Sample Blog Article

In the Ocean State, where water defines both geography and identity, one education program is getting students sailing — introducing them to their community’s maritime history and new ideas about careers on the water.

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Through a combination of after-school sessions and immersive field trips, the Newport Historical Society and Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail are reshaping how students engage with the ocean. The program’s mission? Connect 6-12th grade students with maritime history, STEM learning, and career exploration through hands-on, water-based experiences.

Connecting students with water in this way offers more than just a change of scenery. It builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and provides a tangible sense of discovery as students learn everything from knot tying to Revolutionary War history.

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Students from schools like Sophia Academy — a tuition-free private school in Providence, Rhode Island — and the Boys and Girls Club of Newport County opt into the program, which includes regular meetings through an after-school program and culminates in field trip sails aboard a tall ship.

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When I was a kid, one boat ride changed my life

| Johnny Cravan

| NPS Trail Administrator of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail

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Through a combination of after-school sessions and immersive field trips, the Newport Historical Society and Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail are reshaping how students engage with the ocean. The program’s mission? Connect 6-12th grade students with maritime history, STEM learning, and career exploration through hands-on, water-based experiences.

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Connecting students with water in this way offers more than just a change of scenery. It builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and provides a tangible sense of discovery as students learn everything from knot tying to Revolutionary War history.

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Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
|The trail follows 680 miles traversed by both the Continental Army under George Washington and French troops. Today, there are endless ways to bike, hike, and explore the waterways.
| Learn More
| /washington-rochambeau-trail
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