Facilities and Ships

The Inland Seas Education Center is home to our programs onboard ship and on shore. In 2004, the 1914 structure was renovated into a spacious, modern facility. The administrative offices, workspace and conference room, as well as the Great Lakes Store, Teacher Resource Center, Great Lakes Library and public exhibit area occupy the main floor. The lower level contains the Garber Biological Laboratory, a classroom,the ISEA Boat Shop and storage areas. The ISEA Boat Shop provides hands-on experience for students in wooden boat construction. We currently have students building strip planked canoes and plywood prams. For more information about the Boat Shop, contact Chuck Dickerson, Boat Shop Lead Instructor, at 231-271-3077. ISEA owns two vessels that provide science experiences while sailing on the Great Lakes. The 77' two-masted schooner, Inland Seas, was built for ISEA in 1994 and was specially designed to accommodate science learning with up to 32 students (10 on overnight trips). The 31' (length on deck) classic Friendship Sloop, Liberty, is docked in front of the Education Center. Retrofitted in 2005, Liberty carries 6 passengers and offers opportunities in both science education and sail training. ISEA also charters the 114' steel schooner Manitou from the Traverse Tall Ship Company for Schoolship Programs each spring.