Give Your Students a Dynamic Learning Experience - for Free!
USS Constitution Museum is offering eligible Boston and Gateway City schools an incredible opportunity: free field trips!
Give your students an exciting and memorable experience in Boston at our nation’s oldest commissioned ship, USS Constitution, and our award-winning, hands-on Museum. This means:
- FREE on-site + virtual programs for schools + youth groups in Boston and MA gateway cities
You have options for your free visit. You can take part in a facilitated school program taught by our Museum Educators, or self-guide through the Museum and Ship on your own. You can also choose a facilitated virtual program if you cannot come in person. Details on all options are below. All options require filling out the request form at the bottom of this page. Please note: Bus transportation scholarships are no longer available for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Our morning slots are fully booked for this spring; however, we have availability between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
The Details
Facilitated field trips are available Mondays – Fridays 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
To request a program, complete the Request Form at the bottom of the page. At this time, simultaneous programs are not possible due to space limitations.
Elementary School Programs
A Sailor’s Life for Me?
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want a facilitated experience? This is a great option.
Grade 3 and up | 10-30 people │ 30 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration │Required Chaperone Ratio 1:10
Ship Design Challenge
USS Constitution was built for speed and strength, and her unique design and American materials helped make her a national symbol. Learn from this example in our galleries and on board the Ship with a U.S. Navy sailor, then complete a STEM challenge: can you construct and race the fastest and strongest ship using household materials?
Grades 3-5│10-30 students│2.5 hours│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Join the Crew
Learn about life at sea on USS Constitution first-hand! From recruitment to daily activities to battle, students will follow a typical day of a eight year-old Ship’s boy in 1812, and compare that to life in the US Navy today. This program is co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution.
Grades 3-5│10-30 students│2 hours│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Built to Win Challenge
In this one-hour program in the Museum, complete a STEM challenge: build ships out of household materials and race them in a water tank. You’ll learn how USS Constitution was built for speed and strength and how its unique design and materials helped make it a national symbol.
Grades 3 -5│ 10-30 students │ 1 hour │Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Meet the Crew Scavenger Hunt
Elevate your self-guided exploration of the galleries with our interactive “Meet the Crew” scavenger hunt. Your group will use the Museum’s galleries to uncover clues about the jobs of some of the youngest 1812 crew members on board USS Constitution. Museum staff will provide instructions and guidance throughout the experience. Chaperones are required to assist small groups as they navigate the galleries.
Grades 3 -5│ 10-30 students │ 45 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration │ Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Middle School Programs
A Sailor’s Life for Me?
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want a facilitated experience? This is a great option.
All Ages |10-30 people │ 30 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration | Required Chaperone Ratio 1:10
Ship Design Challenge
USS Constitution was built for speed and strength, and her unique design and American materials helped make her a national symbol. Learn from this example in our galleries and on board the Ship with a U.S. Navy sailor, then complete a STEM challenge: can you construct and race the fastest and strongest ship using household materials?
Grades 6-8│10-30 students│2.5 hours│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Join the Crew
Learn about life at sea on USS Constitution first-hand! From recruitment to daily activities to battle, students will follow a typical day of a teenage midshipman in 1812, and compare that to life in the US Navy today. This program is co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution.
Grades 6-8│10-30 students│2 hours│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Active Citizens
What does it mean to serve your community, and your country? Examine the rewards and challenges of active citizenry through the lens of military service then & now. Compare the lives of an 1812 sailor and a current US Navy crewmember through primary sources, a live interview, and hands-on activities on board USS Constitution.
Grades 6-8│10-30 students│2.5 hours│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Civics at Sea
In this 75 minute program, students will strengthen their civics skills and understanding as they learn what a Navy does and why building diplomatic relationships with other countries is important. Students will learn through trade and negotiation as they try to meet the needs of a fictitious country by building a LEGO ship.
Grades 6-8│18-30 students│75 minutes | Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
High School Programs
A Sailor’s Life for Me?
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want a facilitated experience? This is a great option.
All Ages |10-30 people │ 30 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration | Required Chaperone Ratio 1:10
Join the Crew
Learn about life at sea on USS Constitution first-hand! From recruitment to daily activities to battle, students will follow a typical day of a teenage midshipman in 1812, and compare that to life in the US Navy today. This program is co-facilitated by a US Navy sailor on board USS Constitution.
Grades 9-12│10-30 students│2 hours | Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Civics at Sea
In this 75 minute program, students will strengthen their civics skills and understanding as they learn what a Navy does and why building diplomatic relationships with other countries is important. Students will learn through trade and negotiation as they try to meet the needs of a fictitious country by building a LEGO ship.
Grades 9-12│10-30 students│75 minutes│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Summer programs are available in July and August, Mondays – Fridays from 10:00am – 4:00pm.
