Hands-on Science: Aquaponics Workshops for Teachers

The Herring Gut Professional Development Summer Institute is hosting two workshops for teachers in July, each focused on the unique opportunities aquaponics presents for teaching hands-on science to students of multiple grade levels, learning styles and abilities.



July 6-8th - Aquaponics: Dynamic Science for the K-8 Classroom

July 13th-15th - Aquaponics: Dynamic Science for the Alternative Education Classroom


Herring Gut's small-scale commercial aquaponics facility will be your laboratory to explore, hands-on, the many ways aquaponics can be integrated into your science classes. Sara Rademaker, our Aquaponics Instructor and Systems Design Engineer, will demonstrate how students can be introduced to plant biology, earth cycles, water chemistry, nutrition, fish anatomy, sustainable agriculture…just to name a few… using an endless number of aquaponics experiments and activities.

Leave the workshop energized and prepared to teach science in a whole new way, with lots of curriculum materials and a ten-gallon classroom aquaponics kit. This is not your typical goldfish bowl…it's a mini- recirculating system complete with tank, filters, pumps, and planting media.

Workshop presentations and lab activities will be balanced with time to enjoy the picturesque fishing village of Port Clyde. Restaurants, art galleries, the Marshall Point Lighthouse, kayak tours and the boat to Monhegan Island are all within walking distance of the center.

The cost of $___ includes optional housing in an 1800's cape adjacent to the campus, continental breakfast and bag lunch each day, all curriculum materials and a complete ten-gallon classroom aquaponics kit)


Workshops are limited to 10, 6 residential and 4 day participants.

2.5 CEU's available through the University of Southern Maine.

Register Here






Herring Gut Learning Center has worked in partnership with the public school districts since 1999, to provide middle and high students with classes that use aquaculture and marine science as a foundation to learning. Our programs incorporate hands-on teaching methods to strengthen students' skills in science, math and literacy while providing experiences that promote responsible stewardship of the marine environment.