ACMI · Maritime STEM programs & boat donations
Science on the water, from the Everglades to Biscayne Bay.
Students take on real problems in project-based STEM labs, from designing an artificial reef to working through a simulated oil-spill response.
This Is How We Learn! Everglades STEM at AHSA. Hands-on Everglades learning in action! Watch American High School Academy students build, explore, and collaborate. AMCAI celebrates STEM learning and environmental stewardship, with appreciation to The Everglades Foundation for its work in Everglades education. Subscribe on YouTube
What ACMI is
An AMCAI program
The American Center for Maritime Innovation (ACMI) is the maritime program of the American Center for Aviation Innovation, Inc. (AMCAI), a Miami 501(c)(3) public charity. AMCAI is the legal entity and does business as ACMI for its maritime work, so a single gift supports both programs.
Through our partnership with American High School Academy, a Cognia®-accredited private school offering NCAA-approved courses, students in grades 6–12 can earn academic credit and reach technical training and industry certifications.
ACMI connects students to ocean innovation and sustainability through hands-on work in:
- Marine navigation and environmental systems
- Oil spill response and artificial reef projects
- Maritime engineering foundations
What students do
Earns Skill Passport badges
Marine navigation & environmental systems
How vessels find their way, and how the water around them works.
Oil-spill response & artificial reefs
Real-world challenges worked through as projects: a simulated spill response, a reef design.
Maritime engineering foundations
The engineering behind boats, marine equipment and the systems on board.
Everglades & Biscayne Bay learning
Hands-on environmental STEM in South Florida's own waters, as in the Everglades video above.
The fleet & what it needs
Offered vs. received
Needs its outboard repaired or replaced
Our Floating STEM Lab vessel is a donated 2007 Sea Fox 21-foot Open Fisherman. Its existing 2007 Suzuki 140 hp outboard is damaged.
Offer a repair →Kayaks for on-water learning
Donated by PADDLE! the Florida Keys, our Maritime Program sponsor.
Kayak welder & complete repair kit
Donated by Aviation World Management.
Safety gear for the Floating STEM Lab
Donated by Sea Tow Miami (High Order Marine, Inc.). Thank you, Capt. Riley Helmig and team.
Masks, snorkels and gear bags
Donated by Scuba Choice: 98 snorkels, 172 masks and 200 mesh gear bags for snorkeling lessons. Thank you, Ryan and team.
Boat donation
Donate a boat or marine equipment
We welcome donated vessels and marine equipment that can be put to work in student programs. Our Floating STEM Lab vessel is a donated 2007 Sea Fox 21-foot Open Fisherman. Its existing 2007 Suzuki 140 hp outboard is damaged, so the boat cannot operate until that engine is repaired or replaced.
What we can use now:
- A repair of the existing Suzuki 140 hp, or a serviceable replacement outboard compatible with the Sea Fox, with rigging and controls
- Safety equipment, life jackets, navigation and marine electronics
- Kayaks, paddles and shore-based equipment for on-water learning
- Trailer, storage and haul-out support
- A usable donated vessel suited to student training
Before we can accept an engine
We need to confirm shaft length, engine weight against the vessel’s transom rating, and rigging and control compatibility. Email admin@amcai.org and we will send the vessel details and the current needs list before anything is shipped or collected.
AMCAI is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 99-2049468, Florida registration CH77296. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law; please consult your own adviser about the deductible value of a donated vessel or equipment.
Maritime Program sponsor
PADDLE! the Florida Keys — Thank you for donating two kayaks to support hands-on maritime and STEM learning for our youth. paddlethefloridakeys.com →
Volunteer with ACMI
Your time can change a life. Volunteer with AMCAI and AHSA and help us take education — and opportunity — to new heights.
Watch and learn with AMCAI on YouTube
More from AMCAI: Air Traffic Control Explained · Aviation Phonetic Alphabet A–Z · Aviation Careers in Demand · All videos
Ready to launch their dreams?
Your gift invests in tomorrow’s innovators, aviators, mariners and community leaders. By supporting AMCAI and ACMI, you help students gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to take flight — both figuratively and literally — and pave the way for a future defined by discovery, collaboration and bold thinking.
American Center for Aviation Innovation, Inc. (AMCAI) is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, doing business as the American Center for Maritime Innovation (ACMI) for its maritime work. Your gift goes to AMCAI and supports both programs. We depend on the generosity of donors, partners, sponsors and affiliates who share our belief in the transformative power of experiential education. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law; your eligibility and the value of any benefits you receive can affect deductibility, so please consult your own adviser.
Registration Number: CH77296. REQUIRED DISCLOSURE (s.496.411(3), F.S.): A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), OR AT FDACS.gov. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.