Is this suitable for children?

Yes—families and students are a primary audience; stations and supervision are designed to be engaging for school-age kids.

Do I need sailing experience?

No prior sailing experience is required; professional crew teach basic tasks like line handling and steering.

Can I bring food or drinks onboard?

You may bring a single bottle of water; glass containers and outside food are not permitted on board.

Where exactly do we check in?

Check in at the Houghton Public Dock next to the Portage Lake District Library (GPS Address: E Lakeshore Dr, Houghton MI 49931).

What if I’m late or lost?

Call the ship phone at (231) 620-9719 to alert crew and get directions.

Are restrooms available on the schooner?

Restroom availability is not specified in the listing—call the ship phone to confirm before booking.

Hands-On Science Aboard a Schooner: Great Lakes Discovery Sail in Houghton

On the edge of Lake Superior at Houghton, Michigan, the Great Lakes Discovery Sail turns a three-hour outing into a classroom on water. Boarding from the Houghton Public Dock (GPS Address: E Lakeshore Dr, Houghton MI 49931), participants climb aboard a 77′ or 105′ schooner — often the 105′ Alliance — to learn hands-on about the Great Lakes ecosystem and traditional sail handling. The experience blends basic seamanship with scientific fieldwork: guests hoist sails, raise the anchor, steer the schooner, then rotate through stations that trawl for fish, collect plankton, sample the lake bottom, and run water-quality tests.

Lake Superior’s scale is the trip’s constant companion. The schooner moves across fresh, cold water on a basin that holds a quarter of the world’s surface fresh water by volume, and shoreline geology from glacial scours to the rocky Keweenaw headland frames your view. Expect to encounter deep green water, wind-driven chop, and shoreline fragments of native northern forest and exposed basaltic rock—features that make the Keweenaw Peninsula a singular teaching landscape.

This sail is designed for families, students, and curious travelers. No previous sailing experience is required; professional crew lead each station and teach skills in approachable steps. On-deck tasks range from basic line handling and trimming sails to deploying a small trawl net under supervision. For educators, it’s a portable lab: plankton samples and water tests provide immediate, tactile lessons in biology, chemistry, and watershed science.

Practical details matter: the meeting point is the Houghton Public Dock next to the Portage Lake District Library, and the operator asks that guests arrive 20–30 minutes early. If you’re late or lost call the ship phone at (231) 620-9719. Operator/owner information is not provided in the listing.

Why book it? The Great Lakes Discovery Sail pairs the grandeur of Lake Superior with active learning—rare on shorter charter sails—and makes the region’s freshwater ecology compelling and accessible. For visitors who want more than a scenic cruise, this trip offers curriculum-grade stations, hands-on science, and the simple satisfaction of running a traditional schooner.

Bring layered clothing and sturdy shoes for cooler waterside conditions; cameras and curious kids are welcome. The program also handles small-group rotations so everyone gets time at each station; parents often appreciate the organized learning structure. You may bring a single bottle of water, but glass containers and outside food are not permitted on board, and flip-flop shoes are discouraged. Contact the operator to confirm dates and times; specific tour times vary. This three-hour format makes a morning or afternoon outing that fits into Keweenaw itineraries.

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.