New England Science & Sailing and Riverfront Recapture Announce New Collaboration

Riverfront Recapture and New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) will offer joint riverfront adventure programming beginning in the fall of 2016. The two nonprofit organizations announced the collaboration in June.
 
NESS, a nonprofit organization based in Stonington, CT, aligns their sailing, marine science, and ocean adventure programs with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiatives. In 2015, NESS worked with approximately 100 schools and organizations to serve more than 4,700 students in grades K-16.
 
Riverfront Recapture based in Hartford, CT, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the state's urban vitality through cultural events, sports, and recreation. They work with nearly 3,000 students of all ages each year.
 
The partnership will integrate NESS's STEM-based educational curricula with Riverfront Recapture's riverfront resources to have a greater impact on students in Hartford County. Some of the specialized adventure and educational programming offerings will include kayaking, fishing, and sailing, as well as courses on the area's natural watersheds.
 
William "Sully" Sullivan, director of Riverfront Recapture's Adventure Programs, commented, "Riverfront Adventure and NESS expect to have even more impact on high-school and middle-school aged youth as they explore both land-based and river-based activities with our unique collaborative program. Students have opportunities to build leadership skills, improve communication and decision-making skills, while engaged in hands-on learning about the Connecticut River, from a scientific and cultural standpoint. We know they will enjoy a wonderful educational experience wrapped in action, learning, and fun."
 
NESS president and founder Spike Lobdell added, "NESS's core values of inclusiveness, experiential learning, personal growth, and stewardship very much align with the great work that Riverfront Recapture has been doing in Hartford for years. We are looking forward to reaching even more students through this collaboration."
 
Teachers in grades K-12 are encouraged to contact NESS and Riverfront Recapture to inquire about programming for this fall. For more information, email Pam Gibbs at pgibbs@nessf.org. 

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, and sailing are platforms for inquiry-based learning, transformational 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.  
 
Riverfront Recapture is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving central Connecticut's quality of life and urban vitality through cultural events, entertainment, group sports and recreation in a welcoming environment along the banks of the Connecticut River, as well as ongoing efforts to protect and maintain the Riverfront and make more of it accessible to the public. More than 950,000 people visited Riverfront's four parks in 2015.