Egan Maritime's Sea of Opportunities Educational Programs:
Sea of Opportunities is a diverse offering of education and outreach programs available to every Nantucket student at multiple points throughout their education. It seeds the maritime workforce of tomorrow and opens doors for local youth to opportunities that will enhance their futures and our coastal community.
Thanks to generous donors, Egan's education programs are 100% free. If you want to invest in transformative educational experiences for Nantucket youth, click here.
By the Numbers (as of May 2023)
- 6,500 - Youth Interactions and Counting
- 2,500 - Classroom Students
- 4,300 - Tall Ship Field Trip Students
- 145 - Student Mariners
Classrooms & Collaborations
Sea of Opportunities is a diverse offering of education and outreach programs available to every Nantucket student at multiple points throughout their education. It seeds the maritime workforce of tomorrow and opens doors for local youth to opportunities that will enhance their futures and our coastal community
The Maritime-focused Innovation Pathways courses at Nantucket High School are not just any elective program. They are designed to provide students with a study plan that can lead to job experience and college credits in specific fields. The Fall Term focuses on marine science and aquaculture, while the spring term offers a technical vessel operations/repair and maintenance course. These courses are a gateway to a future in the maritime industry.
In addition to our cornerstone courses at the Nantucket public schools, we partner with Nantucket's two independent schools to teach students about maritime history and science through physics and marine science.
Thanks to generous donors, Egan's education programs are 100% free. If you want to invest in transformative educational experiences for Nantucket youth, click here.
Beyond the classroom, we have strategically partnered with local organizations to expand our reach. Curious minds of all ages will be able to explore the museum and partake in a series of programs designed to celebrate and promote Nantucket’s seafaring history.
Key Community Partners & Collaborators
- Nantucket Boys & Girls Club
- Nantucket Community School
- Nantucket Conservation Foundation
- Nantucket Historical Association
- Nantucket New School
- Nantucket Public Schools
- Linda Loring Nature Foundation
- Saltmarsh Senior Center
- The Tall Ship Lynx Educational Foundation
- Town of Nantucket Harbormaster
Student Mariner Sails
This short film was made possible thanks to the generous support of Ritchie, Westray, and Katie Battle.
Since 2014, Egan Maritime has partnered with the Tall Ship Lynx to provide on-the-water sailing opportunities.
Each year, Egan and the Lynx Educational Foundation team up to offer a unique opportunity for local students. Sailing aboard the historic Tall Ship Lynx, a cornerstone of the Sea of Opportunities experience, is an unparalleled experiential educational opportunity. Over 500 local students climb aboard the Lynx, immersing themselves in Nantucket’s maritime history and oceanography and applying what they learn in the classroom to their sailing experience. These experiences are 100% free and supported through generous donations. If you want to support the 2024 sailing season, please email Carlisle Jensen at cbjensen@eganmaritime.org.
Our Lynx sails are not just about sailing but about planting seeds for future learning or career opportunities. At Egan, we aspire to inspire the next generation of “Salty Nantucketers.” Our sails include two extended three- and five-day expeditions where students learn the ropes and find confidence at sea. After their return, these youth earn the title of Student Mariner.
To learn about the 2024 Student Mariner Sails, click here.
Egan Maritime and the Tall Ship Lynx continue to partner throughout the summer. During the summer, EMI offers numerous sailing opportunities. Join us on the Lynx for sunset sails, concerts on the water, and the popular Nanpuppets family cruise. Plus, in 2024, we are offering a new program designed for the Student Mariner in your life. Children aged 12 – 14 can become a Student Mariner for a day and join the crew as they explore Nantucket’s water. To sign up, visit our program calendar.
Egan Maritime members receive discounts on all Tall Ship Lynx Sails. To learn more about non-Egan Maritime sponsored sails aboard the Tall Ship Lynx visit: https://tallshiplynx.com/
Youth Boating Safety
Harbormaster and Instructor Sheila Lucey
One of Egan Maritime's initiatives is to teach island youth boating safety courses. These are led by instructor Sheila Lucey, BMCS, USCG (ret.) Our Junior Mariner Operators Licensing classes, held at Egan's office, conclude with the students graduating with their Junior Mariner Operators License and a deep knowledge of boating safety.
Over the past three years, Egan Maritime has awarded over 100 local students their Jr. Operators License.
We are grateful to have Sheila on our team. As she once said, "My favorite part of my job is working with and training young people. I just like trying to keep people safe. The only way I know how to pay this community back for all they have done for me is to do my best to keep them safe." Sheila also serves as Nantucket’s Harbor Master.
This course helps to enhance Egan Maritime's mission, which is to inspire the appreciation and preservation of Nantucket's maritime culture and seafaring legacy.