Tier Two Winner
Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership
The Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership is a learning community that integrates science education, applied research, and leadership development to provide hands-on learning opportunities to all ages. From spring through fall, our emphasis on environmental stewardship comes alive on our offshore, offline, off-the-grid island campus situated in the heart of midcoast Maine. Year-round, we are embedded in our local communities, using education and research to support our schools and our working waterfronts. Our goal is to train and inspire others to be informed and articulate advocates for science and effective and motivated environmental stewards.
Judges Comment
“We found the Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership a really unique candidate that offers a host of innovative programs to communities that may not have consistent access to E-STEM learning opportunities outside the classroom. We really appreciated the effort the Center takes to address the development of the entire child, particularly their leadership skills. The projects that students are invited to work on – giving them the chance to experience hands-on research – are relevant and often critically important to the local ecosystem. We were impressed at the unique way the Center facilitates informal, daily interactions among students and scientists; we see these connections as a transformative experience for both youth and adults. Additionally, the staff at the Center are highly trained and effective leaders. The value of their leadership was very evident in their communications. We also loved the tailored approach to working with teachers to engage their classes. The Center’s support of educators and students continues long after they leave Hurricane Island. ”