Boothbay Sea and Science Center on Carter Street in East Boothbay gives students an up close view of marine life. In fact, it may be too close as the shed house and another building are in need of repairs. Rising sea levels are an apparent culprit of the damage. So Executive Director Pauline Dion sought advice from a group of high school students to review possible changes to the center's configuration to meet the demands of climate change. 

On April 10, Boothbay Region High School students in Ally Ryan's marine science class proposed remedies for the center which includes a boat house and two buildings dedicated to education. 

For several weeks, students examined the problems of rising sea levels on the center and presented their findings at the Boothbay municipal offices to Planning Board Chairman Bruce Bowler and Code Enforcement Officer Dan Feeney. Plans for a student-led project examining the effects of rising sea levels and possible solutions for the center began last year during Ryan's first year as a BRHS teacher. 

She met with Dion about possible student projects in conjunction with the Sea and Science Center. "She wanted to know about options for a combined project, and we began discussing rising sea levels' impact on the Boothbay Sea and Science Center," Dion said. "We had just built a new pier, but damage to our walls from flooding had occurred. So this year, we had the kids map out details for a potential project."

So this year, one of the marine science class units involved proposing changes to the Sea and Science Center. The research project included making proposals fit within the town ordinances. The boat house had suffered such environmental damage in recent years it was required to be rebuilt, and moved back, according to Dion. Students dealt with this fact in the proposals.

Students researched the project, and delivered a series of plans for renovating the facility. Four student-group proposals were presented which included recommendations on materials based on cost and practicality.

Student presentations were followed by questions and answers with Feeney and Bowler. Student presenters were Aileigh Johnson, Piper McKane, Aiden Locke, Brayden Swope, Chase Carver, Ross Gaffney, Spencer Wood, California Brown, Koh-Koh LaMarche and Ella Watts. 

Dion said the students presented several good ideas. She also said there are no current plans for renovations.