Sixth graders from Camden-Rockport Middle School visited LabVentures, the education center of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, in Portland, Feb. 29 and March 1. It was part of their science curriculum, and the students spent the afternoon exploring and investigating the changing ecosystem of the Gulf using tools that scientists at the research institute also use.

LabVentures is a free program, and hosts approximately 10,000 Maine middle school students on field trips each year at its lab. Corporate sponsors pay for the program and provide the transportation bus (Greyhound travel bus quality) for all fifth and sixth grade students in the entire State of Maine to visit the GMRI to learn about their own waters.

CRMS sixth grade students Madi Lusca, Aria Madeira and Layla Novacek reported on the trip with the following:

We went to learn about the Gulf of Maine marine life and how climate change is affecting Maine waters. When we got there, all the staff were kind and thoughtful. In the lab room, we did research on interactive tables, and that helped us study lots of different sea creatures and how to identify them. We all learned so much about the sea here in Maine.

“As we were sorted into different groups we did many hands-on activities, such as measuring lobsters, categorizing plankton, sorting data and watching videos about the Gulf of Maine. We also learned that with the water warming, more lobsters are going North to Canada, and Black Sea Bass, a new species for Maine, have been appearing in Maine lobstermen’s traps. Our favorite part was the hands-on activities, such as handling lobsters and interacting with the touch tables.