PROGRAMS
2026
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Middle and High School Students +Home School (Grades 6-12)
January 9th-10th 2026 - Kick-Off Innovation "Sprint"
Friday (4:30-8:00pm) Saturday (8:30am-4:30 pm)
Weekly thereafter Tuesdays, 4:00pm-6:30pm; 6 sessions
$150/student for the Program
Thanks to CoastX donors, a limited number of scholarships are available for students with proven financial need. Please email info@CoastX.org
Drop-off/pick-up Location:
Kittery Community Center, Kittery , ME
REGISTRATION OPENS NOVEMBER 1, 2025 to DECEMBER 15th 2025 or until all 24 registrations are sold out. We will also create a wait list.
OVERVIEW:
Inspire your child to think big, create boldly, and have impact!
The CoastX Blue Innovation Program is a six-session after-school experience for middle and high school students (including homeschoolers) who want to turn ideas into real solutions for ocean challenges.
Kicking off with a high-energy Innovation Sprint Weekend (Jan 9–10, 2026), students will collaborate in teams, work with mentors, and meet ocean entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of the blue economy.
Guided by CoastX founders Ian Grant and Susan Johnson, this unique program blends creativity, entrepreneurship, and hands-on learning—helping students build confidence, curiosity, and the mindset to change the world.
CoastX Programs Summer 2026
NEW 2026 Programs are under final development. More Information Coming Soon!
Explore The Ocean Programs: We now offer limited donor funded Financial Scholarships for Maine and New Hampshire students with financial need
Explore the Ocean Like Never Before: A Week of Underwater Exploration and Adventure!
TBD
Middle & High School Students
Students will utilize remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), drop cameras and other blue technology equipment to explore, observe, monitor, and preserve the health of marine ecosystems.
Working with ocean engineers and subject matter experts, participants will conduct underwater exploration missions in the marine environment, onboard a vessel and on the shoreline, to gather data on marine life, marine habitat, and marine debris using ROVs, ocean mapping, and surveying tools.
Students will report the outcomes of their research on the State of the Harbor in person at the CoastX Ocean Conference and on CoastX GIS Story Map.
Types of blue technology CoastX participants will use:
- Underwater ROV
- Drop cameras and GoPros
- Mapping & Surveying tools
- GIS Maps
Marine-Based Art Program:
TBD
Middle & High School Students
This immersive marine-based art program invites students to explore the dynamic relationship between life above and below the Piscataqua River, it’s estuaries, and tributaries through creative expression.
By combining marine ecology education with artistic practice, students will gain a deeper appreciation for marine ecosystems while using various artistic mediums, watercolor painting, cyanotypes, underwater ROV imaging, and photography, to depict the beauty and challenges faced by life in and around the ocean. The program will culminate in an art exhibit showcasing their unique creations.
Explore the Ocean Like Never Before: A Week of Underwater Exploration and Adventure!
TBD
Middle & High School Students
Students will utilize remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), drop cameras and other blue technology equipment to explore, observe, monitor, and preserve the health of marine ecosystems.
Working with ocean engineers and subject matter experts, participants will conduct underwater exploration missions in the marine environment, onboard a vessel and on the shoreline, to gather data on marine life, marine habitat, and marine debris using ROVs, ocean mapping, and surveying tools.
Students will report the outcomes of their research on the State of the Harbor in person at the CoastX Ocean Conference and on CoastX GIS Story Map.
Types of blue technology CoastX participants will use:
- Underwater ROV
- Drop cameras and GoPros
- Mapping & Surveying tools
- GIS Maps