Here are just few of the ways NESS has built its reputation as a vital nonprofit organization that impacts the lives of our local students, their schools, families, and greater communities.

Students Served: By the end of 2015, we will have taught over 4,700 students. This is a significant increase from 3,200 students served in 2014. Remarkably, we have also provided over 63,000 hours of individualized student instruction.

Staff Awards: Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that the NESS staff is the number one reason people participate in our programs year after year. This year, we are especially proud of Program Director Mistral Dodson-who was selected as one of the 2016’s “40 Under Forty” brightest young professionals in southeastern Connecticut.

Expanding “Campus”: NESS now operates in a total of six satellite locations so that we can bring NESS’s programs closer to its students. We have a satellite in Westerly, RI (where we hold summer programs at Westerly Town Beach), and five locations in New London; these include two classrooms at Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School, a location at the Science & Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, classrooms and waterfront operations at Ocean Beach Park, docks at Mitchell College for high school sailing, and operations at Green Harbor Beach for New London Community Boating.

AmeriCorps Program: Now in its second year, the NESS STEM Education Ambassadors (SEA) AmeriCorps Program places 10 AmeriCorps members at the New London public middle school and high school during the academic school year. NESS SEA Program goals include: providing the students of New London with opportunities to improve their academic aptitude as well as their attitude toward learning, build their confidence, and foster a sense of stewardship to their community and natural environment.

After-School Activities: NESS’s after-school activities include sailing on NESS’s fleet of Opti Trainers, Hartley 12s, and Sonars; kayaking on Alewife Creek and Fishers Island Sound; and nature walks and tide pooling at Ocean Beach Park and throughout Stonington. NESS travels to many school districts to offer programming at schools throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Community Outreach: In addition to NESS’s strong partnership with New London Public Schools, NESS serves other New London community organizations such as Camp Rotary, New London Recreation Department, Drop In Learning Center, and Jennings Family Resource Center, and plays a significant role in the annual Fish Tales, Tugs & Sails community event. NESS also serves school districts in Norwich, Groton, Stonington, Hartford, New Haven, Westerly, and Providence, among others.

Additional 2015 Milestones: NESS took over operations at New London Community Boating to provide opportunities to over 300 area youth to learn to sail, free of charge. The New London high school’s varsity sailing team (created by NESS), entered its second year and NESS saw 16 athletes at practices. The team also competed for the first time in the Lawrence A. White Invitational Regatta at the US Coast Guard Academy. Last but certainly not least, NESS started a swimming program for New London middle school students and made a commitment that all students will know how to swim by the time they graduate from high school.

With YOUR contribution, we can achieve even more in 2016!