NESS Recognized for Outstanding Youth Mentoring

NESS Receives Award from the Eastern Connecticut Mentoring Collaborative 
  
New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) received an Eastern Connecticut Mentoring Collaborative (ECMC) Award for their 2018 achievements. As a part of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, ECMC promotes mentoring as a means of empowering young people by ensuring access to mentorship throughout eastern Connecticut through schools, colleges and universities, youth service bureaus, nonprofits, faith communities, and grassroots efforts. ECMC's awards recognize organizations and individuals who have made a difference in young people's lives through mentoring. The awards were presented at the National Mentoring Month Celebration and Inaugural Awards on January 17, 2018 in New London, CT.  
 
As an organization, NESS was awarded the Outstanding Mentor Champion Award in recognition of its NESS SEA AmeriCorps Program, staff, board, and volunteers for promoting youth mentoring in New London and strengthening their relationship with the New London community. NESS is a nationally-recognized and award-winning ocean adventure STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education nonprofit, providing students of all ages and all backgrounds year-round programming using marine science, sailing, powerboating, and adventure sports as teaching platforms. NESS has established an AmeriCorps program that works throughout the New London Public School (NLPS) District to provide NESS programming as well as academic and social support to the students of New London.  
 
The NESS SEA (STEM Educator Ambassador) AmeriCorps program uses national service to engage the students of New London in STEM-based ocean adventure learning. Each year, NESS SEA AmeriCorps members join a national movement of over 75,000 Americans who dedicate themselves to intensive service in communities across the country. These NESS SEA AmeriCorps members serve alongside NLPS teachers and staff to provide students with additional support, mentoring, and tutoring during the academic day, while designing and implementing STEM-based, extended learning and summer programs to NLPS students before and after school and throughout the summer.  
 
This year, NESS's team of fourteen full-time AmeriCorps members are serving at Winthrop STEM Elementary School, Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School, Harbor School, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, and the Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut. Members at each school work hard every day to offer mentoring services for the students. Elementary school members assist with Math and Reading Labs to help students develop and grow their skills. Middle school members attend classes to aid students who need support and motivation throughout class. NESS's high school member helps students in remedial math classes to provide individualized attention, so students can work towards meeting the mathematical standards for their grade level. Through the team's consistent work within the NLPS district, NESS has reached over 1,000 New London youth through in-class mentoring and after-school and summer programming. NESS appreciates the opportunity to be a part of the New London community and is incredibly honored to accept the Outstanding Mentor Champion Award. 

New England Science & Sailing Foundation, Inc. (NESS), is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) ocean adventure education organization that engages students in experiential learning to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills. Marine sciences, adventure sports, powerboating, and sailing are platforms for inquiry-based learning, personal discovery, teaching respect and responsibility for the sea, and creating connections with the community. NESS operates year-round with families, schools, and organizations to provide high-quality programs that blend an innovative curriculum with exciting ocean adventure activities. For more information, visit www.nessf.org.