We’ve been having tons of fun learning at the Boothbay Sea and Science Center. Last week, we explored how animals have evolved unique adaptations that help them survive in their environments. Through hands-on investigations, games, crafts, and field experiences, campers learned about both physical and behavioral adaptations, including specialized feeding structures, camouflage, communication, and life in different ocean zones. A highlight of the week was a field trip to the Maine State Aquarium in Boothbay Harbor, where campers investigated Gulf of Maine food webs, observed feeding adaptations in live marine animals, and explored the touch tank to connect concepts with real-world examples. Throughout the rest of the week, campers observed birds, explored tide pools, investigated deep-sea creatures, designed their own plankton and imaginary animals, and participated in activities demonstrating echolocation, bioluminescence, and camouflage. By the end of the week, campers understood that every adaptation, from a lobster's claw to a deep-sea fish's glowing lure, helps organisms survive, find food, avoid predators, and thrive in their unique habitats.

This past week marked our second week of sailing with science at the Boothbay Sea and Science Center! We were so excited to welcome new faces as we started our day on Monday. In sailing, for the new Mizzens and Stay’s’ls, we started with our “dock dip” followed by a marshmallow topped cup of hot chocolate. We also introduced our skills bead system, which is aimed to create a fun and engaging manner of learning sailing and rowing skills for campers!  It also serves as a method of tracking their progress throughout each week as they advance through the three levels of our sailing skills.

After we’d reviewed the points of sail and the parts of the boat,on Tuesday, with the Mizzens, we practiceour rowing strokeand had lots of fun rowing around the moorings in front of BSSC floats. In the afternoon, there was enough wind to take the Turnabouts out with the Stay’s’ls. In the morning on Wednesday, we practiced tying knots and rowing for those who wanted to earn their glass rowing bead. Then, in the afternoon, we were able to get on the water on our23’ Sonar sailboats and the Rhodes 19’ - sailing out to the green can close by Squirrel Island. On Thursday, we finally were able to sail with the Mizzens in the morning! We learned the parts of the boat on the sailing simulator and then transitioned to sailing a windward-leeward course nearbyBSSC. In the afternoon, the BSSC Schooner Tyronne sailors arrived backjust in time to join in on a sail around Cabbage Island. On Friday, a rainstorm disrupted our morning plans to sail with the Mizzens - insteadwe worked on knots, we talked about various sailing skills and using the sailboats that they drew we labeled the parts. We also played jeopardy, which is the BSSC’s favorite rainy-day game! During lunch, we had our first official Friday Family Cookout of the summer season! A special thanks to BSSC Board of Director Edward Roberts for grilling the burgers, volunteers Mrs. Sue Taylor for slicing the watermelon and Mr. Benjamin Snead,grandfather to one of our Stay’s’ls, for helping with the set-up and serving! Congratulations to all the Schooner Tyronne sailors for an amazing and very informative presentation after our cookout! To conclude our day, we went out on the Turnabouts with the Stay’s’ls joined bySailing Instructors who practiced their own skills on the Precision 15.  

Each week, day to day, the Sailing Instructorsplan the sailing program according to the weather forecast.Last week, we struggled with the lack of wind and two days of rain. However, we were still able to have lots of fun and learning that included sail trim, points of the sail, parts of the boat, and rowing technique. 

Last week also consisted of a lot of behind-the-scenes work that included repairing an outboard motor, two boat trailers, and a couple of bilge pumps.Also, Charles Bonnefoy, Sailing Apprentice and Elijiah Smith, Junior Sailing and Science Instructor built oarlocks for our big red “four station” rowboatgetting it ready for launching soon. Additionally, Charles and Sailing Instructor Maria Palacios, were hard at work greasingsqueaky trailer wheels.Many thanks to Eric Graves for his guidance about bilge pumps and the importance of fuses in the batteries on the power boats. And we are thrilled to share that last week the Chess Club was added to our “club roster”!