The ocean is our classroom: where learning becomes an adventure, challenges become opportunities, and every experience opens the door to discovery, growth, and connection.
Take Learning Beyond the Classroom
At NESS, the ocean is a classroom full of possibilities.
We partner with schools, educators, and organizations to create hands-on experiences that connect learning to the real world. Through marine science, sailing, adventure sports, and exploration, students have the opportunity to ask questions, solve problems, work together, and discover what they’re capable of.
Because when students experience learning, they remember it.
Learning by Doing
Make the connection between what students learn and what they can do.
A concept on a worksheet can become something students can see, touch, test, and experience.
A lesson about ecosystems becomes a field investigation on the water.
A conversation about teamwork becomes a crew working together to sail a boat.
A question about engineering becomes a challenge to design, build, and test a solution.
NESS experiences bring learning to life through hands-on, place-based, and student-centered experiences that complement classroom learning.
Trusted by Educators
Our programs are designed to complement classroom learning and can support educators’ curriculum and learning goals across disciplines.
Our Approach to Education
The NESS education model also employs a comprehensive, double-helix approach. As illustrated by the image on this page, this approach integrates academic engagement and social-emotional growth in an enriching learning environment that promotes academic achievement and enhances student development. Active participation, critical thinking, and problem-solving lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter while having fun in a dynamic, safe, and challenging environment.
Aquaponics
Biomimicry
Buoyancy
Chemistry
Earth Sciences
Engineering
Geology
Geometry
Marine Anatomy
Marine Biology
Meteorology
Oceanography
Physics
Social-Emotional Learning Skills
How NESS Teaches
Biodiversity Sampling
Field Studies
Fishing
Kayaking
Marine Science Labs
Paddleboarding
Powerboating
Sailing
Snorkeling
Surfing
Tide Pooling
Windsurfing
Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all learners acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
Ocean Literacy Principles
Ocean Literacy helps create a student’s understanding of our relationship to the ocean, instilling environmental awareness and stewardship. NESS and our partner schools recognize that understanding complex systems like the ocean is enhanced when learners use models and simulations and engage in first-hand experiences, both in the classroom and on the water. By incorporating Ocean Literacy Principles into our learning model, NESS also advances a student’s understanding of science.
Next Generation Science Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) are K–12, research-based, science content standards that set the expectations for what students should know and be able to do. The NGSS were developed by states to improve science classroom learning experiences for all students.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for helping students understand the connections between people, the planet, and a sustainable future. The 17 goals encourage learners to explore global challenges, including poverty, health, education, inequality, climate change, and environmental conservation. By incorporating the SDGs into our learning model, NESS and our partner schools foster global awareness, critical thinking, and a sense of shared responsibility, empowering students to become informed, engaged stewards of their communities and the planet.
Find Your NESS Experience
Whether you're looking for a single-day field trip, a multi-day experience, or an opportunity to bring NESS to your school, we can help you find the right fit.
