GCBSR awards educational grants to non-profit organizations in the Maryland/Virginia region of the Chesapeake Bay who’s activities best align with our mission. Grants are funded through donations made in the name of the Schooner Adventurer during our Virtual Race and through the generous donations of GCBSR supporters throughout the year.
We are proud to support the programs of the organizations shown below, which benefit young, disadvantaged students in very significant and enduring ways, protect the water quality of the Bay, and promote a deeper understanding of, and connection with, the traditional maritime cultures they share.
Congratulations 2024 Grant Recipients
Alexandria Seaport Foundation
Awarded $3000
The Apprentice Program located in Alexandria, VA, serves critically disadvantaged young people, ages 18 to 23, who need direction and support by building skills, self-worth and community. ASF will start new cohorts of eight to ten Apprentices each in July 2024 and January 2025. Many of the young people they serve have had issues with law enforcement, some have not succeeded in school and many may suffer from anxiety or depression. All need a nurturing environment to learn, grow, gain confidence and build a path toward self-sufficiency and success. Alexandria Seaport’s curriculum of mentoring, community support and career exploration give the Apprentices the positive environment they need.
Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB)
Awarded $2000
In cooperation with the Annapolis City Police Department and Anne Arundel County Police Department, CRAB will host a sailing camp for eighteen young people from underserved areas of concentrated poverty and six police officers to learn how to sail on Beneteau First 22A sailboats (three students and one police officer per boat). This opportunity helps increase and enhance student life-skill experiences, and forge strong relationships between the police officers and the youth for healthy interactions in the future.
EarthReports, Inc.
dba Patuxent Riverkeeper
Awarded $2500
The Patuxent RiverKeeper Eco-Summer Nature Camp takes place at a historic site and natural resource protection area at the southern end of the Patuxent River Park in Upper Marlboro, MD, and primarily serves children, ages 10 to 16, from the Greater Brandywine/Upper Marlboro area. With the guidance of adult experts, attendees learn practical outdoor skills and citizen science through hands-on activities such as fishing, hiking, orienteering, kayaking, water quality testing and more. Classes are small and focus on developing children’s skills and confidence through their relationship with nature.
Tidewater Wooden Boat Workshop (TWBW)
Awarded $2500
TWBW provides after-school and morning boatbuilding sessions throughout the week for youths, ages 12 to 18, Summer Camps for ages 10 to 18, and a Pre-Apprentice program for youth out of school ages 17 to 24. While working on wooden boats in various stages of completion, they develop life skills such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, self-confidence, self-esteem, creativity and others. At the conclusion of the program, weather permitting, students get to take the completed boats out on the water to row and sail.
Past Recipients
- Downtown Sailing Center, Baltimore, MD: $3,000 Supporting a three-day sail aboard the Skipjack Sigsbee for Baltimore City teenagers participating in the summer Young Mariners program, in which they learn to sail, learn about maritime history and careers, and develop soft job skills.
- Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, Annapolis, MD: $3,000 Supporting the “Emerging Careers in the Maritime Arts & Sciences” program for students in the historically Black beachfront communities in Annapolis and Cambridge.This program integrates classroom activities with water’s edge and on-the-water activities such as meeting Black marine scientists conducting eDNA work, taking field trips to Black historical, cultural and environmental facilities, and learning about career opportunities.
- Severn River Association, Annapolis, MD: $2,000 Supporting Operation Osprey in which middle school students will participate in an inventory of ospreys and osprey nest along the Severn River watershed.
- Nauticus Foundation, Norfolk, VA: $2,000 Sponsoring two educational sails for Norfolk Public Schools middle school students.
- Brendan Sailing, Washington, DC: $1,000 Supporting learn-to-sail programs for students ages 11-18 with learning differences.
- Bluewater Baltimore, Baltimore, MD: $1,000 Supporting the “Raindrops to Rivers” ecoliteracy and engagement educational program.
- 1781 Foundation, Williamsburg, VA: $500 Supporting tours for fourth graders of the Yorktown Tea Party Educational Experience,leading up to Yorktown Maritime Heritage Festival and Tea Party Reenactment.
- Watermen’s Museum, Yorktown, VA: $500 Onsite boatbuilding education programs.
- Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park $500 Skipjack Wilma Lee Push Boat restoration
2025 Grant Applications
GCBSR will post a call for grant applications in the spring of 2025.
Grants may range from $500 to $3,000 and be used to support a wide range of non-profit education activities. Past GCBSR funds have supported student scholarships, educational sails and their associated costs (such as food and transportation), implementation of existing educational programs and the development of new ones. Special consideration will be given to non-profit organizations that promote diversity, equity and inclusion in maritime activities and industry and those that seek a continuing relationship with GCBSR in one of our host cities, Baltimore or Norfolk.
At the conclusion of the funded program, grant recipients will:
Provide documentation of the grant’s use and impact in the form of two to five jpg or png format photos along with a photo caption, photographer and photo date.
Recognize GCBSR sponsorship in the organization’s internal and external reports, print or digital publications and social media and provide evidence of that recognition.
Follow-up materials submitted by grant recipients may be used by GCBSR for internal and external reporting, print or digital publications and social media. Photos and videos that feature clearly identifiable people should be accompanied by evidence of consent, such as a signed release form.
If you have questions about the GCBSR grant program, please contact education-md@schoonerrace.org