Mission Statement

Our mission at the New England Science & Sailing Foundation (NESS) is to empower students with a love of learning and advance academic opportunities through ocean-based experiential programs. We serve schools, teachers, and families on and off the water.

NESS is the first and only program of its kind accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). NESS offers a STEM-based curriculum that builds leadership, teamwork, confidence, and problem-solving skills through marine science, sailing, powerboating, and adventure sports.

Four Core Values

Experiential Learning

Students learn by doing, seeing, and feeling firsthand. NESS programs make STEM concepts tangible and memorable.

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InclusiveNESS

NESS provides on-the-water learning for all students, regardless of ability or financial need. Our inclusivity efforts include:

Accessible Programs

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Scholarship Opportunities

NESS SEA AmeriCorps Program

Personal Growth

Stewardship

Unified Water Study Participation

Rozalia Project Marine Debris Tracker App

Co-Hosting the Recycle Regatta

Community Pollution Reporting

Our History

New England Science & Sailing was founded in 2002 alongside the creation of the Stonington Harbor Yacht Club as the SHYC Sailing Foundation. Founder Spike Lobdell envisioned an organization that would be truly inclusive — developing sailing and educational programs designed to benefit the entire community.

That first summer, NESS launched its programs with just 14 students, eight used Opti sailboats, and a big dream: expanding access to the water and inspiring the next generation of sailors, scientists, and environmental stewards.

In 2004, NESS became an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3). NESS continued its mission of inclusiveness as it grew to serve more and more children each year with instructional sailing programs. In 2008, NESS added a marine science program to expand options for students to get on the water. This was a very important step towards a new focus on water-based activities being exceptional platforms for learning and expanding summer-based programs to work with schools and organizations year-round.

In 2011, NESS was selected by US Sailing as one of the first nine Community Sailing Centers in the country to be recognized under their new accreditation program. The following year, the organization’s name changed to New England Science & Sailing Foundation to note the large role science education was playing at NESS.

In 2016, NESS continued to advance its mission of building bright futures and was nationally recognized for its success. NESS taught students in locations throughout Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York, for a total of over 100,000 student hours of learning. Over half of NESS school students receive financial aid that enables them to participate.

In 2018, NESS was officially accredited by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), a worldwide agency that accredits leading schools and colleges. NESS was, and remains, the first school partner program to receive accreditation by NEASC, underscoring the quality of NESS programs with thousands of students educated annually.

Today, NESS is nationally accredited for its innovative model that blends sailing, marine science, powerboating, and adventure sports into dynamic learning experiences. From our earliest sailors to today’s students, NESS continues to empower people of all ages with confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong connection to the ocean.

NESS began in 2002, when Founder, Spike Lobdell, had a vision to build an inclusive sailing and education organization to benefit the community at large.