On June 17 the Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC) started its second summer at their Linekin Bay campus in East Boothbay welcoming 29 children and teens to the first week of the 2024 summer program. In its 12th year, BSSC, a community sea and science education center for youth ages 5-17, is once again offering nine weeks of uniquely integrated sailing, boating, and marine science experiential learning programs and activities.  

BSSC is delighted to welcome 2024’s marine science and sailing staff who are dedicated to BSSC’s principles of curiosity, respect, teamwork, self-confidence and good sportsmanship. The BSSC sailing and science program is led by Robert (RC) Chance, Principal Waterfront Instructor and Chelsea O’Connell-Barlow, Principal Marine Science Instructor. RC Chance returns to BSSC for his third summer. RC is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He began sailing while he was a student at St. Mary’s College. Having fallen in love with the sport he spent each summer teaching sailing on the Chesapeake Bay for local organizations that served at-risk youth from Baltimore City. RC moved to Maine with his wife and dogs in 2022 and since last fall has been helping Pauline Dion inspect and repairboats and equipment used in the summer program, assist with the in-school Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming program, and swing a hammer to help with numerous projects at the boatshed. Chelsea O’Connell-Barlow is a teacher and scientist. Chelsea has been teaching science for 16 years in Portland, ME, and Atlanta, GA. She currently teaches science at King Middle School in Portland. Chelsea loves opening students’ minds to the natural world and building their passion for all there is to experience in the outdoors. In past summers Chelsea has worked with The Nature Conservancy facilitating environmental experiential learning for teens in multiple states.  She is very excited about her first summer with BSSC. During the 2023-24 school year Chelsea and her students participated in the BSSC Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming program. 

The 2024 staff of 21 instructors includes a mix of students from Maine Maritime Academy, University of Maine, Central Maine Community College, University of New England, University of Vermont, and five high schools.  

The 2024 staff includes eight Science and Sailing Instructors: Chance Savage, attends Maine Maritime Academy, currently majoring in marine biology and small vessel operations; Rayelle (Ellie) Brewer, attends Maine Maritime Academy, studying marine biology and small vessel operations and is a member of the swim team; Michaela Eldredge spent many summers by the sea in Cape Cod and is entering her senior year at the University of Maine studying Marine Science and Chemistry; Michaela (Mickey) Carrow is a junior at Maine Maritime Academy in the marine biology program; Riley Sullivan attends Maine Maritime Academy studying Coastal and Marine Environmental Science with a special focus on Salt Marshes and their ecological importance; Anna Foye is also at Maine Maritime Academy studying Coastal and Marine Environmental Science; Rachelle Harpin, is a senior at the University of New England majoring in Marine Science and minoring in education. She returns to BSSC along with Sailing Instructor Carolyn Parker a senior at the University of Vermont.   

Returning to BSSC and doubling as science and sailing instructors are; Jacob (Jake) Allison, a junior at Maine Maritime Academy, with a dual major in Coastal Marine Environmental Science and Small Vessel Operations. Jake has been a deckhand and first mate on the schooner J&E Riggin and is a fully certified Open Water diver; Jordan Snell, attends Central Maine Community College studying Life Science with plans to finish her bachelors in marine science; Caroline Snell will be a freshman at Washington University in St Louis this fall, majoring in engineering. Caroline was the head captain of her high school robotics team and continues to lead the underwater ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) program at BSSC.

The 2024 program has a full complement of eight Junior Instructors and Apprentices. They include: Simeon Bates, Rose Campbell, Luca Fiore, Owen Foley, Beckett Birmingham, Zuriel Smith, Moriah Smith, and Elijah Smith. These high school students bring their energy and experience from many previous BSSC summers as well as skills in cross country, crew, basketball, competitive sailing, and robotics.  

BSSC’s 12th season promises to be an exciting one. BSSC will host a Community Open House on Saturday, July 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at their Lineklin Bay campus. For more information visit www.boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org and/or email Pauline Dion at info@boothbayseaandsciencecenter.org