North Little Rock, Ark. – May 2025 – Learning Blade, a leading STEM career awareness platform for grades 5–9, is collaborating with the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) and BlueForge Alliance (BFA) to ignite students’ interest in maritime technology and maritime manufacturing careers. This collaboration extends to hands-on learning experiences at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (AIMM), providing students with immersive opportunities to explore STEM in action.

On May 7, 2025, eighth grade students from Two Rivers Middle School extended their learning with a field trip to the USS Razorback at the AIMM. After completing Learning Blade’s Beneath the Waves: Building Submarine Mission, students toured the historic World War II submarine and explored maritime memorials, deepening their understanding of submarine history and naval technology.

“When students can connect their learning to real-world careers it can open their eyes to future possibilities and help them envision pathways to exciting, high-demand STEM fields,” said Jerry Wooden, CEO of eDynamic Learning, parent company of Learning Blade. “Field trips like the visit to the USS Razorback offer students an invaluable opportunity to see their classroom learning come to life.”

Dr. Carrie Curtis, Education Initiatives Lead for the MIB Program commented on the importance of introducing students to careers at an early age to build a strong future workforce “Experiences like touring the USS Razorback and exploring naval technology help students understand the critical role of submarines in national security and spark interest in the specialized skills needed for this industry. By engaging students now, we’re cultivating the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers who will sustain and advance the maritime industrial base.”

“My students have been learning about the submarine industrial base through Learning Blade’s new mission, Beneath the Waves: Building Submarines. We are excited to extend this learning with a trip to the USS Razorback at the AIMM where students will tour the World War II submarine and other museum memorials,” shared Jaime Blamey, CTE Teacher at Two Rivers School District.

This initiative is part of Learning Blade’s ongoing effort to make students aware of high-demand career pathways in the middle grades. As a fully funded resource, Learning Blade is free to educators and students in Arkansas.Through educational materials and experiential learning opportunities, students gain valuable insights to guide their future educational and career decisions.

For more information about Learning Blade, visit Learning Blade. To learn more about the Navy-funded partnership with Learning Blade, visit here.

Photos: Students explore the USS Razorback at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum (AIMM)