Los Angeles Maritime Institute

What Los Angeles Maritime Institute does

The Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in California (EIN 33-0515416) and founded in 1992 by LAUSD science teacher Captain Jim Gladson. Headquartered at 73 Berth, Suite 2, San Pedro, with an operations base at Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, the organization operates a fleet of traditionally rigged tall ships — twin 110-foot brigantines Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson, the 130-foot three-masted schooner American Pride, and the 92-foot Swift of Ipswich (currently under restoration) — to deliver hands-on maritime education to youth across Southern California, with voyage reach extending to Catalina Island. The core product is the award-winning TopSail Youth Program, in which 5,314 students from 65+ schools, youth groups, and nonprofits participated during the 2023-2024 school year; ancillary programs include the TopSail STEM curriculum, Sea Scouts Ship 1992, the Maritime Youth Leadership Ambassadors (MYLA), the bilingual Explore the Coast / Explora La Costa sail, summer day and sleepaway camps, Virtual Voyage digital resources aligned to NGSS and California K-12 standards, and private tall-ship charters.

Revenue is generated through a mix of programmatic fees, public sail ticketing, corporate and foundation sponsorship, and individual donations. Programmatic pricing spans subsidized Title I school sails (partially or fully sponsored), community sails at $30–$75 per participant, Explore the Coast sails at a $10 suggested donation, summer camps priced at $700 (Explorer Day Camp), $1,625 (5-Day Adventure), and $3,500 (12-Day Voyager), and private charter bookings quoted on request. Corporate and foundation sponsors include the Port of Los Angeles, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Honda, Boeing, Crail-Johnson Foundation, Norris Foundation, TK Foundation, Broad Foundation, Goldhirsh Foundation, California Coastal Conservancy, and California Coastal Commission. The organization maintains sales-led distribution via a Director of Sales & Marketing handling direct school and charter bookings, complemented by event-led and community-led motions (LA Fleet Week, City of STEM, LA Maker Faire, monthly community sails, Sea Scouts chapter).

The mission is to empower youth through extraordinary at-sea experiences aboard educational sailing vessels, building 21st-century leadership skills and inspiring maritime and STEM career paths. More than 130,000 young people have participated since founding, and 68% of 2023-2024 students received sponsored or subsidized sails, with 87% of sponsored-sail students eligible for Free and Reduced Priced Meals. The 2017 Partners in Educational Excellence Award from the Association of California State Administrators and dual city-level "Official Tall Ship" designations in Los Angeles and Long Beach are the primary third-party validations.

Name

Los Angeles Maritime Institute

Legal name

Los Angeles Maritime Institute

Website

https://lamitopsail.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Los Angeles Maritime Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1992 that operates a fleet of traditionally rigged tall ships from San Pedro and Long Beach to deliver experiential maritime and STEM education to Southern California youth, primarily Title I school groups, serving over 130,000 students since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Youth Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAKAGAM

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Group Travel & Educational Travel Operators

SECONDARYTHAJAJAG

Sailing Experiences (Lessons, Regattas, Day Sails)

Travel & Hospitality/Tours, Attractions & Experiences/Marine & Water Experiences (Boat Tours, Diving, Snorkeling, Fishing)

SECONDARYTHAAALAB

Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing)

Travel & Hospitality/Adventure, Amusement Parks & Ecotourism/Adventure & Ecotourism Equipment Rental & Guiding Services

