New Career Exploration Program Offers Tweens and Teens On-Deck Lake Experience

Tuesday, July 18, 2023 (Toledo, Ohio) – On Saturday, August 5, the National Museum of the Great Lakes launches Captain Scupper’s Crew Life, a new career exploration program for kids to discover what it is like to work on a lake freighter. When school-aged explorers sign up for the program, they will join a junior crew and be given a special guided tour of our docked museum ship, the Col. James M. Schoonmaker. Ship jobs and crew roles will be highlighted along the way as junior crew members enjoy a day in the life of a lake freighter crew. 

“Kids love to dream about what they want to be when they grow up, and we want to start making those dreams come true early, ” said Ellen Kennedy, the museum’s Education and Visitor Experience Director. “Seeing just how massive an actual hull is and feeling a ship’s helm in your own hands are moments that inspire. Through Captain Scupper’s Crew Life program, we’re bringing a new generation of lake enthusiasts on board to have fun while learning the importance of the shipping industry.”

Each 15-member junior crew will climb aboard at one of three program times: 11:00, 1:00, or 3:00. This is a FREE program for GLHS/NMGL members, Museums for All/SNAP participants, and those who purchase a Museum & Ship Admission for the day of the program. To provide a small-group learning experience, registration is requested with day-of signups only available if space remains. This is not a drop-off event, so junior Schoonmaker crew members need to bring a first mate/grown-up aboard with them. 

Captain Scupper’s Crew Life is part of the museum’s growing youth programming, which also includes Captain Scupper’s Tug Life for ages 3-8 and Captain Scupper’s Songfest, a literacy-based music and movement class for ages 0-6. For more information and to register for the program, visit nmgl.org/event or call 419-214-5000.