Grade Schools that have recently participated in
Adopt-A-Ship

	Jeffers Elementary Spring Lake, Michigan
	Lakeshore Elementary Holland, Michigan
	Palms Elementary Fair Haven, Michigan
	Sand Lake Elementary Sand Lake, Michigan

Background

In 1936, the Propeller Club of the United States began the Adopt-A-Ship program. Adopt-A-Ship was initiated as a means of encouraging young children to learn more about the American Merchant Marine. The term Merchant Marine encompasses fleets of ocean and coastal vessels; those on navigable rivers, lakes, bays and sounds as well as harbor craft. Through the Adopt-A-Ship program, children are afforded an opportunity to exchange correspondence directly with shipboard personnel. This program may also heighten a child’s interest in other school subjects by allowing them to apply knowledge gained in the classroom to a broader range of experience. Finally, Adopt-A-Ship teaches children something of the staunch character and dignity of the men and woman of the American Merchant Marine. American Steamship Company is proud to support this very worthwhile and educational program.

About the Program

Interaction between the students and shipboard personnel normally begins in September and continues through the following May. With correspondence fully launched, students’ questions typically arise automatically and with great enthusiasm. Geography, the social sciences, and other subjects take on a freshness not easily attained by textbook studies alone. If preferred by the teacher, one student designee may write letters to the "adopted" ship incorporating all classmate questions. However, it is also possible for each student to compose his or her own questions. In either case, correspondence must be supervised by the teacher and duplicate questions eliminated. All classroom correspondence must be enclosed in ONE PACKET, together with a cover letter from the teacher. The packets are typically forwarded to the "adopted" vessel every four to six weeks. Our shipboard designee will be responsible for administering a response to all classroom correspondence. Teachers must supervise student correspondence and are encouraged to develop this project to the greatest extent possible.

Contact Us

If you wish to participate in the Adopt-A-Ship program, please fill out and submit an application form. Please note that a teacher must originate the application request form. No individual pupil may "adopt" a ship. Upon receipt of your application, we will contact you regarding other particulars of the program as soon as practical.

Click here to fill out an application form.