Living Classrooms Foundation

Founded in Baltimore in 1985, Living Classrooms Foundation is an educational and economic force that combines one of the city’s most cherished assets – its beautiful and historic harbor – with some of its most overlooked – the thousands of bright, ambitious children and young adults who are struggling to succeed against terrible odds. What began with one program in one city has grown into dozens of programs, serving 20,000 youth and adults annually, across a region that now encompasses Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland.Living Classrooms has developed a distinctive competency in experiential learning--literally learning by direct experience--or what we call "learning by doing". These experiences take place at many “living classrooms” on our various campuses, including schools, ships, and community centers.While each of our program areas is distinct, in combination they create a powerful synergy.  Our maritime heritage sites create opportunities for employment training. Our education programs use our environmental and maritime resources as living learning laboratories.  Our employability programs create stronger communities that are better prepared to exercise environmental stewardship. Our health and wellness activities promote healthier families that are able to travel the road towards success.