Our mission is to offer effective, unique educational opportunities for the students of South Carolina, focusing on the history, math, science and literature of South Carolina's water resources and encouraging personal responsibility, contribution to community and stewardship of environment.

The Spirit of South Carolina tall ship is dedicated to offering a unique educational platform for the youth of the Palmetto State. The hands-on programs offered aboard are designed to challenge and engage students while promoting responsibility and teamwork. Programs are also designed around an interdisciplinary curriculum that focuses on math and science with extensions into the history and literature of South Carolina and our relationship to the sea.

The first educational sails with students began on October 1, 2007, and the season ended two months later on December 5, 2007.  The first Sea Spray Scouts day sail program serviced nine school districts from across the state of South Carolina, including more than 1,000 students.  Unanimously, the teachers surveyed stated that the experience met their expectations.  Feedback from the educators was consistent in expressing that the educational experience onboard was very helpful in explaining concepts that are difficult to communicate effectively in the classroom.  Collectively, these teachers expressed enormous enthusiasm for the ship as a platform for learning.  In her first year of operation, over 2,000 students crossed the decks of the Spirit of South Carolina.

The Spirit was very recently in Mystic, CT with a 21 student capacity program, and she’s just finished the sea based portion of a 40 student capacity program in New York.  Only students from Title 1 Charleston County schools were eligible to apply for the this program, and the program was completely free for those students.

For news updates and more information about SCMF and the Spirit of South Carolina, please contact us or visit www.scmaritime.org.