Waterways Curriculum

The waterways curriculum—a strategic framework for presenting marine industry concepts to school-aged children—is outlined. Through a national structure, the marine industry will have the opportunity to develop a fun and exciting educational program. The waterways curriculum framework comprises several key components to create flexibility and thereby reach more participants. Educational materials are categorized by age groupings (cohorts) and school grade levels (modules) to allow the age-appropriate presentation of materials to participants. The waterways curriculum also includes four presentation pathways to facilitate its use in various settings: school programs, community outreach (youth organizations), on-site teaching (field trips), and expositions (e.g., boat shows). By offering consistent materials that cover a broad range of marine topics for each category and age level, the waterways curriculum will provide participants an opportunity to explore the marine industry in a fun and challenging way. After the framework is outlined, examples of potential materials and activities for use in the waterways curriculum are highlighted, as well as existing resources and possible partnerships for the program development team to explore. A turnkey program is not included; instead, the focus is on the starting points for delivering marine topics to youth. Ample opportunities exist for future development of the waterways curriculum by marine professionals and educational specialists. With the combined efforts of industry and academic leaders, the waterways curriculum can inspire youth to explore opportunities in the marine transportation industry.