Forging New Paths to Learning

Herring Gut Learning Center offers a diverse selection of academic programs, ranging from one-day enrichment projects to full-credit high school biology courses. Public schools from throughout Midcoast Maine take advantage of our unique programming, working closely with our staff to customize coursework that meets the specific needs of their students. Academic flexibility is a key component of the Herring Gut approach, allowing the center to meet the challenges facing today's schools. From inspiring reluctant readers to overcoming budgeting challenges, Herring Gut prides itself in its ability to think outside the box in order to make learning happen.

St. George Alternative Middle School
Opportunities in the Oyster Hatchery

Middle school students from St. George School have begun another season in the oyster hatchery, establishing a business plan and nailing down the science concepts and math skills necessary to find success in the oyster business.

Rivers Alternative Middle School, Union
Life science in the field and in the lab

The Rivers Alternative program continues to demonstrate an unparalleled dedication to the fish and plants under their care at Herring Gut, maintain high standards for their work in the lab and in the classroom. This year, Rivers students are learning life science in an aquaculture context and studying a range of biology topics in the field. Herring Gut's exercises in measurement, data collection, math and the scientific method are helping to guide new and returning Rivers students as they develop a strong foundation in science and math.

Georges Valley High School Alternative Biology
Haulin' periwinkles and priming pumps

A capacity crowd from GVHS began their semester-long biology experience with a highly successful field program in which they became periwinkle harvesters, learning concepts in classification, anatomy and ecology as they gained an appreciation for the challenges faced by commercial harvesters and regulators in the Gulf of Maine. From cell dissections to microscope safaris, they continue to build on their knowledge of the life sciences, applying that knowledge to ongoing projects involving both fish and plants an the Herring Gut facility. They are currently in the midst of a long-term lobster grow-out study that will finish in December.

The Janus Project


Herring Gut Learning Center is pleased to welcome The Janus Project into the fold this year, connecting Janus students to high school science and math concepts through the new Marine Science and Sustainable Fisheries curriculum. The program's dedicated and enthusiastic students have enjoyed some exciting experiences in the lab and the field on their weekly visits to Herring Gut.

Zenith Alternative High School, Camden


Herring Gut Learning Center is looking forward to working with students from the Zenith program in the coming months following last year's successful Aquaponics Educators Project. Through lab activities, research projects and classroom instruction, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors became experts in the use of aquaponics as an instructional tool. By developing lessons, assembling classroom-scale systems and mastering the art and craft of aquaponics, Zenith students gained the expertise necessary to become aquaponics educators, and took their show on the road as they set up systems and demonstrated lessons in elementary and middle school classrooms across the Mid-coast.

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