Please note, these programs do not include time on USS Constitution. The ship is available to visit in a self-guided capacity, Tuesday – Sunday, 10:00am – 6:00pm.
To request a program, complete the Reservation Request Form at the bottom of the page.
A Sailor’s Life for Me?
Discover if the sailor’s life is for you in this interactive program. Through engaging activities, students will learn about the tasks and teamwork required of early U.S. Navy sailors. Short on time but still want a facilitated experience? This is a great option.
Grades 2 and up │ 10-30 people │ 30 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration │ Required Chaperone Ratio 1:10
Built to Win Challenge
In this one-hour program in the Museum, complete a STEM challenge: build ships out of household materials and race them in a water tank. You’ll learn how USS Constitution was built for speed and strength, and how its unique design and materials helped make it a national symbol.
Grades 3-5│10-30 students│1 hour│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
LEGO LeaderSHIP
In this one-hour program in the Museum, students will learn about the purpose of a Navy and practice their diplomacy skills as they represent a country building their very own Navy ship out of LEGO bricks. Prototype this program with us in Summer 2024!
Grades 3-6│10-30 students│1 hour│Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Meet the Crew Scavenger Hunt
Elevate your self-guided exploration of the galleries with our interactive “Meet the Crew” scavenger hunt. Your group will use the Museum’s galleries to uncover clues about the jobs of some of the youngest 1812 crew members on board USS Constitution. Museum staff will provide instructions and guidance throughout the experience. Chaperones are required to assist small groups as they navigate the galleries.
Grades 2 and up │ 10-30 people │ 30 minutes + Self-Guided Exploration │ Required Chaperone Ratio 1:6
Self-guided field trips are available:
September through May: Mondays – Fridays 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
May & June: Monday – Fridays 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
To request a self-guided field trip, complete the Request Form at the bottom of the page.
Self-Guided Visit
Don’t just learn about history, experience it! Your group can independently explore two floors of interactive, hands-on exhibits. Self-guided activities like scavenger hunts and quests are available to focus student learning. Students and their chaperones are encouraged to visit USS Constitution after exploring the museum.
All Ages │ 60 minutes recommended Chaperone Ratio 1:10
Please note: the ship USS Constitution is separate from the Museum and operated by the United States Navy. It can be visited during operating hours on a first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that visitors must pass through a security inspection and show federal or state photo identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, before embarking on USS Constitution. Visitors under the age of 18 do not require a photo identification card.
Virtual programs are available Mondays – Fridays from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
To request a virtual program, complete the Request Form at the bottom of the page.
Join the Crew
Virtually visit USS Constitution in Boston MA, the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. In this field trip, you’ll walk the decks of this historic ship with a U.S. Navy sailor and learn about life at sea during the War of 1812 first-hand! From chores, to food, to sails and battle, this interactive field trip will keep your students engaged in games and demos.
Grades K-12 │ Maximum 40 students │ 60 Minutes | Zoom Meeting
Day in the Life of a Ship’s Boy
Experience “Old Ironsides” from the perspective of the youngest 1812 crew member, a ship’s boy! This 360 virtual tour, facilitated by a Museum educator, will have students exploring every corner of the Ship, from the powder magazine in the depths of the hull to the fighting tops, one hundred feet above the top deck. As students navigate the virtual tour platform, pop-up boxes with historical artifacts, videos of today’s U.S. Navy crew, and games bring the spaces to life. An on-demand, self-guided version of this virtual tour will be available soon.
Grades 3-5 │ Maximum 40 students │ 60 Minutes │Zoom Meeting
Day in the Life of a Midshipman
This 360 virtual tour, facilitated by a Museum educator, follows a day in the life of an 1812 midshipman: a teenage officer in training. Students will navigate through every deck of the Ship in this virtual tour, encountering pop-up boxes with historical artifacts, videos of today’s U.S. Navy crew, and games along the way. An on-demand, self-guided version of this virtual tour will be available soon.
Grades 6-12 │ Maximum 40 students │ 60 Minutes │ Zoom Meeting
Request a Reservation
To schedule a free trip to the Museum, please fill out the Request Form below. Once you submit the form, our Education Coordinator will reach out to confirm availability, finalize the reservation and provide information on bus invoicing.
- Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance for Museum-only programs, and 30 days in advance for Ship programs.
- Programs are available Monday – Friday between 10:00am and 5:00pm EST.
- In certain cases, multiple program sessions can be booked to accommodate larger groups.
Questions? Contact our Education Coordinator by phone at 617-426-1812 x146 or email groupreservations@usscm.org for assistance.
Click here to see all of the Museum’s Group Policies and Procedures.
Made possible by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
