Herring Gut Learning Center History

• Marshall Point Sea Farm is founded.
• Phyllis Wyeth introduces aquaculture to Port Clyde, Maine.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education Program for at-risk students is established at St. George School.
• At-risk students work with hatchery staff raising oysters at Marshall Point Sea Farm.
• Phyllis Wyeth commences planning for an aquaculture and marine science center in Port Clyde.

• Marshall Point Education Foundation receives 501(c) (3) non-profit status, establishes operations in classroom/saltwater lab facility adjacent to Marshall Point Sea Farm.
• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education Program for at-risk students begins projects in new facility, continue to raise at Marshall Point Sea Farm.

• Marshall Point Education Foundation changes name to Herring Gut Learning Center.
• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students continue to raise oysters at Marshall Point Sea Farm.
• Founding Director Jeff Chase is recruited to oversee facility, to establish and teach new programs.
• Summer youth camp is piloted.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students establish entrepreneurial shellfish business in new saltwater lab.
• New student marine science outreach programs established for MSAD 50, MSAD 40 and MSAD 5 schools.
• Construction begins on new classroom and office facility on Herring Gut Learning Center at 59 Factory Road.
• MSAD 50 middle school students pilot finfish restocking project on Allen Island.

• New classroom and office facility dedicated.
• Phyllis Wyeth receives NOAA Environmental Hero Award in Washington, DC.
• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students complete successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish Hatchery business.
• MSAD 28 Zenith Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students begins program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• Aquaponic greenhouse addition to classroom and office facility is completed.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• MSAD 5 Rockland Opportunities Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students begins program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• MSAD 28 Zenith Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students continues program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• Herring Gut Learning Center communications program begins with newsletter and website launch.
• NOAA documentary of Herring Gut Learning Center profiled in NOAA-produced documentary.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• MSAD 40 Warren Community School Middle Level Alternative Education begins partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• Tilapia and basil production piloted in aquaponic greenhouse.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students complete successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• Science for a Sustainable Future program begins with students from Georges Valley High School.
• After-school programs employing new saltwater touch tank piloted with MSAD 50 students.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• Girl Scout and Boy Scouts outreach programs piloted.
• After-school program at St. George School expanded to two days per week and new program begins at Warren Community School.
• New summer programs established incorporating public tours, lecture series, expanded marine science youth camps and historical displays.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• Eight week aquaculture program for MSAD 50 Gifted and Talented Program students piloted.
• MSAD 28 Zenith Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students continues program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• Independent study science program piloted with MSAD 50 Georges Valley High School students.
• MSAD 40 Warren Community School Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students grow plants in HGLC aquaponic greenhouse for student butterfly garden.
• HGLC summer program presents youth camps, public lectures and tours with full-time and summer interns staff.

MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.

MSAD 40 Rivers Alternative Middle School students work on vegetable growing experiments, study fish anatomy and life cycle.

MSAD 50 Georges Valley High School students participate in marine science projects for biology credit recovery. Periwinkle Project is piloted introducing classification, marine ecology and organ systems concepts and understanding commercial fishing through harvesting periwinkles at local field sites.

• MSAD 28 Zenith Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students continues program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• Aquaponics teacher training workshop piloted with MSAD 50 teachers and educators.
• MSAD 28 Camden-Rockport Middle School students participate in pilot program at Herring Gut.
• Maine Community Building Grant received to hold collaborative community event entitled, “St. George Celebrates the Sea” with Jackson Memorial Library, St. George School and local conservation groups.
• Summer program continues to present youth camps, public lectures and tours.

• MSAD 50 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating Teel Cove Shellfish business.
• MSAD 28 Zenith Alternative Education Program for at-risk high school students continues program partnership with Herring Gut Learning Center.
• MSAD 40 Rivers Alternative Middle School students work on vegetable growing experiments, study fish anatomy and life cycle.
• MSAD 50 Georges Valley High School students participate in marine science projects for biology credit recovery.
• Thomson House renovated to provide residential housing for teachers attending professional development workshops.
• Herring Gut establishes business partnership Region 8 Midcoast School of Technology’s culinary program, regularly providing fish and produce from the Center’s aquaponic greenhouse.
• Summer program continues to incorporate youth camps, public lecture series.

