Adopt a Ship program

Adopt a Ship is a youth outreach program that connects Canadian elementary schools with Canadian Coast Guard personnel and boats, introducing students to maritime skills and careers.

Run in partnership with Canadian Geographic, Adopt a Ship teaches students about a wide range of topics, including:

• safety at-sea
• caring for Canada’s oceans and coasts
• Indigenous reconciliation
• ocean sciences
• global trade

About Adopt a Ship

The Canadian Coast Guard's Adopt a Ship program was first launched in 2019 to provide real-world learning experiences to elementary students in Canada. Adopt a Ship helps students gain an appreciation for Canada's oceans and learn maritime skills. Since its inception, Adopt a Ship has engaged with students from coast to coast to coast.

The program runs for five weeks and is available to all classrooms across Canada, with activities geared towards grades 5 to 7 (grades 5 to secondary 1 in Quebec).

Teachers can register for virtual hangouts with:

• the captain and crew of featured ships
• members of the Canadian Coast Guard College
• scientists from Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Marine Communications and Traffic Services officers
• the Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard

Throughout the program, students work through booklets with fun activities like:

• how to communicate using signal flags
• how to make their own compasses
• how the Canadian Coast Guard helps to get students' favourite foods into their lunch boxes

The Canadian Coast Guard values engaging with Canadian youth and teaching them about Canada’s marine industry. In addition to Adopt a Ship, we’ve also:

• presented at schools
• supported the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Program
• partnered with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) organizations, including organizations for young women such as Techsploration

We’re always looking for more innovative and exciting ways to connect with youth across Canada.

More information

Teachers and schools that are interested in the program can visit Canadian Geographic Education’s Adopt a Ship webpage or email info@cangeoeducation.ca for more information.