NESS to hold open house on Thursday

Stonington — New England Science & Sailing Foundation will hold an open house for educators and families on Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at its harbor front facilities at 70 Water Street in the borough.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet NESS staff, outdoor program directors and educators, tour the facilities, and review NESS education programs.

Copies of the NESS 2012-2013 Educators Catalog with programs designed to supplement pre-kindergarten through high school curricula will be available. Visitors will also be able to see the renovations to the main NESS building, which include a new marine science lab and classroom equipped with microscopes, interactive white board, and touch tanks.

“There has been a lot of hard work here this year in an effort to continue to broaden our own understanding of how we can serve the community,” said NESS President Spike Lobdell. “

NESS offers program curricula aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, multidisciplinary STEM-based learning, access to Long Island Sound’s complex marine ecosystems, a large fleet of boats to explore habitats and species along with lab and aquaria facilities for hands-on research and experiments.