Our Work

Community Engagement

Workforce and Employer Development at Maritime Blue

Guiding youth toward adventurous careers in the maritime industry through paid internships, experiential learning events, and thoughtful career exploration with a specific focus on equity and inclusivity.
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Youth program and job training

Are you a student or young adult looking for career opportunities and training in the maritime sector? Check out these programs and opportunities:

Expanded Maritime Collaborative

The Expanded Maritime Collaborative (EMC) offers a series of six-week after-school programs for high school students in the Seattle and South King County area. The purpose of the EMC is to create an opportunity where students can become aware, interested and engaged in the maritime sector throughout the school year.

Stipend: $575

Open to ages 15 – 18

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Youth Maritime Accelerator Project

An eight-week summer program designed to heighten maritime familiarity through experiential event trips, job readiness training, and work experience. Youth will gain knowledge & skill sets.

Stipend: $3,000

Open to ages 18 – 24

Sign up

Youth Maritime Career Launch

Three-month on-the-job training in the summer or fall designed to teach, shape & grow participants through internship participation in a company’s field of work, with aspirations leading program participants to entry-level career placement.

Stipend: $9,600

Open to ages 18 – 24

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Join The Youth Maritime Collaborative

The Youth Maritime Collaborative (YMC) is comprised of members from regional maritime organizations, youth programs, industry leaders, education programs, and local government agencies. As a team, the Collaborative works to create career pathways for youth pursuing careers in the maritime industry.

YMC is committed to guiding today’s youth toward maritime-related careers. Through experiential events and high school internships, the Collaborative works to connect companies with the next generation of skilled workers. YMC is hosted and facilitated by Washington Maritime Blue.

Participating Partners

Employers

We’re always looking for great companies and industry leaders to help us improve maritime career pathways for students. Engage with us by reaching out to our Employer Engagement Manager Dontay Proctor-Mills.
Email us at:
dontay@maritimeblue.org
Internships
Let us know if you are interested in offering and internship or want to participate on one of our youth programs.
Get in Touch
Other ways to engage
Host Youth Participants

  • Host an intern
  • Provide a tour of your facility
  • Allow a participant to job shadow you
  • Host a field trip for a group of participants
  • Provide a service-learning project for youth volunteers
Educate

  • Serve on an outreach panel
  • Sponsor an experiential event
  • Represent your company at a high school career fair
  • Provide a service-learning project for high school volunteers
  • Participate in one of our experiential events as an exhibitor
Employer Spotlight: Dauntless XR
Dauntless XR specializes in augmented, mixed, and extended reality (AR/MR/XR) software for the Air Force, Space Force, private aviation, and is currently exploring maritime applications.

In Summer 2024, Dauntless XR hosted an intern – Amanuel – through Maritime Blue’s Youth Maritime Accelerator Project (YMAP).

During the internship, Amanuel gained valuable marketing experience while supporting the company’s growing influence in cutting-edge technology. One of his key projects was creating an infographic for the company’s website, helping to communicate Dauntless’s innovative solutions.

With a passion for computer science, Amanuel hopes to return next summer to contribute to the software development team.

Reflecting on his experience, Amanuel shared, “I definitely enjoyed the internship and was fortunate to be placed in a role so closely aligned to my interests. It was a great opportunity to gain exposure to the industry and learn more about how AR and MR are shaping the future.”

Calendar

Upcoming Programs

The training tallship, Adventuress under sail
Expanded Maritime Collab (EMC)
Timeline: Check back for the 2025-2026 school year.

Programming includes sea time with Sound Experience on the Schooner Adventuress.

Youth Maritime Accelerator Project (YMAP)
Timeline: Check back Summer 2026

Programming includes job training and an eight week internship with maritime employers.

Youth Maritime Career Launch (YMCL)
Timeline: July – September 2025

Programming includes three-month on-the-job training in the summer or fall designed to teach, shape & grow participants through internship with maritime employers.