Hands-On Deck is not an internship or apprenticeship, but it offers similar benefits: real-world career exploration and experience, a stipend, and connections to professionals. You’ll earn a $300 learning stipend for three days of hands-on career exploration. You’ll gain experience with actual industry tasks, build professional skills, and leave with a work product you can put on a resume or college application. You’ll gain clarity on whether the maritime career field is right for you and where you might go next, whether that’s an internship, apprenticeship, community college, or four-year maritime academy. This is not an employment opportunity and does not guarantee future employment with our partners. If you’ve been looking for paid summer programs for youth in the Bay Area, this is worth a serious look.

Opportunities for high school students to get hands-on maritime experience are rare, which is exactly what makes Hands-On Deck different. Most teens interested in maritime careers have to wait until college or a formal apprenticeship to get any real job exposure. This youth workforce development program gives rising juniors and seniors in the Bay Area’s Contra Costa County three days of immersive, paid career exploration using industry-grade facilities at Cal Poly Maritime Academy in Vallejo, a leading maritime university in the U.S. Teens will learn about maritime trade roles including Ordinary Seaman, Deckhand, Engine Wiper, Marine Oiler, Operations Coordinator, and Logistics Coordinator along with more senior level roles in maritime including Captain, Master, Harbor Pilot, Chief Engineer, Marine Engineer, Port Operations Manager, and Supply Chain Director.

Hands-On Deck doesn’t require prior knowledge of maritime or any specific academic background. If you’re a high school junior or senior (11th or 12th grader) who shows up, asks questions, and wants to make the most of Hands-On Deck — you’re ready to apply. What the program looks for is genuine curiosity, a willingness to engage, and the ability to commit to all three days. The short-answer application questions are designed to surface those qualities, not to screen for students who already have maritime experience or a polished resume.

Career exploration programs that involve real-world experience can strengthen college or scholarship applications — as both a line on your resume or LinkedIn and as a source of genuine material for essays and interviews. Completing a hands-on industry project, working alongside maritime professionals, and being able to articulate why you’re drawn to this career makes for a compelling experience and story.

Yes! It’s one of the most overlooked options for teens thinking about their futures. The maritime industry is facing a significant workforce shortage as experienced workers retire, which means strong job security and upward mobility for people entering the field. In the Bay Area specifically, demand for roles in the maritime industry is growing.