Educational Events
We strive to share our love of marine life with the public to spread greater awareness of the Gulf of Maine and inspire environmental stewardship. We would love to come to your school, library, club or other location to conduct an interactive program about marine life and teach your group about whales, tide pool animals, marine debris and research.
As a non-profit education and research organization, your tax-deductible program fees contribute to our efforts to study and protect these magnificent animals. Let us bring the Gulf of Maine to you!
Ladder, the life-size whale
Meet Ladder — our 65-foot inflatable fin whale, modeled after a real whale we studied in the Gulf of Maine from 1998 until his passing in 2018. Fin whales are endangered and the second-largest animals on Earth.
Students watch Ladder inflate and come to life, then explore inside with a marine educator. Topics include Gulf of Maine whale species, anatomy and adaptations, and conservation.
Ideal for: Ages 5–14 for school programs, all ages for public events Location: Gymnasium, cafeteria, sports field, or other open space with 65+ feet of clearance and electrical outlets
Format: In-person learning stations
Program Fees School & group programs — $495 plus mileage for the first hour (up to 80 students) Open house events — $495 plus mileage for two hours Additional hours — $185 each
Please note: Ladder cannot be used outdoors in certain weather conditions.
Travels of Ocean Trash: Marine Debris Presentation
One of our marine educators will come to your school or group with a presentation about how marine debris travels through an ecosystem and why we must keep our beaches clean. This can be a great addition to one of our beach cleanups or held on its own.
Ideal for: Ages 7–Adult
Location: In-person or virtual
Format: 30min or 60min Interactive lecture
Pricing: $150.00 per hour plus mileage. Any additional hours needed for additional sessions are $56.25 per hour.
Gulf of Maine Whales and Human Impact: Whale Presentation
Meet one of our marine educators and dive deep into the life of the whales that call the Gulf of Maine Home. In this presentation, you will learn about interesting adaptations, whale research, and how to help whales.
Location: In-person or virtual
Ideal for: Ages 12-Adult
Format: 60-minute Interactive PowerPoint Lecture with artifacts.
Pricing: $150.00 per hour plus mileage. Any additional hours needed for additional sessions are $56.25 per hour.
Microplastics Research Lab
Become an ocean scientist for a day! In this hands-on activity, you’ll learn how researchers study microplastics—tiny pieces of plastic that end up on beaches and in the ocean. Participants will get a sample of “beach sand” containing microplastics. Using strainers, tweezers, and magnifying glasses, you’ll sift, sort, and identify the plastics just like real scientists do. You’ll record your findings and look for patterns in the data. After the lab, we’ll talk about why this research matters, how microplastics affect ocean life, where they come from, and what we can all do to help reduce plastic pollution.
Capacity: up to 20
Format: 60min Interactive lecture and activity
Location: In person
Ideal for: Ages 10-Adult
Pricing: $250 per hour plus mileage. Any additional hours needed for additional sessions are $93.75 each.
Marine Debris Art: Turning Trash into Treasure
Turn beach trash into art and awareness.
This 1.5-hour hands-on program combines science, creativity, and environmental stewardship. Participants begin with an engaging presentation on marine debris in the Gulf of Maine — its sources, its impacts, and what we can all do about it. Then comes the fun part: creating mosaic art pieces using real plastic collected from local shorelines, transforming pollution into something beautiful and meaningful.
Ideal for: Community groups, families, and students 12 and up
Location: School, library, or community gathering space
Capacity: Up to 15 participants
Pricing: $350 per session plus mileage
Microplastics: Tiny Pieces, Big Impact
Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic polluting our oceans, beaches, and waterways and beyond. This engaging presentation makes the invisible visible, exploring how microplastics enter the environment, how Blue Ocean Society is studying them, and the growing concern they pose to marine life, wildlife, and human health. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the problem and practical steps they can take to be part of the solution.
Location: In person or virtual
Ideal for: Ages 10-Adult
Format: 60 mins Interactive presentation
Pricing: $150.00 per hour plus mileage. Any additional hours needed for additional sessions are $56.25 per hour.
The Coastal Experience
Get the experience of the Seacoast with our Coastal Experience! Join us at the Blue Ocean Discovery Center to explore our touch tanks, learn about local wildlife and investigate environmental issues impacting the Gulf of Maine. This experience also includes an optional beach cleanup.
Location: Blue Ocean Discovery Center, 180 Ocean Boulevard, Hampton, NH
Ideal for: Ages 4-14
Format: Touch tank & other interactive exhibits
A maximum of 20 participants in one session. Can be paired with a beach cleanup to increase session size.
Pricing: $150/hour for a one-hour visit.
Whales and their Ocean Home: Whale Presentation
Meet one of our marine educators who will visit with your group and teach them in an interactive presentation all about the fascinating adaptations whales have to survive in their ocean habitat.
Location: In-person or virtual
Ideal for: ages 6-10
Format: 60min Interactive PowerPoint Lecture with artifacts
Pricing: $150.00 per hour plus mileage. Any additional hours needed for additional sessions are $56.25 per hour.
Do you need financial assistance to host one of our programs? Please fill out the following form to have your request evaluated. We may not be able to accommodate every request, but we will do our best!