Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum: The Land & Sea Program
Last week, my Director of Specialty Projects, Valerie Coolidge, attended a powerful day of hands-on learning through the Land & Sea Program — a new initiative at the Essex Historical Society & Shipbuilding Museum bringing together 93 fifth-grade students from Essex and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
Students learned about invasive green crabs — what they are, how to catch them, and why they live in our coastal environment. They took boats out to check crab traps and observed the crabs in their natural habitat. In addition, the program included salt marsh exploration, woodworking, and rowing.
It was not only an engaging and timely lesson in environmental stewardship, but also a chance for students from both towns to build connections as they prepare to come together in a new school next year.
Offered at no cost to the schools thanks to generous grant funding and community support, Land & Sea is a remarkable example of place-based education that weaves together history, science, and teamwork.
