(NMC) — Northern Marianas College’s Center for Training and Innovation and 500 Sails are inviting the public to embark on a unique voyage through history with the Cultural Maritime Training Center’s “Traditional Navigation – Module I,” an eight-week immersive program that begins on Nov. 6, 2025.
This first module introduces participants to the ancient art of traditional navigation — the foundational principles and timeless knowledge that guided Pacific Islander seafarers for centuries. Through hands-on learning, participants will trace the origins and evolution of navigation across cultures, uncovering wisdom passed down through generations. The program includes learning to navigate using stars, currents, and natural phenomena, while experiencing traditional tools and techniques firsthand.
Beyond maritime skills, the course highlights how traditional navigation fosters spatial awareness, adaptability, and problem-solving — values that continue to resonate in daily life.
Classes will be held once a week from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the 500 Sails Boatyard in Lower Base, Saipan. The first two sessions will take place on Thursday, Nov. 6, and Thursday, Nov. 13; subsequent sessions will be held on Tuesdays through Dec. 23, 2025.
The program is open to the public and welcomes residents of Saipan ages 14 and older. Participants aged 17 and below must provide parent or guardian consent.
Registration is open now at https://bit.ly/47p8nhs and will close on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
For more information, contact NMC’s Center for Training and Innovation at cdi@marianas.edu or call (670) 237-9203.
