Land-based Education
Join us for one-of-a-kind student field trips! Visit our extraordinary Balfour Dock building to enjoy hands-on, customized learning experiences in history, marine science and maritime heritage.
Cost: $4.00 (10 student minimum) Admission for teachers, plus chaperones (one per every five students), is free. For groups of less than 10 students, please check availability. ($40 minimum field trip admission fee applies.)
Days Offered: Monday - Friday (Available for K-12th graders + college students)
To Schedule: Email jan [dot] adams [at] fosswaterwayseaport [dot] org (Jan Adams), Education Program Director. Please include: Teacher’s name, school name, contact information, grade level, requested date, arrival and departure times, number of students and adults in your group.
Field trips at the Foss Waterway Seaport provide interactive, hands-on, grade-level appropriate experiences that support teachers’ in-class objectives – and they are just plain fun!
We offer students the opportunity to see Tacoma's first port, to understand the impact that urbanization has had on Tacoma and to develop an understanding of the environmental issues we face today in Puget Sound. Our activities instill a greater appreciation for local watersheds and promote sustainable choices.
Classes are divided into groups of 8 to 10 students rotating through a series of activity stations during your visit. Rotation lengths are age dependent - usually 30 to 45 minutes. Most presenters are teachers or volunteers who have worked in the education field with the subject matter covered. The number of activities offered during a field trip is tailored to the size of the class, the amount of time allotted for the visit, and staff availability
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:
- Foss Waterway Seaport has easy bus drop-off
- Lunch space can be provided, free-of-charge. We do ask that you clean up the area; wipe down the tables and pick up all trash after your group finishes eating. If you do not wish to clean the area, we can add a $20 cleaning fee to your field trip cost.
- Field trip experiences can be customized to match curriculum needs.
- The Seaport offers a wide variety of field trip activities. Examples: an interactive tour of our historic building; a close up look at heritage small watercraft and maritime tools; time aboard the Columbia River Gillnetter Faith, a sea experience securely moored on land; plus many marine and environmental science activities offered in our education classroom in conjunction with our educational touch tanks. To receive a complete list of current activities offered, please email jan [dot] adams [at] fosswaterwayseaport [dot] org (Jan Adams).
- Each student can build a wooden toy boat to take home … a big hit!
- Land-based programs can be combined with our Boat-based programs to accommodate larger groups.
