2021–22 LabVenture Annual Impact Report

LabVenture Returns to the Cohen Center for Interactive Learning

After a year of remote learning, we were thrilled to welcome students back to our lab in the fall of 2021.

As schools returned to in-person learning and navigated a new array of challenges, from frequent COVID exposures to unprecedented staffing shortages, educators and students alike were feeling exhausted and burnt out. In response, we focused on meeting schools where they needed us most. For some, this meant providing a safe space to be deeply immersed in hands-on learning. For others, we maintained virtual offerings so that students could continue to engage with us from afar. Our most popular virtual offering, Scientist To Go, provided students with the opportunity to connect directly with expert scientists from a diverse mix of backgrounds, areas of expertise, and levels of experience, showing students that anyone can be a scientist. Whether students joined us in our laboratory or remotely, we sought to revitalize a sense of excitement and wonder around science learning.

For many students, their 2021–2022 LabVenture visit was their first field trip in years! This made the experience especially meaningful as students moved through LabVenture’s learning progression to survey plankton samples, handle and measure live lobster, and digitally dissect black sea bass. From the moment students step foot in our lab, we strive to bring science to life and reinvigorate their confidence and curiosity around learning.

Student Feedback

Throughout the school year, we received thoughtful feedback from students and educators sharing what LabVenture meant to them:

“This was a great experience for everyone. Because of COVID, we haven't had a field trip in years, so it just felt normal. Although this trip was definitely not just a normal field trip – this was an experience that we will all remember. I learned so much about the Gulf of Maine, black sea bass, and what's going on with the environment. My favorite part had to be looking at plankton under the microscope. I learned more about the Gulf of Maine on this trip than I could have in the classroom.”

— Chasen, Benton Elementary School

“I had so much fun and would do it again in a heartbeat. I think my favorite part of the trip was when we looked at plankton through the microscope. I am so grateful for this trip and glad I can bring this information back to my school. I think this trip will make me better at reading data and charts.”

– Mia, Gardiner Regional Middle School

“Our trip to GMRI was extraordinary. We got to learn about problems on our planet regarding marine life and the oceans. We made hypotheses, handled lobsters, and used giant touch screen tables. I now know more facts and have more courage to become a marine biologist in the future.”

— Lillianna, Jordan Small School

"Teaching in a small school in midcoast Maine, I've found that people often assume that our students know a great deal about the Gulf of Maine. In reality, many of our students only have a basic understanding of the very community they live in. While climate change is something our students have heard about in the news, they were able to make it "real life" by creating connections. Watching their faces light up when they realized they had schema around these topics was delightful.”

– Ms. Adams, Union Elementary School

"Our students were thoroughly engaged throughout the morning and loved having the hands-on approach that GMRI uses. Having all learners get the chance to use scientific tools showed them that science is not confined to textbooks. The technology they had to work with was outstanding. This trip truly brings science to life for our students.”

– Mr. Meader, Sylvio J. Gilbert Elementary School

“LabVenture was wonderful this year! Students were engaged throughout the morning. They asked thoughtful questions and responded to GMRI's educational team with evidence-based facts they learned from the program. I am happy to report that the children are learning about real science: data collection, interpretation, collaboration, and evaluation. With GMRI's resources, my teaching has evolved to include this real, meaningful science.”

– Ms. O’Brien, St. Brigid School

Accessibility and Educator Support

While much of the magic of LabVenture happens in our Cohen Center for Interactive Learning — from handling live lobster to utilizing state-of-the-art equipment — the immersive program extends well beyond the walls of our lab. To ensure that students and educators alike are getting the most out of LabVenture, we strive to provide them with robust support and resources to kickstart and sustain their STEM learning journey. Our education team has designed wrap-around curriculum to provide educators with learning modules that introduce the concepts explored during LabVenture, provide recaps on the experience once back in the classroom, and help students practice newly developed skills across a broad range of projects.

We also provide professional development opportunities to help educators grow the comfort and confidence to implement hands-on STEM learning in their classrooms. Educators from across Maine join us for in-person, virtual, or hybrid workshops where they experience LabVenture firsthand, explore how it integrates with our wrap-around curriculum and other educational programs, and build connections with fellow teachers to share experiences and ideas. Participating teachers are provided with stipends, mileage reimbursements, and lodging to enable access.

These educator support systems complement our commitment to accessibility (LabVenture and all associated transportation is offered to students and teachers at no cost to them, their schools, or families) to ensure that transformative STEM experiences are available to all students and educators, regardless of their resources.

During the 2021–2022 school year, we served students in all of Maine's 16 counties. In the map above, orange dots indicate schools that participated in LabVenture, black lines indicate school districts, and the color bar indicates the percentage of students who qualified for free or subsidized lunch.

Looking to the Future

As we all continue to find our stride in the “new normal,” GMRI is eager to re-elevate our reach to pre-pandemic numbers. In the 2022–2023 school year, we are striving to welcome ~8,200 students to our lab by re-engaging schools we haven’t seen since before the pandemic and reaching new schools who have never before experienced LabVenture. We remain focused on providing a STEM learning experience that is engaging and immersive, equipping students with foundational science skills while reinvigorating their love for learning. We are also prioritizing educator professional development opportunities to ensure teachers have the resources and support they need to elevate STEM curriculum in their classrooms.