New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS)

The New England Science & Sailing Foundation (ness) is an education organization working with students in grades k-12 through a unique education model that combines experiential learning and on-the-water experiences to build social-emotional skills. These programs are standards-based and use marine sciences and boating as platforms to create learning opportunities. Ness is accredited by the New England association of schools and colleges (neasc), and programs are mapped to the next generation Science standards, the collaborative for academic, social, and emotional learning standard set, and derived from the ocean literacy principles. These education programs include in-classroom experiences and field trips to the ness campus and other sites with water access.

Ness community programs provide opportunities for community members of all ages to participate in hands-on, experiential programs. Various organizations, such as recreation departments, partner with ness to bring educational opportunities to their clients. Ness also offers adult Sailing programs, which include beginner and intermediate classes. Families can also experience ness programs through participation in many community- hosted events throughout.

Ness's open enrollment summer programs are for students ages 4-17. The programs run for 11 weeks from june to august and are staffed by full-time and seasonal educators. Students can register for just one week or the entire summer. These programs comprise unique experiential learning that includes weekly themes and embedded social-emotional learning elements, and are designed around age-based levels in Sailing, marine Science, adventure sports, and powerboating.