Programs

Aquaculture Program  |  Community Outreach Programs  |  Summer Camps

What we teach Herring Gut programs range from guided exploration of the coastal ecosystems (for young children) to hands-on training in finfish and oyster culture (middle and high school students).
Some of what Herring Gut students learn: > water quality analysis > fish health and disease > plant biology > aquaculture system maintenance	> shellfish/finfish culture > marine algae production > phytoplankton monitoring > coastal ecology > identification of intertidal inhabitants

Herring Gut Learning Center admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

Aquaculture Program
Children learn differently. Many have a difficult time succeeding in the traditional classroom setting. When children do not succeed, they become disconnected from their classroom, school and community. The more disconnected, the more likely the student will not complete high school, thereby creating often insurmountable obstacles for obtaining life skills and employment. The national social and economic costs for unskilled and unprepared students are enormous.

In small, resource-based communities, the impact can be staggering and threatens the very existence of the community. In Maine, some children, living in commercial fishing communities, are at a greater risk of failing because they do not perform well in the typical classroom and are not provided with the opportunity to use and apply the latest technological equipment which helps students compete for high paying jobs.

These communities usually do not have the resources for specialized educational programs for such children. The Herring Gut Learning Center, which is located in such a community, was created to promote marine science and research by bringing scientific education and real world application to create a unique learning experience for children who have a long heritage of life experiences and sustenance with the sea. Through our Center's programs we seek to fill such a void by providing an opportunity for these children that learn differently to succeed and ultimately become productive and environmentally conscientious members of society.

Herring Gut Learning Center has come a long way to creatively solve this national educational crisis. During its tenure, educational accomplishments include yearlong hands on curriculum that teaches area youth the dual importance of marine conservation and educational success. At the Center, local children are able to make the cognitive link between marine conservation and economic opportunity. Our innovative oyster and finfish culture programs are prime examples of the Center's role in creating economic opportunity for younger citizens in local communities while fostering a deeper understanding of marine ecology.

Herring Gut works with these local students who experience difficulty in the traditional classroom setting. Using state-of-the-art marine science technology in the Center's lab, these students gain math and science skills by learning all aspects of aquaculture in both shellfish and finfish culture. This hands-on educational program provides an integrated learning experience through which difficult academic tasks become meaningful and essential in a variety of applications. As students are introduced to the latest methods and materials of marine science, they also learn about the sociological, economic, and communications aspects of the most current marine technologies. These programs deepen students' understanding of the complexities of marine life and foster inquiry and awareness in marine science, mathematics, and technology. Furthermore, the dynamic setting at Herring Gut Learning Center allows students to thrive in the context of experiential learning, through which they are exposed to math and science in a meaningful and relevant framework.

By offering a complement to traditional classroom education, Herring Gut Learning Center's aquaculture program has the potential to spark the interest of a new generation of problem-solvers who will bring fresh insight and talent to the struggle to save the declining fishing industry. In addition to the Center's potential to inspire future marine scientists and aquaculturists, the Center provides hands-on, mentored training for potential jobs in marine fisheries in the future.

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Summer Camps

HGLC offers days filled with discovery and imagination for children ages 5 to 13 through our Coastal Exploration Summer Programs held during the months of July and August. These one-day camps provide participants with an outdoor, field-based marine education experience. Our programs cover a wide range of marine ecosystems using a hands-on approach and always include field trips to various sites in and around the Port Clyde community. To maximize the program experience, camps are designed and presented for three different age groups: Ages 5 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 13.

For the 2008 season we have added many exciting new programs, activities and field locations. Click here for the 2008 CAMP SCHEDULE or call us at (207) 372-8677 to be added to our summer camp mailing list.”

DIRECTIONS TO THE CENTER: Follow Route 1 north or south to Thomaston. Take Route 131 South at the stoplight next to the General Knox Mansion (Montpelier). Travel down Route 131 approximately 10 miles through the village of Tenants Harbor. Continue on Route 131, which bends to the left just past the village, about five miles to Port Clyde. Look for Factory Road on your left just before the ocean. Travel up Factory Road and we are the last building on the right at the very end of the road. There is a granite sign out front and a large parking area.

Outreach Programs
Herring Gut Learning Center's unique education programs explore aquaculture and marine science topics, providing students with a deeper understanding of ocean habitats and ecology.

Our one-hour coastal outreach programs for schools, libraries and community groups, are designed to accomodate up to 30 students and give participants a chance to see and touch what lives in a tidal pool, clings to the rocky shore, burrows in the sand or swims upstream. These traveling learning experiences, which are aligned with the Maine Learning Results, are designed with the same hands-on philosophy that permeates all of our programming. A perfect complement to your science curriculum, they can be presented in your classroom, at our facility in Port Clyde, or in the field. We are also happy to work with you to tailor a program to meet your specific educational needs and will provide follow-up teaching materials at your request

Let our marine science educators help you inspire curiosity and promote an understanding of marine ecosystems and ecology to a new generation of Maine children.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR BROCHURE

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Inspiring curiosity in a new generation.

Herring Gut Learning Center is a non-profit marine education and resource center located in the small fishing village of Port Clyde, Maine. We teach marine science, aquaculture, geology, and coastal ecology to students of all ages through a variety of hands-on school-based, community outreach and summer camp programs.

Our campus, a short walk from the center of Port Clyde, houses a small oyster hatchery, a finfish hatchery, an aquaponic greenhouse, classrooms and a marine resource library.

We welcome visitors to the center, offering interactive tours and educational programs that focus on the preservation of Maine's ocean resources and the traditions of those who make a living from the sea.