Ocean Journal

CoastX brings its mission to life through immersive, hands-on ocean education experiences that connect students directly with the marine environment. Built on the belief that learning is most powerful when it is lived, CoastX programs combine on-the-water exploration with real-world applications of science, engineering, and art. Students work alongside professionals, gaining confidence as they develop and share their own ideas, while building future-ready skills like creativity, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Through these experiences, students become part of a meaningful community of curious and motivated peers, all while forming a lasting connection to the ocean through experiential learning. 

Just off the coast of Kittery Point, Maine, sits a small island with a remarkable story. Home to the historic Wood Island Life Saving Station, the island once served as a base for the brave surfmen who risked their lives rescuing mariners in distress along the Maine and New Hampshire coastline. Built in 1908, the station is one of the rarest surviving life-saving stations in the country and the only one of its kind located on such a small island. Hundreds of lives were saved from this outpost before it was eventually decommissioned and left vacant for decades. Today, thanks to an extensive restoration effort, the station has been brought back to life as a place where history, education, and creativity come together. 

The historic Wood Island Life Saving Station, home base for learning, creativity, and exploration. 

For CoastX students, Wood Island is much more than a historic landmark. It becomes a place of exploration, inspiration, and connection. 

The experience begins the moment students step onto the island. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and separated from the distractions of daily life, students find themselves immersed in a setting unlike any classroom. The island's rocky shoreline, tidal ecosystems, and historic buildings create an environment where learning feels natural, and discovery happens around every corner. 

One of the most memorable parts of the experience is exploring the island's tide pools. These small pockets of ocean life provide students with an opportunity to observe marine ecosystems up close. As they search among the rocks and eelgrass, students encounter species such as lobsters, crabs, baby codfish, and flounder while learning about the interconnected relationships that sustain coastal environments.  

Students explore tide pools and discover marine life up close. 

The ocean isn't just something students study; it's something they experience firsthand. 

Back at the Life Saving Station, affectionately referred to by students as "The House," the experience takes on another dimension. The building serves as a Living Studio, where artists-in-residence guide students through creative projects inspired by the island and the sea. Working both at Wood Island and the Kittery Community Center, students are encouraged to transform their observations into artistic expression, blending marine science with creativity in ways that deepen their understanding of both. 

This combination of exploration and artistic discovery reflects CoastX's mission of helping students connect with the ocean through meaningful, hands-on experiences. Whether examining marine life, creating artwork inspired by the coast, or learning about the island's maritime history, students are constantly engaging with the environment around them in new ways. 

What often stands out most, however, is the feeling of being on the island itself. 

One student reflected on the experience by saying, "It was just so cool to be on an island by yourself with a bunch of your new friends, and I loved the house, it was awesome." 

Another shared a similar sentiment: 

"I loved Wood Island. It's beautiful there, and it's nice and peaceful. It's really nice to be in more of a secluded area. It's like the world around you sort of stops." 

Their words capture something that makes the Wood Island experience so unique. In a world filled with constant notifications, schedules, and distractions, the island offers something increasingly rare: space to slow down. 

Students have the opportunity to build friendships, explore independently, and immerse themselves fully in their surroundings. The isolation of the island becomes an asset, creating an environment where curiosity flourishes and meaningful connections are formed, not only with one another, but with the ocean itself. 

The restored Life Saving Station serves as a reminder of the generations who once depended on the sea and the people who dedicated their lives to protecting those who traveled it. At the same time, it provides a setting for a new generation of students to develop their own relationship with the coast. The island's history becomes intertwined with their own experiences of discovery, creativity, and growth. 

The Wood Island experience isn't defined by any single activity. It's the combination of everything: the tide pools, the marine life, the artwork, the friendships, the history, and the feeling of standing on a small island surrounded by ocean. It's a place where science and creativity meet, where students can learn by doing, and where the natural world becomes both a classroom and a source of inspiration.  

Turning observations of the ocean into creative artwork. 

Long after students leave the island, they carry those experiences with them: the excitement of discovering marine life beneath the rocks, the stories of the surfmen who once called the station home, the artwork inspired by the sea, and the feeling that, for a little while, the rest of the world seemed to stop. 

Ready to explore, create, and connect with the ocean? Learn more about CoastX programs and how to get involved. 

Interested in learning more about Wood Island? Check out their website here.