Keywords

• Tall ship education
• Youth maritime programs
• STEM sailing curriculum
• Experiential youth education
• Sail training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Program Fees: Revenue from schools and youth groups for TopSail Youth Program sails. Programs available as single-day sails or multi-day voyages. Sponsored sails for Title I schools are partially or fully subsidized through donations.
2. Summer Camp Fees: Registration fees for Explorer Day Camp ($700), 5-Day Adventure Camp ($1,625), and 12-Day Voyager Camp ($3,500). Revenue supports program delivery and partial subsidization of need-based participants.
3. Community Sails: Monthly themed sunset sails open to the public at $30-$75 per person. Proceeds support educational programs for youth from under-resourced communities.
4. Private Charters & Events: Charter bookings for corporate events, team building, filming, birthdays, and other private events aboard tall ships. All proceeds support vessel maintenance and educational programs.
5. Corporate & Foundation Sponsorship: Funding from corporate sponsors (Port of LA, Marathon Petroleum, Phillips 66, Honda, Boeing, etc.) and foundations (Crail-Johnson, Norris, TK Foundation, etc.) supporting program expansion and subsidized sails for Title I schools.
6. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, including monthly giving program 'Prevailing Winds'. EIN 33-0515416.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates a fleet of traditionally rigged tall ships to deliver hands-on, at-sea experiential learning programs for youth. Its core offering is the TopSail Youth Program, in which students and youth groups board twin brigantines (Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson) and the schooner American Pride to learn STEM, leadership, teamwork, and seamanship through real-world sailing voyages. Programs serve schools, youth organizations, under-resourced communities, and families, with many sails sponsored or subsidized through donations and grants.

Product overview

Los Angeles Maritime Institute operates a fleet of tall ships providing experiential youth education programs. The core offering is the award-winning TopSail Youth Program, enhanced by the TopSail STEM Program, with related programs including Sea Scouts Ship 1992, Maritime Youth Leadership Ambassadors (MYLA), Explore the Coast (bilingual), and summer camps (Explorer Day Camp, 5-Day Adventure Camp, 12-Day Voyager Camp). The organization also offers Virtual Voyage digital resources, tall ship charters, and monthly community sails. The fleet includes four vessels: twin 110-foot brigantines Irving Johnson and Exy Johnson (Official Tall Ships of Los Angeles), the 130-foot three-masted schooner American Pride (Official Tall Ship of Long Beach), and the 92-foot topsail schooner Swift of Ipswich (under restoration).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TopSail Youth Program Award-winning experiential education program in which youth (school groups, youth organizations, nonprofits) participate in single-day or multi-day hands-on sailing voyages aboard tall ships, learning STEM, leadership, teamwork, and seamanship through real-world application.
• TopSail STEM Program STEM-focused curriculum leveraging sailing as a framework for science, technology, engineering, and math, including navigation, mechanical advantage, and block-and-tackle systems. Aligned with NGSS standards.
• Sea Scouts Ship 1992 Co-ed Sea Scout Ship chartered by LAMI under Scouts BSA, for youth ages 14-21 (or 13+ with 8th grade completion), offering leadership, seamanship, small craft boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
• Maritime Youth Leadership Ambassadors (MYLA) Free program for Wilmington youth ages 12-18 providing sailing instruction, marine ecology education, maritime career exposure, and a weekend Catalina voyage, including transportation, gear, and meals.
• Explore the Coast / Explora La Costa Bilingual (Spanish/English) STEM-focused 2-hour educational sail for all ages (children 10+) featuring hands-on scientific activities with trained bilingual docents. Sponsored by Marathon Petroleum.
• Summer Camp Programs Three summer camp tiers: Explorer Day Camp (ages 6-10, $700) at Long Beach; 5-Day Adventure Camp (ages 10-17, $1,625) sleepaway aboard Irving/Exy Johnson; and 12-Day Voyager Camp (ages 12-17, $3,500) extended sleepaway voyage.
• Virtual Voyage Free digital lesson plans, worksheets, and video resources for K-12 covering salinity, buoyancy, mechanical advantage, marine invertebrates, water chemistry, microplastics, and navigation, aligned with California K-12 and NGSS standards.
• Tall Ship Charters Private charter bookings for corporate events, team building, filming, celebrations, and receptions aboard Irving Johnson, Exy Johnson, and American Pride. All proceeds support vessel maintenance and educational programs.
• Community Sails Monthly themed public sunset sails (e.g., Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, July Fireworks, Holiday Boat Parade) aboard tall ships. Adults $60-$75, children 12 & under $30. Proceeds support youth educational programs.
• Irving Johnson (110-foot Brigantine) 110-foot traditionally rigged wooden brigantine, Official Tall Ship and Maritime Ambassador of the City of Los Angeles, capacity 45 youth participants plus crew, used for TopSail Youth Program and Adventure Camp voyages.
• Exy Johnson (110-foot Brigantine) 110-foot traditionally rigged wooden brigantine, Official Tall Ship and Maritime Ambassador of the City of Los Angeles, capacity 45 youth participants plus crew, used for TopSail Youth Program and Adventure Camp voyages.
• American Pride (130-foot Schooner) 130-foot three-masted schooner, Official Tall Ship of the City of Long Beach, capacity 75 youth participants plus crew, operated out of Rainbow Harbor for LAMI's Long Beach division (Children's Maritime Institute).
• Swift of Ipswich (92-foot Schooner) 92-foot wooden topsail schooner designed by Howard Chappelle and built in 1938, former personal yacht of actor James Cagney; LAMI's founding vessel currently under restoration for future service to upper elementary and middle school students.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 130,000 young people have benefited from LAMI programs since 1992
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and historical.

