New England Science & Sailing Foundation

10/01/2026

Leaf peeping, but make it an adventure. 🍁🛶
Skip the scenic drive and see New England’s fall colors from the water!

Join NESS on Saturday, October 17, for a Fall Foliage Kayak along the Pawcatuck River. Paddle through vibrant autumn colors, enjoy the crisp fall air, and experience the season from a whole new perspective.

Bring your friends and family, grab a paddle, and make a fall memory on the water!

Space is limited. Register now 👉 https://nessf.org/experiential-learning/adult-family-programs/

09/17/2026

🏄‍♂️ SURF. 🗑️ CLEAN. 🔁 REPEAT.

Make a day of it at NESS’s 15th Annual Catch a Curl Youth Surf Classic THIS SATURDAY at Westerly Town Beach!

Start the day with free try-surfing opportunities,
youth surfing competition, judges, and prizes. After the final heat, hit the beach for a community cleanup in celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day. 🌎

Compete, cheer on the surfers, try something new, enjoy a day at the beach, and help take care of the places we love to explore.

Good waves. Good people. Good for the ocean.✌️

Join NESS at Westerly Town Beach! Surf ages 6–18, then join our Beach Cleanup for International Coastal Cleanup Day. Ride waves, protect oceans!

09/15/2026

🏄 READY TO CATCH A CURL? The 15th Annual Catch a Curl Youth Surf Classic is almost here!

This Saturday, September 19, surfers ages 6–18 will take to the waves at Westerly Town Beach for an official Eastern Surfing Association-sanctioned competition, complete with judges, heats, and over $6,000 worth of sick prizes from our amazing sponsors! 🏆🌊

Whether you're a beginner catching your first waves or an experienced surfer ready to compete, there’s a place for you.

Grab your board, bring the crew, and come get your stoke on.

👉 https://nessf.org/experiential-learning/youth-programs/catch-a-curl/

09/12/2026

📞 Answer the call at NESS’s 15th Annual Catch a Curl Youth Surf Classic on Saturday, September 19, at Westerly Town Beach!

Youth surfers ages 6–18 are invited to hit the waves in an official Eastern Surfing Association event, with judges, awesome prizes, and plenty of stoke. New to surfing? Free try-surfing sessions with NESS instructors are available before the competition!

After the final heat, join us for a community beach cleanup in celebration of International Coastal Cleanup Day 🌎

So…are you answering?

08/20/2026

From NESS to Mystic Aquarium! We’re so proud to see former NESS staff member and SEA AmeriCorps member Emily putting her marine science skills to work, helping ensure the water is safe and healthy for the animals in their care.

We love seeing where a NESS experience can lead, and the many ways our community continues to make an impact on the water and beyond!

Check out her behind-the-scenes look at water quality testing at Mystic Aquarium! 👇

Serve Connecticut
AmeriCorps

08/12/2026

🤝🌊 Partnership Wednesday 🌊🤝

When students learn on the water, they begin to understand why our rivers matter.

Thanks to a Wood-Pawcatuck Wild & Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council Community Grant, 7th grade students from Westerly Middle School partnered with New England Science & Sailing (NESS) for unforgettable, hands-on environmental learning experiences.

Students explored the ecosystems of Barn Island, kayaked and sailed local waters, investigated plastic pollution, participated in shoreline cleanups, and discovered how watersheds connect our communities to Little Narragansett Bay and beyond.

These experiences brought science to life ~ encouraging students to ask questions, work together, and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.

We're also excited to share that the Stewardship Council has awarded NESS another Community Grant for the 2026–2027 school year! This fall, a new group of Westerly Middle School students will once again have the opportunity to get out on the water, collect water quality data, explore watershed science, and build lasting connections to the rivers and bays that make this region so special.

A heartfelt thank you to New England Science & Sailing (NESS) and Westerly Middle School for their continued partnership and commitment to environmental education.

📷 Photos courtesy of New England Science & Sailing (NESS).

Wild and Scenic Rivers; yours to enjoy, yours to protect. 💙

08/12/2026

A new season means new ways to learn, explore, get outside, and experience the water with NESS!

📚 Homeschool Programs
⚓ Marine Mavens After-School Program
🏄 Catch a Curl Youth Surf Classic & Beach Cleanup
🛥️ U.S. Safe Powerboat Handling Course & CPWO Certification
🦪 OySTARS: Teacher Professional Development

Start Your Adventure → NESSF.org/about-new-england-science-sailing/events/

08/09/2026

The Sound was putting on a show again today! 🌊 Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better…a pod of dolphins decided to make an appearance🐬🐬

07/28/2026

The Sound was SHOWING OFF today! 🌊

We discovered DOZENS of baby horseshoe crabs of all sizes AND caught our first-ever COBIA!

Some days on the water are extra unforgettable ✨