High School Advanced Marine Science

Hurricane Island programs embed students in experiences that leverage the art and practices of science as tools for leadership and social change. Through personal and group explorations, students explore their own strengths as transformative leaders who can address the sustainability challenges facing our world today.

This 10 day long Advanced Marine Science summer program is for rising 10th-12th grade students with an interest in marine science who want to gain skills in scientific research, data collection, and leadership within scientific fields. This course will provide students who are interested in pursuing a career in marine science an opportunity to design a field research project driven by their own curiosities. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of research project development, field work, data processing, and scientific communication, preparing them as leaders eager to embark into higher education scientific learning. Students will gain experience using specialized scientific data collection equipment in the intertidal zone, along the waterfront, and aboard a vessel. They will meet and work alongside scientists to develop their projects and learn about them and their experiences to better understand the many pathways into the scientific community.

The program will culminate in student presentations on the mainland for friends, family, and the general public, providing students with the opportunity to share what they have learned throughout the program and practice science communication skills.

This educational science program is interspersed with active team building initiatives, rock climbing, and free time to explore the island, swim off the dock, or relax in the sun. 

Spending the week off-grid, students will become familiar with sustainable practices on the island such as conserving water and minimizing food waste. Students should be prepared to engage in community living, participate in communal chores and responsibilities, and disconnect from personal technology. Through living and learning together in this dynamic environment, students will begin to explore their own strengths as leaders and how they can leverage science as a tool for social change. Students can expect to leave the island with strengthened connection to the natural world and greater confidence to continue practicing leadership in their home communities.

High School Advanced Marine Science activities may include:

• Exploring the water and islands of Penobscot Bay as an oceanographer

• Working with the research team to get hands-on with Hurricane’s aquaculture projects

• Investigating the intertidal zone and using field research methods to collect data for analysis

• Experience using marine sampling gear and techniques including a Niskin bottle, Ekman dredge, plankton tows, and analyzing the water chemistry, plankton abundance and diversity, and sediment grain sizes throughout the Penobscot Bay. 

• Using close observation in a variety of contexts to see the world in new ways

• Learning about various career trajectories from our staff and visiting scientists