Adventures Under Sail or Tug-Power
Explore New York Harbor aboard historic 1885 schooner Pioneer or 1930 tugboat W.O. Decker.
See the Statue of Liberty, observe a variety of ships and waterborne commerce, and engage in exciting hands-on activities to develop historical perspective and increase environmental awareness.
STEP ABOARD TUGBOAT W.O. DECKER
2 hours | Grades 5-12
Maximum 14 passengers; adult-to-child ratios apply.
Built in Newtown Creek and launched in 1930, W.O. Decker is the last remaining wooden tugboat in New York Harbor.
- Explore the Harbor, visiting near-shore environments such as Gowanus Canal, Newtown Creek, and the working waterfront
- Measure water quality and study the ecology of the estuary
- Apply mathematics skills and reasoning to interpret navigational charts
For larger groups, combine your W.O. Decker trip with one of our dockside programs, allowing two or three small groups to rotate between activities. Each group can enjoy a one-hour trip aboard Decker along with a one-hour program dockside aboard the historic 1885 cargo vessel Wavertree or a one-hour program in our museum galleries.
SAIL ON SCHOONER PIONEER
2 hours/3 hours/5 hours | Grades 3-12
Maximum 36 passengers; adult-to-child ratios apply.
Head out into the Harbor and experience the ecosystem! Launched in 1885, the traditionally rigged and sailed Pioneer is the oldest boat still working in New York Harbor. Activities vary depending on the length of your program, age of your group, and focus of your curriculum. Some possibilities include:
Two-Hour Sails
- Haul on ropes to raise sail
- Measure water quality and study the ecology of the estuary
- Apply mathematics skills and reasoning to interpret navigational charts
Three-Hour Sails
- Everything included in our two-hour program, plus more opportunities for adventure
- Set a trawl net to catch organisms from the bottom of New York Harbor (we release them afterwards)
- Sail further, with more intensive sail training opportunities
Looking to explore a particular subject matter? There’s so much to learn and do aboard Pioneer!
Life Science
- Examine plants and animals collected from dockside habitats and learn about their lives, their adaptations, and their role in the ecosystem
- Observe small invertebrates with microscopes
- Use watershed models to understand the water cycle and our drinking water
- Set a trawl net to catch organisms from the bottom of New York Harbor (we release them afterwards)
- Examine and observe the vertebrate and invertebrate species we catch and learn about their lives, their adaptations, and their role in the ecosystem
Physical Science and Math
- Apply mathematics skills and reasoning to interpret navigational charts
- Tie knots to learn how friction can be a sailor’s best friend
- Experiment with the levers, pulleys, inclined planes, and other simple machines that give sailors mechanical advantage
- Measure wind and current
- Explore the math behind celestial navigation and advanced charting
Social Studies
- Observe harbor activity and compare historic images to learn about how New York has changed throughout time
- Use modern and historic maps
- Sail to the sites of the Battle of Brooklyn and other local events
- Learn about how projects such as the building of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge changed neighborhoods
Schooner Skills
- Practice teamwork, observation skills, and smart use of tools.
- Haul on ropes to raise sail
- Tie knots and learn how they’re used
- Read navigational charts and use compasses, dividers, and other navigational tools
- Sail out beyond the Verrazano Narrows bridge
- Stand look-out and learn how sailors communicate on board
- Take a turn at the helm
Programs can be tailored to meet the age and curricular goals of your group. Time does not permit for every activity to take place on every sail, and some activities are weather-dependent. Let us know your focus or select a few preferred activities, and we will customize a Pioneer adventure to meet your needs.
About Our Vessels
Schooner Pioneer
In the days before paved roads, small coastal schooners such as Pioneer were the delivery trucks of their era, carrying various cargoes between coastal communities: lumber and stone from the islands of Maine, brick on the Hudson River, and oyster shell on the Chesapeake Bay.
Tugboat W.O. Decker
The last surviving New York-built, wooden, tugboat (originally steam-powered and later refit with a diesel engine,) W.O. Decker was built in 1930 by the Newtown Creek Towing Company.
Our vessels are fully certified and inspected by the U. S. Coast Guard. They meet all safety regulations for passenger vessels and are operated by a licensed captain and trained crew.
All programs are aligned with New York City and State Social Studies and Science Learning Standards. Programs can be customized to meet your curricular goals and the needs of your students.
Contact Us to Learn More
Reservations and payment required in advance. To book a program or for more information on details, pricing, and reservation process, please contact us below or call us at (212) 748-8568.