• MSAD 50 and MSAD 5 consolidate to form new RSU 13 school district.
• Herring Gut Middle School Alternative Education Program enrollment doubles; at-risk students continue oyster aquaculture business and pilot new student-directed aquaponics program.
• Herring Gut develops standards-based, grade-specific marine science and aquaponics curricula for middle and high school students and pilot the new curricula with RSU 13 Middle School Alternative Education class and Georges Valley High School biology students.
• Aquaponics greenhouse and fish hatchery redesign completed.
• MSAD 40 Rivers Alternative Middle School students work on vegetable growing experiments, study fish anatomy and life cycle.
• College and high school students complete second semester internships, working on projects in the aquaponics greenhouse and tilapia hatchery.
• Herring Gut becomes owner/manager of Marshall Point Sea Farm. Sea Farm becomes home to (1) Port Clyde Fresh Catch’s seafood processing, distribution and retail sales center and (2) BioProcess Algae LLC, a biotech company, conducting cold water algae research for commercial agriculture, aquaculture and alternative fuel applications.</p.
• Herring Gut Professional Development Institute pilots a 3-day residential teacher workshop, using aquaponics as an effective platform to teach science.
• Herring Gut educators establish assessment protocol for student and teacher programs.
• Herring Gut partners with RSU 13 Lura Libby School teachers and students for marine science peer learning project.
• In addition to teacher workshops Herring Gut summer programs incorporate youth camps and public lecture series featuring ‘Sardine Night’.

• School of Roots students are presented with the “Excellence in Conservation Education” award by the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District for outstanding peer-to-peer teaching at the Conservation Fair.
• RSU 13 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating School of Roots produce and fish business.
• MSAD 40 Rivers Alternative Middle School students work on vegetable growing experiments, study fish anatomy and life cycle.
• Herring Gut Outreach programs engage over 100 students from Great Salt Bay School, Damariscotta, Youthlinks-AmeriCorps, Rockland, Camden Rockport Elementary, Camden, and Harlem Children’s Zone, Harlem, New York.
• ‘First Work’ Experience for Teens piloted during the summer, providing opportunity for local students in R.S.U. #13, ages 13-15, to develop a strong work ethic, learn the fundamentals of being a responsible employee and gain valuable work experience – through a healthy and productive summer activity.
• Herring Gut commences collection of student data collection and evaluation to measure effectiveness of the Center’s programs.
• Herring Gut Board of Trustees visioning and strategic planning process defines continuing mission and program direction.
• Summer program incorporates Herring Gut Professional Development Institute workshops for teachers, youth camps, and public lecture series.

• Herring Gut pilots “Lobster Investigations” a ten week short-term academic course one day a week with the Rivers Alternative Middle School in MSAD #40.
• Kelp lab system is designed and Herring Gut works with the “Adventures Beyond the Classroom (ABC)” integrated math, science, and art class to aquaculture kelp and learn about water quality monitoring and ocean acidification.
• RSU 13 Middle Level Alternative Education at-risk students completed successful year operating School of Roots business.
• ‘Saltwater Summer Series’ piloted during four evenings in July and August offering free, informative hands-on activities for families kicks off with Seabird Sue, Crabs of the Gulf of Maine, Night-time Beach Walk, and Lobsters.
• Herring Gut hosts a community Open House in June, School of Roots students provide tours and descriptions of their work, visitors tour all campus buildings of the aquaponics system.
• First Work Experience expanded to 20 students throughout the summer. Weekly Herring Gut Community Market established.
• Herring Gut Professional Development Institute presents Aquaponics and Questing teacher workshops.
• Herring Gut hosts first annual Holiday Potluck in December for the students, friends, and the community.

• School of Roots students partner with RAS Corp. and Port Clyde Fresh Catch to process and market black sea bass. Students developed and compiled information from a marketing survey for RAS Corp.
• 2nd annual Herring Gut Open House features School of Roots student tours of the aquaponics system and ABC student interactive presentations on kelp, water quality, and other topics.
• First Work Experience completes third year. Participation in the Herring Gut Community Market expands.
• Herring Gut Development Committee hosts successful art auction fundraiser at the Highlands Coffee House in Thomaston.
• Summer program incorporates Herring Gut Professional Development Institute workshops for teachers, First Work, Community Market, and Saltwater Series for families.

• Summer camp program re-instituted for K-6 students in the area.

• Seaweed aquaculture launched.

• Alumni program approved by Board of Trustees to pilot mentorship programs with Herring Gut middle school graduates entering high school.
• Colby College agreement signed to expand educational opportunities for Herring Gut and Colby College students.
• First “Jan-Plan” Colby College students learn from Herring Gut educators in the classroom.
• Lobster pound building renovated to improve seaweed aquaculture education program.

• Sam Belknap hired to lead Herring Gut’s expanded educational operations.
• First Herring Gut “International” program piloted with students from South Carolina and Greece.

• Two additional educators added to the staff to deepen and broaden marine science programs to an expanding region.
• Kathy Barker, 40 year experienced education leader/educator takes leadership for building strong interface and coordination with local districts and community leaders and donors.

• Fresh Water Forever initiative began at Messalonskee Middle School in partnership with 7 Lakes Alliance and Colby College’s Environmental Science Department.