Welcome! You’re receiving this email because you have been involved with Northwest Maritime’s Blue Schools Initiative. For that, thank you for your continued support of maritime, hands-on learning, and your community!

2025 was an exciting year of progress! Over the last year, we have:

• Launched the Blue Schools Initiative in 4 counties and counting in Washington State, including the North Olympic Peninsula, Whatcom County, Kitsap, and others.
• Blue Schools Whatcom is working with Meridian School District leaders on a five-year plan to incorporate Blue Schools into the Whatcom County Skills Center (a facility designed to support hands-on learning in multiple fields, including maritime).
• Proof in the pudding—80% of Port Townsend Maritime Academy students will be entering the maritime industry or a maritime post-secondary opportunity (so we know it is possible!).
• Grown to a National level, working with maritime leaders in Maine and California

The next phase of this work is about connecting established communities to the larger network. In this bi-monthly newsletter, you will hear stories of success from the network (consisting of over 400 organizations/schools/community leaders, etc.). The newsletter will also be a platform to draw connections, share opportunities for collaboration, and raise awareness of maritime education and connections to the sea.

– Katelyn Kean
Northwest Maritime’s Associate Director of Development & Government Relations