For the past three years, Boothbay Harbor has been the home of a one-of-a-kind opportunity for children and young adults ages 5 to 17. The Boothbay Sea and Science Center is a program that provides sailing and science education all wrapped up into one fun, inspirational eight-week package.

Last year’s Boothbay Sea and Science Center spring solicitation letter stated: “The Boothbay Sea and Science Center is committed to community and to its promise that no child will be left on the dock.”

The center was conceived of in 2011 by a small group of Boothbay community leaders. In 2012, the group hosted a business after hours event at the Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, around the time the HMS Bounty sank after leaving that very place. The program of informing the community about the center was combined with a memorial for the Bounty, and for the two crew members who lost their lives that day.

The organization is the brainchild of President/Executive Director Pauline Dion. “We all felt that there was a need for a community program that focused on basic sailing skills and affordable access to the waterfront,” she said.

The community rallied around the idea of the newly named Boothbay Sea and Science Center.

The program was launched in 2013, at Wotton's Wharf, with one sailing director/instructor, Gray Ferris. “We had one turnabout, one 23-foot sailboat and three rowboats,” Dion said. “It was strictly rowing and sailing that summer, and it was successful.” The enrollment was 23 students, ages 5 to 17.

At that point Dion realized needed more space was needed. The program moved its headquarters to the old Spar Shed Marina in East Boothbay.

In 2014, there were five directors/instructors — three for sailing and two for science. “We introduced science that year,” Dion said. “We had the use of a weather station that the owner of the Spar Shed had installed,” she said. The science program entails pretty much anything having to do with the ocean — marine sciences and weather, water temperature and wind.

The enrollment that year went up to 54.

Dion said that with the growth spurt, there arose the need for yet more space, so in 2015 the program was moved to Ocean Point Marina in East Boothbay. That summer, the sea and science programs were integrated for children ages 5 to 7 and the Mizzen Program was created — the first of its kind in Maine. The age 10 to 15 group is called the Stay’s’ l program.

2015 brought 57 students, 28 females and 29 males, ranging in age from 5 to 15.

The fleet at the center now boasts five turnabouts, two fixed-keel sailboats and eight rowing dinghies – all on loan. A K-6 — a high-tech 19-foot racing sailboat — and an Ideal 18 were also just donated.

Dion said there is no power on any of the boats, which are used for not only teaching sailing skills, but also for science. Utilizing scientific equipment on the boats, the kids are learning about the principles of weather and marine plants and animals. “They're doing some data collecting and water sampling, and gaining an appreciation for oceanography.”

And there's a touch tank for marine animals. “We get our critters from DMR (Department of Marine Resources),” Dion said. “We have a special license for them. You can't even put a mussel or a clam in a touch tank without a license. It's called captivity. So it's OK for you to put mussels and clams in a pot of boiling water, but not in a touch tank!”

The program also includes educating kids about the lobster fishery. Dion has a recreational lobstering license for five traps. The traps are set close to the dock at Ocean Point Marina. Nicholas Morley, who has 150 traps for commercial fishing, set them last summer, and spoke to the group. “Five-year-olds were mesmerized by him,” Dion said. “You could hear a pin drop.” Morley will be participating in the program again this summer. He uses his own 23-foot lobster boat for hauling. Note to lobstermen: The lobsters are thrown back.

The projected enrollment for 2016 is 65 participants. “We're introducing the topsail program for participants who are ready to move to the next level with sailing,” Dion said.

There will be six instructors this summer, including an education director, a waterfront director and four instructors. Dion said the education director and three of the instructors are coming from Maine Maritime Academy. The program is currently looking for a sailing instructor, 18 years old or older.

This summer’s program will include inspirational speakers and educators like sailmaker Nat Wilson, and representatives from Ocean Point Marina, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Bigelow Laboratory, U.S. Coast Guard Boothbay Harbor, Hodgdon Yachts and DMR.

“All these kinds of programs are community-based and we're all trying to work together,” Dion said. “We're trying to open doors of opportunity for kids. It's not just about sailing and science. It's about history, it's about literature, it's about art and architecture. It's all about life skills.

“An important part of our mission is to open doors of opportunity for kids, and we're hoping we'll have a big impact on the little guys. We're really excited about the enrollment and we're noticing that some of the kids who began at around age 5 are now 6 or 7 and are adding weeks because they want to be here. Our age 5 to 9 program has really grown, and we love watching these kids and seeing what they'll do down the road.”

Dion said the program is always looking for donations of turnabouts and rowboats.

The Boothbay Sea and Science Center now offers online registration at www.boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org. Early registration is recommended.

The program opens on June 27 and closes on August 19.

To learn more about how you can donate a boat or volunteer at the center, contact Pauline Dion at info@boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org or call 207 350-5357.