High School Aquaculture & Fisheries
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.
At-A-Glance
Dates: August 10th - August 15th, 2025
Ages: Rising 9th - 12th graders
Cost: $1750 - All inclusive of transportation between Rockland and Hurricane Island, housing, meals, snacks, and all programming
The High School Aquaculture and Fisheries Science program is designed for rising 9th-12th graders with an interest in the growing aquaculture industry and fisheries management who would like to gain skills and experiences in the field. This program will focus on water quality, biology and animal husbandry, aquaculture systems and operations, and economically important fisheries in the Gulf of Maine. Throughout the program students will engage with Hurricane Island’s 3.2 acre sea farm, aquaculture industry professionals, and commercial fishermen. Students will participate in data collection contributing to ongoing research projects. Examples of such activities include sorting through scallop larval collector bags, shellfish dissections, and going lobstering.
Students will leave this program with a level 2 youth microcredential in aquaculture from the University of Maine.
This educational science program is interspersed with group games, team building initiatives, 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 confidence to continue practicing leadership in their home communities.
