Sound Waters Inc

SOUNDWATERS CREATES OPPORTUNITES FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN, TRAIN AND EXPLORE ON LONG ISLAND SOUND.

FOR OVER 30 YEARS WE HAVE ENGAGED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS TO BUILD A DEEPER INTEREST AND LITERACY IN SCIENCE FOR IMPROVED SCHOOL ACHIEVEMENT AND TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT WHAT WE ALL CAN DO TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF THE SOUND. WE UTILIZE OUR LEARNING LAB AND AQUARIUM, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES ON THE SHORELINE AND UNIQUE ON-THE-WATER SAILING EXPERIENCES TO ACHIEVE HIGH-IMPACT LEARNING AND RETENTION, INCREASE CONFIDENCE, MOTIVATION AND POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND CREATE LIFELONG LEARNERS.KEY PROGRAMS INCLUDE: 1) RIGOROUS, EXPERIENTIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION, PRE-K THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL; 2) STEM EDUCATION SAILS ABOARD OUR 80-FOOT, THREE-MASTED SCHOONER SOUNDWATERS; 3) SKILL-BUILDING INTERNSHIP AND MENTORING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS; 4) SUMMER ENRICHMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS; 5) MARITIME SKILLS TRAINING FOR YOUTH 18-24; 6) OUTREACH/ EVENTS FOR THE BROADER COMMUNITY INCLUDING PUBLIC SAILS, PADDLE SPORTS, MARINE DEBRIS REMOVAL ACTIVITIES AND MORE. SOUNDWATERS ANNUAL REACH IS TREMENDOUS: 111 SCHOOLS, 37 TOWNS, 225 PUBLIC SAILS, 270 VOLUNTEERS, THOUSANDS OF ATTENDEES AT PUBLIC EVENTS. WE ANNUALLY REACH 40,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN. MORE THAN 50% OF CHILDREN WE SERVE ARE FROM LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. SOUNDWATERS IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT NO CHILD OR SCHOOL WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM OUR PROGRAMS DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY. SOUNDWATERS INNOVATES CONSTANTLY TO DEVELOP NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE LONG ISLAND SOUND. CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS INCLUDE AQUACULTURE, WITH A FOCUS ON OYSTERS AND KELP (SEAWEED). BOTH PROJECTS INVOLVE GROWING A CROP THAT BOTH IMPROVES WATER QUALITY AND IS ECONOMICALLY VIABLE. AT BOTH OUR OYSTER UPWELLER AND OUR KELP FARM, SOUNDWATERS IS EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SOUND AND ENGAGE THE PUBLIC. LIKE MOST ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE, SOUNDWATERS WAS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. BEGINNING IN MARCH, 2020 MOST SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS WERE CANCELLED. WE PIVOTED TO REMOTE PROGRAMS AND WERE ABLE TO EDUCATE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN ON AN EXCITING NEW, VIRTUAL PLATFORM.SOUNDWATERS IS CURRENTLY COMPLETING THE MULTIYEAR HARBOR AMBITIONS CAMPAIGN TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART HARBOR CENTER AT BOCCUZZI PARK IN STAMFORD (WITH COMPLETION EXPECTED IN FALL 2022) AND TO LAUNCH, EXPAND AND ENDOW STUDENT ACCESS TO NEW ENVIRONMENTAL AND LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS.