Baltimore Students to Sail to Antarctica
Eight Paterson Park Public Charter School eighth graders will spend two weeks aboard a ship as citizen scientists.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Secondary Education
Eight eighth graders from Paterson Park Public Charter School in Baltimore City will depart November 15, flying to South America and boarding a ship bound for Antarctica. The students will spend two weeks working as citizen scientists, with the trip free due to community support.
Why it matters
The expedition was designed to challenge narratives about who gets to travel and explore, and to emphasize that events in Antarctica affect the rest of the world. Students will learn about life on the continent and what can be done to preserve its climate.
Eight students will spend two weeks on the expedition, departing November 15 after flying to South America. Selection involved a paper-based application, a teacher recommendation letter, and a panel interview, though results of the research are not yet available.
The players
Paterson Park Public Charter School
A public charter school in Baltimore City whose eighth graders are taking part in the expedition.
Sabina Sully
A teacher at Paterson Park Public Charter School who originated the idea for the Antarctica expedition.
Towson University
A Maryland public university partnering with the students on thermal imaging and VR simulation projects.
National Aquarium
A Baltimore aquarium that partnered with students during their 6th and 7th grade years.
The details
Sabina Sully, a teacher at the school, originated the expedition idea. Students spent 6th and 7th grade working with the National Aquarium, the Maryland Zoo, and other local partners, and as eighth graders will conduct thermal imaging and create VR simulations with Towson University.
Timeline
November 15, 2026: Students fly to South America and board the ship for Antarctica.
Thanksgiving 2026: Students spend the holiday aboard the ship.
Sixth and seventh grade: Students worked with the National Aquarium and Maryland Zoo in preparation.
Roadmap
The expedition extends the citizen science model, which has long used non-specialists to gather data, to secondary students on a polar research voyage. It reflects a growing effort to bring diverse young people into fields such as climate science and polar research.
The trip is free for selected students, showing how community support can open access to expeditions that might otherwise be out of reach. Families and educators interested in similar programs can look to this model of partnerships with local aquariums, zoos, and universities.
The takeaway
Access to specialized fields like polar science can be broadened when schools partner with local institutions and community supporters. Programs that start early in middle school can build skills and interest over several years.
What happens next
The students depart November 15, 2026, and will spend Thanksgiving aboard the ship before completing their two-week citizen science work in Antarctica.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education in Baltimore and beyond.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WMAR.
