Los Angeles Maritime Institute Youth Programs
Los Angeles Maritime Institute, 73 Berth, Suite 2, San Pedro, CA 90731
About
Los Angeles Maritime Institute Youth Programs offers day programs, multi-day voyages, and summer camps that include a Sleepaway Camp with 5- or 12-day sessions on a tall ship and an Explorer Day Camp in Long Beach. The program includes bilingual, STEM-focused educational and exploration sails aboard tall ships, hands-on science stations, maritime skill-building, hands-on STEM learning, leadership development and problem-solving, boat building, and sea-time certification. Families can also take part in Sea Scouts/Youth Crew, volunteer opportunities, private charters, community sails, bilingual sails, and public sails.
• Ages: 10–17 years old
• Schedule: Sleepaway Camp sessions of 5 or 12 days, plus additional day programs and multi-day voyages
The Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) was founded more than 30 years ago, in 1992, by Captain Jim Gladson and a group of advocates as a nonprofit organization. In the 30+ years since it was founded, more than 130,000 young people have participated in hands-on learning experiences through the TopSail Youth Program. LAMI serves to empower youth to discover their greater potential through at-sea experiences aboard educational sailing vessels built to train and equip young people with 21st-century leadership skills and to inspire maritime and STEM career paths.
The TopSail Youth Program is offered year-round aboard the tall ships Irving Johnson, Exy Johnson, and American Pride. The twin brigantines Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson were proclaimed the “Official Tall Ships and Maritime Ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles” by the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles at their launch in 2002. American Pride was named the “Official Tall Ship of the City of Long Beach” before its acquisition by LAMI and later underwent a modern stem-to-stern restoration. Each brigantine has capacity for 45 youth participants and educators, and American Pride has capacity for 75 youth participants and educators.
LAMI uses hands-on experiences at sea to provide social, educational, and leadership development opportunities to upper elementary, middle, and high school students throughout Los Angeles County. Programs are designed to equip young people with 21st-century leadership skills and to inspire maritime and STEM careers or vocations. Sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, a two-hour round-trip excursion introduces the community to LAMI’s work through hands-on science stations and bilingual Spanish-speaking docents, with a focus on environmental and coastal awareness.
In 2017, LAMI received the Partners in Educational Excellence Award from the Association of California State Administrators, and its TopSail Youth and TopSail STEM Programs have received awards and recognition from the education community, government leaders, and the maritime industry. The tall ship American Pride received U.S. Coast Guard certifications in March 2019. The leadership team includes Alice Taylor, Director of Sales and Marketing; Jemma Kennedy, Director of Education; Donna Dunn, Volunteer Coordinator/Crew Acquisition; Dahlia Southwick, Office Manager; and Jim Gladson, Founder of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.
Last updated April 5, 2026.
• Ages: 10–17 years old
• Schedule: Sleepaway Camp sessions of 5 or 12 days, plus additional day programs and multi-day voyages
The Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) was founded more than 30 years ago, in 1992, by Captain Jim Gladson and a group of advocates as a nonprofit organization. In the 30+ years since it was founded, more than 130,000 young people have participated in hands-on learning experiences through the TopSail Youth Program. LAMI serves to empower youth to discover their greater potential through at-sea experiences aboard educational sailing vessels built to train and equip young people with 21st-century leadership skills and to inspire maritime and STEM career paths.
The TopSail Youth Program is offered year-round aboard the tall ships Irving Johnson, Exy Johnson, and American Pride. The twin brigantines Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson were proclaimed the “Official Tall Ships and Maritime Ambassadors of the City of Los Angeles” by the Mayor and City Council of Los Angeles at their launch in 2002. American Pride was named the “Official Tall Ship of the City of Long Beach” before its acquisition by LAMI and later underwent a modern stem-to-stern restoration. Each brigantine has capacity for 45 youth participants and educators, and American Pride has capacity for 75 youth participants and educators.
LAMI uses hands-on experiences at sea to provide social, educational, and leadership development opportunities to upper elementary, middle, and high school students throughout Los Angeles County. Programs are designed to equip young people with 21st-century leadership skills and to inspire maritime and STEM careers or vocations. Sponsored by Marathon Petroleum, a two-hour round-trip excursion introduces the community to LAMI’s work through hands-on science stations and bilingual Spanish-speaking docents, with a focus on environmental and coastal awareness.
In 2017, LAMI received the Partners in Educational Excellence Award from the Association of California State Administrators, and its TopSail Youth and TopSail STEM Programs have received awards and recognition from the education community, government leaders, and the maritime industry. The tall ship American Pride received U.S. Coast Guard certifications in March 2019. The leadership team includes Alice Taylor, Director of Sales and Marketing; Jemma Kennedy, Director of Education; Donna Dunn, Volunteer Coordinator/Crew Acquisition; Dahlia Southwick, Office Manager; and Jim Gladson, Founder of the Los Angeles Maritime Institute.
Last updated April 5, 2026.
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