Coast Quest is an ongoing educational program of Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and partner organizations. Its aim has been to create extraordinary learning opportunities for youth that brings them into direct contact with the Olympic Coast, mixes traditional outdoor education with marine sciences and blends personal outdoor skill building and hands-on, field-based science.

In 2003 and again in 2004, the Sanctuary has teamed up with the Lady Washington, Washington State's tall ship replica of an 18th century coastal trader originally captained by Robert Gray, the first Euro-American explorer to enter the Columbia River.

The Lady Washington is home-ported in Aberdeen, Washington, but travels far and wide with programs, charters and special projects. One such project was her recent co-starring role with Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in Disney's hit movie Pirates of the Caribbean.

In 2003, the Lady Washington carried a crew of 11 high school students, three teachers, three science subject experts and her own crew of three. The adventure, which ran from June 20 to June 27, gave students an unforgettable experience of life at sea aboard a tall ship and a glimpse of the ocean science involved in managing a National Marine Sanctuary.

In 2004, the Lady Washington again sails with her crew of able student-scientists. This year the program runs from July 6 to July 17, culminating in a port visit to Port Angeles to help celebrate the Sanctuary's 10th Anniversary CoastFest.