The R.V. Karma is a fully equipped, 57-foot teaching and research vessel. On deck students can use otter trawls, plankton nets, water samplers and test kits, bottom corers, and video-enhanced microscopes to investigate topics such as marine biology, ecology, fisheries and environmental impact.
Typically the five hour educational program consists of a 1.5-2.5 hour discovery cruise. Students collect and analyze samples and specimens and observe natural phenomena. The discovery cruise is accompanied by shoreside exercises which reinforce the concepts of the discovery cruise. Shoreside activities include demonstrations, laboratory exercises, and field investigations.
At the Floating Classroom, our mission is to encourage a keen interest and enthusiasm - not just in science and technology but in our planet's environment - in people of all ages. We feel it is particularly important to nurture an understanding and appreciation of our Gulf Coast resources and enterprises in young people who will soon be tomorrow's leaders. We invite your group to join us in this exciting education adventure.
Find out more information about the R.V. Karma and the Floating Classroom Program.
Curriculum Guides/Training Materials(Grades 4-12) Lesson plans and reference materials reinforce the concepts and principles encountered during the discovery cruise and the shoreside exercises
New Shoreside Lesson Ocean Technology at Work: Sound/Sonar, Submersibles & Robotics
Calendar of Events Check the calendar to determine open dates before you schedule a cruise
The following software packages are required to view some of the files on this site. All software downloads are available free of charge from the vendor.