Who: Stay’s’l I: Ages 9 – 12 as of start of first day
Who: Stay’s’l II: Ages 13 – 17 as of start of first day
When: 6/15 – 8/14
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: TBA
Installment plan option
We are introducing an installment plan option. When you register your child(ren) you will have a choice of paying the full tuition immediately or paying a 50% deposit with the remaining 50% automatically charged to your credit card/bank on May 1. In either case, our cancellation fee policy will apply.
Financial assistance available
Please note: If you plan on requesting financial assistance, the Financial Assistance Request Form MUST be submitted and approved before registering for a session.
Description
In these full-day programs students work and learn as a team, improve social skills and develop new lifelong friendships. These programs combine onshore instruction and onboard execution. Primary objective of the Stay’s’l I and Stay’s’l II programs is a focus on maritime safety, practical seamanship, and teamwork. Each program incorporates an appreciation, understanding and respect of the marine environment that includes but is not limited to: Weather; Intertidal Ecology; Oceanography and responsible Ocean Stewardship.
Helpful links
Weekly Topics
Each topic includes weather forecasting, basic sailing and boating skills, local marine life, and responsible marine stewardship.
Week 1: June 15 – June 19
Ship to Shore: Discovering BSSC
Students will experience a sampling of BSSC’s summer 2026 on and off the water program. Students will explore tide pools, learn about what lies between the surface and the seafloor, sail, row, kayak, fish, and get wet all while having tons of fun!
Week 2: June 22 – June 26
The Neighborhood
Students will gain a better understanding of ocean animal adaptations … how a species’ physical traits and behaviors help it survive in its marine environment for tasks like breathing, moving, and finding food or avoiding predators. We will also explore what sea life is found in intertidal zones, coastal areas, and the “dark zone” with a focus on how “life” adapts to extreme conditions. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
Week 3: June 29 – July 3
Outside the Window
Students will gain a basic understanding of weather and climate through hands-on activities and basic observation with a gradual progression to more complex concepts like meteorology and data analysis for the older students. We will create weather journals and stations, conduct experiments, and use media like books, videos, and games, that build vocabulary and connect weather and climate to daily life and larger scientific principles. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
Week 4: July 6 – July 10
Polar Opposites
Students will learn about the areas on Earth located around the North and South Poles that are defined by ice, snow, and extreme cold. We will have a better understanding of the differences and similarities of the Arctic (North Pole) and Antarctica (South Pole) that include the unique phenomena they experience and the specialized animals that make their home there. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
Week 5: July 13 – July 17
Our Ocean, Our Mess
Students will gain a better understanding of where marine debris comes from and how it ends up in our oceans, lakes, and rivers. We will describe how “sea trash” hurts animals, harms the environment, and how it can even end up in our food. Additionally, students will learn how we apply marine technology to the marine environment, that includes the design, construction, and operation of vessels, offshore structures, and the equipment used for exploration, resource gathering and scientific data collection. Includes a field trip and/guest speaker.
Week 6: July 20 – July 24
Food For Thought
Students will learn about aquaculture and how it can help meet growing seafood demands, restore habitats, and replenish wild populations. We will learn about the practices involved in growing, harvesting these organisms, and the positive and reciprocal relationship with the marine ecosystems. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
Week 7: July 27 – July 31
Reeled-in
Students will study the industry of catching, processing, and selling fish and other aquatic animals, the locations where this happens, and the activities involved. They will gain a better understanding of the role fisheries play as a major source of food and jobs globally, while embracing sustainable management to ensure the long-term health of fish populations and ecosystems. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
Week 8: August 3 – August 7
Sea Time
Students will gain a better understanding of the study and preservation of human history and culture related to the sea and other waterways. We will talk about physical objects like shipwrecks and archaeological sites as well as oral histories, traditions, and knowledge passed down through generations. Students will gain a greater insight into how water has shaped societies, trade, and identities that connects us to our past through evidence. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker
Week 9: August 10 – August 14
A Sight to Sea
Students will observe wild birds in their natural habitat. Using binoculars and field guides we will record our observations and explore ways we can contribute to scientific research by reporting our sightings. Includes a field trip and/or guest speaker.
BSSC Collaborations:
Bristol Marine at the Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor; Southport Island Marine; Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Sciences; Nathaniel S. Wilson Sailmaker; Washburn & Doughty; Hodgdon Yachrs; Maine State Aquarium; Burnt Island Light; USCG Boothbay Harbor; Department of Marine Resources; Rozalia Project; Blue Ocean Society; Gulf of Maine Research Institute; OceansWide; Darling Marine Center; Fresh Sea Farms; Springtide Seaweed; Mook Sea Farm; Spartan Sea Farms; Focus Maine/Maine Career Compass; Down East Gallery; National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens; Lincoln County Regional Planning; Southport Central School; Boothbay Regional Elementary School; Edgecomb Eddy School; South Bristol School; Medomak Middle School; Medomak High School; Lincoln Academy; Freeport Middle School; Lisbon Middle School; Pownal Elementary School; King Middle School . . . to name a few.
The Boats
See the boats we use in our program
Boating time disclaimer:
We make every effort to provide your son and/or daughter with as much time boating on the water as possible. However, please note that safety concerns raised by local weather conditions may require us to emphasize land-based activites on some days.
Requirements:
- Pass a swim test at the Center.
- Parents / Guardians must present signed Registration forms, Liability Waiver, and Medical forms before participants begin the program.
- Parents / Guardians and students must jointly sign “Code of Conduct” before the start of the program.