Boothbay Sea and Science Center has been awarded the prestigious US Sailing Creative Innovations in Programming award. The award recognizes “those programs, or individuals, who have successfully found new, and different, methods for teaching sailing,” according to US Sailing. The award is given to one organization each year and is awarded on a national scope. Past recipients have included the Mystic Seaport Museum Sailing Center and New England Science and Sailing.
“Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC) has developed partnership programs that integrate sea, science, observation skills, and real time data collection and analysis,” US Sailing wrote. “BSSC programs foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the waterways and industries in Maine, to have a positive economic impact worldwide, and potentially stimulate economic growth to the Northeast region while centered on combining sailing and environmental sciences for all ages.”
Boothbay Sea and Science Center Executive Director Pauline Dion said she was very pleased by the honor.
“This award recognizes that BSSC has successfully found new, and different, methods for teaching sailing,” She said. “We are honored to join past awardees in our efforts to find new ways to utilize our existing resources to get new sailors on the water.”
Boothbay Sea and Science Center has been teaching sailing, boating skills and marine science to children ages 5 – 17 since 2013. In 2023, 160 children participated in the program, which, in addition to teaching sailing and boat handling skills, covered a wide range of contemporary marine science topics that included ocean pollution, climate change as well as art and culture of the Maine coast.
Last year’s programming took place at the Center’s new campus on 12 Carter Road in East Boothbay which is continuing to undergo improvements as the Center looks ahead to it’s 2024 season.
“BSSC’s programs are focused on opening doors of opportunity for students, instructors, and teachers with hands-on learning, instilling lifelong skills and creating career pathways in STEM fields,” Dion said.