The Boothbay Sea and Science Center has received a $2,000 donation from Friends of Windjammer Days. The money will go toward helping young wanna-be sailors and marine scientists learn about the ocean and sailing next summer.

Mark Gimbel, one of six members of the board of directors of Friends of Windjammers Days, said in a phone interview the money was awarded after the board discussed options for the surplus from last summer’s Windjammer Days.

“We had a surplus of revenue for 2017 ... so over the fall and winter months the board of directors was kicking around ideas about how to give some of that extra money back to some organization, either local or statewide, that has a connection to education on the ocean.”

Gimbel said the board asked representatives of Tall Ships Portland and other groups how they had proceeded when their organizations had a surplus. Then, the board began to formulate a plan.

“As the discussion continued we considered either paying passage for local kids to learn sailing on one of the windjammers during the summer, or to support a local organization that might inspire kids on the ocean,” he said.

On Jan. 30, the board voted unanimously to appropriate $2,000 toward sponsoring local kids to attend a session or two at the Boothbay Sea and Science Center, to learn about sailing and marine sciences.

When Pauline Dion, the center’s president-executive director, was notified, she said it was an “amazing surprise, and an honor” to receive the funds.

Dion said the money will go into the center’s dedicated financial assistance fund that benefits families who need financial assistance with the cost of attending a program at the center. “We have a financial assistance committee that reviews all the applications, and this money will go to very good use for local kids.”

More than $17,000 was awarded through the fund last summer, to help 16 local children ages 5 to 15 attend the integrated sailing and science programs.

Dion said the center’s priority is to keep the programs affordable.

Now the center and Friends of Windjammer Days want to get the word out so anyone with a child who might have an interest in sailing, marine sciences, or both, can fill out an application on the Sea and Science website. Money will be awarded to area children based on financial needs. The Sea and Science program is for kids from ages 5 to 17.

The vision of the Boothbay Sea and Science Center, as stated on its website, is: “To provide a community sailing and science education center that offers affordable access to waterfront activities for Maine and summering youth through sailing programs and experiential learning activities not provided by other regional organizations.”

A passionate lifelong sailor, Dion chaired the Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club Junior Sailing and Tennis programs from 2005 to 2012.

Friends of Windjammer Days is a nonprofit community organization made up entirely of volunteers.

Anyone who wishes to donate to the center, or to sponsor a child, can go to the website. The center, at 216 Ocean Point Marina at 216 Ocean Point Road in East Boothbay, will open on June 25 for the eight-week program, and close around Aug. 17. The center will be looking for seven to nine sailing instructors next summer.