On Friday and Saturday, June 28 and 29, the Boothbay Sea and Science Center is sponsoring free educational programs on the problem of marine debris, presented by the Rozalia Project. Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean is a national nonprofit whose mission is to find and remove marine debris from the ocean.

During the programs, Rozalia team members will demonstrate the use of underwater robots (ROVs) and sonar as well as nets to locate and remove marine debris. Participants of all ages will get a chance to remove and catalog trash from the water (rather than just pointing at it), sharing in an immediate and positive impact on the underwater world and becoming active parts of the solution.

Rozalia Project founder, Rachel Miller, and BSSC founder, Pauline Dion, have been working over the past year on bringing the around-the-world voyager and Rozalia research vessel American Promise to the Boothbay region.

Thanks to Dan Miller at Ocean Point Marina, an ideal location for the program was offered. Together they’re hoping that hands-on community involvement here on the Boothbay peninsula, and the use of Rozalia’s innovative technology and research and data collection techniques, will mark the first step in controlling the spread of marine debris in our area. These programs are free and open to the public.

“We are very excited to welcome the Rozalia Project to the Boothbay peninsula,” said Dion, “and to have them here during the week of Windjammer Days couldn’t be better.”

On Thursday, June 27 beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Ocean Point Marina, Rachael Miller will present the Rozalia Project and introduce her team members to the Boothbay Region communities. American Promise will be at the Ocean Point Marina in East Boothbay, co-sponsors of this inaugural event for the Boothbay Sea and Science Center.  

The Rozalia Project’s Program schedule is as follows:

Thursday, June 27: 5:30 p.m.: Presentation at Ocean Point Marina, "The Rozalia Project" followed by trash hunting for adults and families from the community (free and open to the public).

Friday, June 28: 10 a.m. to noon: Marine Debris programs and activities for Boothbay Sea and Science Center's/Land Trust/Other children; 1 to 3 p.m.: Available times for area groups who preregister such as Scout troops, YMCA Campers, church groups, Seniors Clubs, and others; 3 to 4 p.m.: Open trash hunting for the general public.

Saturday, June 29: 10 a.m. to noon: Available times for area groups who preregister such as Scout troops, YMCA Campers, church groups, Seniors Clubs, and others; 1 to 3 p.m.: Open trash hunting for the general public.

Time TBA: "The American Promise" (the movie) aboard the boat. Restricted to older youth; limited number; by invitation only. This is a weather dependent event.

To schedule a session for your group, or to find out about how you can help, email them at info@boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org. For more information, visit the BSSC website at www.boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org.