• Port of Los Angeles (POLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor port partner providing operational support and visibility for LAMI's San Pedro operations. LAMI participates in Port events including LA Fleet Week and Festival of Sail.
• Port of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome port for American Pride through the Children's Maritime Institute (LAMI's Long Beach division). American Pride named Official Tall Ship of the City of Long Beach.
• Marathon PetroleumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor of the Explore the Coast / Explora La Costa bilingual educational sailing program, providing funding for STEM-focused community sails.
• AltaSea at the Port of Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization at the Port of Los Angeles focused on advancing ocean literacy and maritime innovation. Eric Johnson, LAMI Board Chair, serves on AltaSea Board of Trustees.
• Tall Ships AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational sail training organization providing peer network, training resources, and industry recognition (including Sail Trainer of the Year award). LAMI is a proud member.
• San Pedro Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal business chamber providing community connections and visibility for LAMI.
• Wilmington Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal chamber supporting MYLA program and Wilmington community engagement.
• West Harbor Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterfront development partner providing docking location and foot traffic for LAMI's San Pedro operations. Eric Johnson, LAMI Board Chair, is Vice President of West Harbor LA.
• American Heritage Marine InstitutehistoricalOthersOriginal owner of American Pride before transfer to Children's Maritime Institute (LAMI's Long Beach division) in 2018.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Catalina Sea Camp: Marine science and sailing summer camp on Catalina Island, sharing geography with LAMI's Catalina voyages. Competes for the same family-pay summer-camp dollars in the LA market.

Direct peers

• Sea Education Association: Nonprofit ocean education organization running tall-ship voyages for high school and college students with hands-on marine science curriculum — a more academically intensive analog to LAMI.
• World Ocean School: Nonprofit operating Schooner Roseway out of Boston/Camden providing residential sail-training voyages for youth and adults. Closest mission analog combining tall-ship voyages with structured youth education.
• Oliver Hazard Perry: Rhode Island-based nonprofit operating the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, a 200-foot tall ship delivering ocean-class sail training and STEM programming for K-12 and college students.
• Sound Experience: Washington State nonprofit operating the schooner Adventuress for youth environmental education and sail training. Comparable operating model pairing tall-ship voyages with hands-on science curriculum.
• Call of the Sea: Bay Area nonprofit offering youth and adult sail training aboard traditional vessels including the schooner Seaward, with strong school-group programming overlap.
• Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey: Massachusetts-based historic schooner operated as a sail training and education vessel under a nonprofit commission; shares the historic-tall-ship education model with LAMI.
• Spirit of Adventure: Bay Area nonprofit operating youth sail training programs aboard traditionally rigged vessels, directly comparable in mission and customer segments to LAMI's TopSail Program.

Broad incumbents

• Outward Bound: Largest experiential education nonprofit in the US, including sailing expeditions, serving similar youth development outcomes but operating at much greater scale and across geographies.

Others

• Tall Ships America: National sail training association of which LAMI is a member; not a direct competitor but the industry body that confers LAMI's recognition and standards framework.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lamitopsail
• Facebookfacebook.com/lami.topsail
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lamitopsail
• Instagraminstagram.com/tallshipschool
• Xx.com/lami_topsail

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles Maritime Institute