CAMDEN — In 2022, thanks to community support, S.E.A. was able to award ten grants to local schools. Teachers who won these grants created projects that further the S.E.A. mission: to increase community awareness of ways to be better stewards of our local watershed. These grants will support work by students of all ages that includes data collection and sharing of findings.
 
“And what a great range of projects!” said S.E.A., in a news release.

S.E.A. awarded a grant to Children’s House Montessori School for binoculars that will help teacher Germaine Koomen’s students study birds as indicator species, and report their findings to the University of Maine’s Signs of the Seasons and the national Journey North Project.

Students at Hope Elementary School will work with teacher Colin Amundsen to initiate an ongoing study of microplastics in the air.

Kyle Amergian, from Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, and students from the Riley School built green crab exclusion boxes and will study the effects of their predation on clams.

Kerianne Gwinell, from Herring Gut Coastal Science Center, and Watershed School created a joint project to study the survival of native crabs given the onslaught of invasive green crabs, and will continue this work next semester
 
In addition, two presenters introduced work supported by S.E.A. grants awarded earlier in 2022. John Dietter, who teaches science at Camden-Rockport Middle School, introduced his students’ work studying microplastics in the water, and water quality in Megunticook Stream. Matt Doudera, Board Member at Peopleplace Cooperative Pre-school, talked about the importance of play for learning, and ways in which a new rain-barrel system funded by S.E.A. will help students learn about water through play.
 
According to S.E.A., an important part of the celebration was the opportunity for presenters to talk with members of the audience, including the S.E..A. Board: Rebecca Jacobs, Director of the Knox-Lincoln County Soil and Water Conservation District, and Jack Hopkins from the Center for Wildlife Studies. Danielle Fagonde, Principal of Hope Elementary School and Lindsey Pinchbeck, Director of Sweetland School and Sweet Tree Arts also enjoyed the presentations and discussion afterwards, according to the release.

Courtney Cease, recently elected to the S.E.A. Advisory Board, brought colleagues from the Megunticook River Citizens Advisory Council. Newly elected State Senator Pinny Beebe-Center added to a lively discussion of projects to restore oysters to filter water in local harbors.
 
“Our thanks to everyone who made this possible, including our host Camden Public Library,” said S.E.A.