School Partnerships
In collaboration with other organizations, the MSC Outreach Program has created experiential education opportunities for thosuands of K-12 students and teachers in numerous communities surrounding our Center.
Elementary School Partnerships
Our outreach instructors have developed and lead marine science activities across all grade levels for elementary schools in Nahant, Lynn, and Swampscott.
Place-based programs include classroom and field-based exploration of local coastal habitats. Each grade level explores different themes such as
- Kindergarten: Habitats and Human Impacts
- Grade 2: Plants versus Algae, Energy Cycles
- Grade 3: Marine Adaptations
All programming is designed to complement the Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Standards.
Our programming has resulted in numerous lasting partnerships and community enrichment efforts. In 2017, the Johnson Elementary School was honored with a New England Aquarium Ocean Stewardship Award for excellence in marine science and sustainability programming and projects, related to curriculum co-developed with our Outreach team. In-school programs have been offered at various Lynn elementary schools over the past decade thanks to support from the Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach; a recent program visit was highlighted in the Lynn Item, here.
School to Sea with Lynn Public Schools
The Marine Science Center is pleased to collaborate with Lynn Public Schools in several ways.
Middle schools and high schools
The School to Sea Program—made possible through support of the Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation which began in 2012—has provided opportunities for Lynn Public School students to participate in an annual field trip to the Marine Science Center. This impactful program was recognized in 2018 with the Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Energy and Environmental Education at the Massachusetts State House.
This program continues to this day, supported through partnerships with faculty science research grants at the Center, providing opportunities for over 500 11th and 12th grade students from all four Lynn high schools to visit the Marine Science Center each year. During these visits, students engage directly with researchers and explore pathways in marine science education and careers.
The Friends of Lynn & Nahant Beach began supporting the North Shore High School Marine Science Symposium in 2016. In 2017, they generously donated scholarships for 76 Lynn Public Schools high school students to attend the event.
For more information, contact:
Sierra Muñoz
MSC Outreach Program Coordinator