Pauline Dion, Boothbay Sea and Science Center’s (BSSC) president, is pleased to announce that Nathaniel “Nathan” Graves will be returning to the Center this summer as a Sea and Science Instructor. A member of the Navy ROTC and a student at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), Nathan credits his passion and commitment for sailing and his pursuit of a maritime career to his sea and science experiences at the Boothbay Sea and Science Center, crewing aboard Belle Aventure (an 84 ft. ketch built in 1929), participating in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet program, racing on the Boothbay Region High School Sailing Team, and apprenticing at Cross Point Yachts.

Nathan began his summertime at BSSC as one of the 19 participants during the Center’s inaugural summer in 2013. It was then that he felt a change in his attitude toward the ocean and toward kids who enjoy sailing, “I started realizing that sailing on the ocean was a huge responsibility that I liked and that the kids that I sailed with were more positive about things in life.”

Since that time, Nathan has been a BSSC Apprentice and Junior Instructor. “Anything is possible if you follow your passion,” Nathan said.

He is a member of the Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) sailing team. On the Dean’s List the fall of 2018, Nathan will return to MMA in August as a sophomore and a Regimental Stryker for the Freshmen class. “BSSC has helped me build my self-esteem and self-confidence to take on and embrace leadership roles that I would never thought possible,” shared Nathan.

Because of his commitment and focused sense of responsibility for his learning, he sees a great fit between himself and BSSC:  “It’s easy to see weaknesses but I want to play a part in developing and applying solutions that add to the quality of the sailing and science experience. I really like working with all of the staff and kids at BSSC. We always have a lot of fun and I like the fact that I’m helping kids be more positive and learn things they can use for the rest of their lives. Just look at what BSSC has done for me!”

Nathan leaves on his “summer cruise” later this month. “It truly is an honor and a privilege to have been selected to serve as Yoeman aboard the ship,” he said.

BSSC’s eight weeks of STEM-based experiential programs begins on Monday, June 24 and ends on Friday, Aug. 16. On Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21, BSSC will host “free days” – an opportunity for youth to attend the Center “free of charge.” The schedule for those days is as follows: ages 5 – 9 (8:30 a.m. to noon); ages 10 – 17 (1 – 4:30 p.m.).

To pre-register a child (required) for one of the “free days”, please email Pauline Dion at info@boothbayseandsciencecenter.org or call 207-350-5357.

To register a child online for one of the summer programs, please go to www.boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org