and marine science through a hands-on, collaborative adventure that inspires discovery and environmental care.

ROV Registration Experience in Traverse City, Michigan

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Traverse City, Michigan

Traverse City

Schoolship Registration - Alliance Adventure in Traverse City

Set sail on the tall ship Alliance in Traverse City, Michigan, and learn firsthand about the Great Lakes' aquatic ecosystem. This interactive schoolship adventure combines sailing with environmental science for an unforgettable outdoor experience.

Schoolship Registration - Alliance Adventure in Traverse City

Suttons Bay

Sailing Schoolship Adventure in Suttons Bay, Michigan

Sail aboard a historic schooner and become a Great Lakes scientist for the day with Inland Seas Education Association's Schoolship program in Suttons Bay. Learn, explore, and protect the environment in this hands-on outdoor adventure.

Sailing Schoolship Adventure in Suttons Bay, Michigan

Suttons Bay

Night Sailing & Stargazing on Suttons Bay Great Lakes

Spend a peaceful two hours sailing Suttons Bay’s Great Lakes waters under a pristine night sky guided by an expert astronomer. Discover constellations and lake tranquility beyond city limits.

Night Sailing & Stargazing on Suttons Bay Great Lakes

Traverse City

Great Lakes STEM Water Activities with Watershed Exploration

Dive into hands-on STEM water activities on the Great Lakes with Watershed Exploration in Suttons Bay, MI. Learn about environmental science through immersive watershed programs designed for all ages.

Great Lakes STEM Water Activities with Watershed Exploration

Suttons Bay

Dormitory Lodging for Group Stays in Suttons Bay

Discover Dormitory Lodging at Capt. Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station, an ideal base for schools and groups in Suttons Bay. Comfortable, communal stays meet nature-rich learning opportunities.

Dormitory Lodging for Group Stays in Suttons Bay

Suttons Bay

Hands-On Lake Michigan Fishing Adventure in Suttons Bay

Join the Schooner Inland Seas in Suttons Bay for an interactive two-hour fishing trip where you’ll learn about Lake Michigan’s fish and help researchers collect vital ecological data.

Hands-On Lake Michigan Fishing Adventure in Suttons Bay

About Inland Seas Education Association

Inland Seas Education Association provides immersive Great Lakes education through hands-on sailing trips, STEM programs, and group lodging. Operating historic tall ships including the 105' schooner Alliance and the 77' schooner Inland Seas, the organization delivers public sails, schoolship science expeditions, night sky cruises, and watershed exploration programs that connect participants with lake ecology.

Programs offered include Schoolship registration aboard both Alliance and Inland Seas, four-hour student research cruises where learners collect and analyze aquatic samples, and fisheries netting sails that support Michigan DNR research. The ROV Engineer and Explore program guides students to design, build, and operate remotely operated vehicles, blending engineering practice with marine stewardship. Public experiences include Night Sail events in Traverse City and Suttons Bay and Schooner Showcase sails that place guests among majestic tall ships on Grand Traverse Bay. For residential groups, dormitory lodging at the Capt. Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station accommodates up to 12 guests in a quiet Suttons Bay setting.

The organization emphasizes curriculum-aligned lessons, certified instructors, and partnerships with regional researchers to ensure educational rigor and safety. By combining authentic sailing with hands-on science, Inland Seas Education Association fosters environmental stewardship, inspires future scientists and mariners, and offers repeatable programs tailored to school groups, families, and adult learners.

Participants can expect professional crew, clearly defined learning objectives, and opportunities to contribute real data to regional research efforts.

Inland Seas Education Association — Great Lakes Education & Tall Ship Experiences

Inland Seas Education Association offers immersive Great Lakes programs centered on historic schooners, hands-on science, and lasting stewardship. Based around Traverse City and Suttons Bay, Inland Seas runs public night sails, the annual Schooner Showcase, Schoolship science cruises, ROV engineering workshops, watershed exploration, fisheries research sails, and dormitory lodging for school groups.

Key Programs and Experiences

Schoolship Programs: Four-hour student sails aboard tall ships where participants collect plankton, test water chemistry, and analyze aquatic ecosystems. These curriculum-aligned trips turn students into citizen scientists.
Schooner Showcase & Night Sails: Public evening sails aboard the 105' Alliance and 77' Inland Seas during Traverse City events and Discovery Pier gatherings — panoramic views of tall ships and Grand Traverse Bay.
ROV Engineer & Explore: Hands-on engineering for students to design, build, and operate remotely operated vehicles, teaching marine technology and problem-solving.
Watershed Exploration: Mobile STEM lessons that emphasize freshwater ecology, habitat conservation, and field-based science for school groups.
Fisheries Netting Sail: Cast nets with researchers aboard Inland Seas to document fish species and support Michigan DNR data collection.
Dormitory Lodging: The Capt. Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station in Suttons Bay houses up to 12 guests for multi-day educational programs.

Why Choose Inland Seas?

Authentic Tall Ship Experiences — sail on historically styled schooners: Alliance (105') and Inland Seas (77').
Education-First Approach — schoolship trips are designed for measurable learning outcomes and standards alignment.
Hands-On STEM — ROV builds, fisheries research, and watershed labs translate abstract science into concrete skills.
Local Research Partnerships — programs often contribute real data to regional agencies like the Michigan DNR.

Perfect For

K–12 school groups and field trips
Family outings and public sail attendees
Youth STEM clubs and summer programs
Community groups seeking experiential learning

Book early for seasonal Schooner Showcase sails and schoolship dates. Inland Seas Education Association provides safe, professionally crewed voyages that combine sailing tradition with modern science education to deepen appreciation for the Great Lakes.

Book a Sail, Build an ROV, Inspire a Scientist

Reserve schoolship seats, sign up for public night sails, or register students for ROV and watershed programs — limited spots available for seasonal cruises.