The 2023 Boothbay Sea and Science Center BSSC) summer program opens June 19 at its new home on Linekin Bay. BSSC provides a safe, fun, friendly, and dynamic hands-on learning experience that fosters curiosity, respect, teamwork, self-confidence, responsible stewardship of the land and sea, and good sportsmanship.

Our qualified group is led by Robert (RC) Chance, Principal Waterfront Instructor and Matthew (Matt) Duddy, Principal Marine Science Instructor. The staff includes Science Instructors Emma Dullaert, Eli Hankins, Rachelle Harpin, and Jordan Snell; Sailing Instructor Caroline Parker; Sailing and Science Instructors Jacob (Jake) Allison, Antonio Fazio, and Hunnie Zuber-Stephens; Junior Sailing Instructor/Sailing Assistants Caroline Snell, Owen Foley and Rose Campbell; Sailing and Science Apprentices Luca Fiore and Simeon Bates.

Members of the BSSC 2023 marine science and sailing instructor team are students or graduates of New England colleges and universities including St. Mary’s College, University of Maine, University of New England, University of Vermont, Maine Maritime Academy, Central Maine Community College, and Lesley College. Our Junior Sailing Instructors/Sailing Assistants and Apprentices hail from high schools in Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and New York.

The BSSC full-day programs at 5 levels for youth ages 5 to 17 are the mainstay of BSSC’s summer activities. The Mizzen I and Mizzen II groups (ages 5-8), experience shoreside and on water hands-on experiential activities in oceanography, meteorology, marine science as well as sailing and rowing. Stay’s’l I and Stay’s’l II (ages 9-17), through sailing, rowing, and hands-on experiential marine science learning activities work and learn as a team, problem solve, and improve social skills. These programs combine onshore instruction and onboard execution with a focus on water safety skills, practical seamanship, and teamwork while developing new lifelong friendships. Each program incorporates age-appropriate appreciation, understanding and respect of the marine environment that includes but not limited to: Weather; Intertidal Ecology; Oceanography; Ocean Stewardship. Top’s’l (ages 13-17) is a leadership program for more experienced sailors and incorporates advanced sailing skills with a heightened understanding of the marine environment.

Joining local students this summer for three weeks in July are 36 middle and high school students from Piscataquis County. A grant from the Maine Department of Education brings the students to BSSC’s Stay’s’l program to be introduced to conversations with shipbuilders, sailmakers, techniques for measuring and recording sea levels, and studying the effects of rising tides on coastal communities. In addition, students will sail, row, learn the basic rules of seamanship and water safety, and work as a team to solve problems. The teens will spend their nights at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle. We are honored to receive this award that supports the Governor’s initiative and our goal to provide equal and affordable access to sea and marine science experiential activities regardless of income and proximity to the ocean.

Learn more about our instructors at https://boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org/summer-2023-staff/