If you’ve ever watched a child gently touch a sea star for the first time, you’ve seen the moment it happens — curiosity turns into connection. That moment is why Herring Gut Coastal Science Center exists.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Wyeth Foundation, we are ready to install a brand-new, custom-built touch tank designed by Tenji Inc. This new tank will allow us to safely house more species from the Gulf of Maine, expand filtration and chilling systems, and create space where more families can gather around together.
But to bring it fully to life, we must raise $50,000 in matching funds.
Here’s what your gift makes possible:
A larger, more accessible touch tank for guests using walkers, wheelchairs, and strollers
Upgraded life-support systems for healthier marine animals
Renovated flooring, plumbing, and electrical systems to ensure safety and beauty for years to come
Free, walk-in access for every visitor — always
Last year alone, 5,255 people participated in our programs. More than 2,540 visitors experienced the touch tank during the summer season. This year, we’re on track to reach even more families, students, and lifelong learners.
When you give today, your gift helps unlock this $50,000 match — doubling your impact and accelerating this transformation. Every dollar brings us closer to a space where a child can hold a horseshoe crab, ask a question about the tides, and perhaps begin to see themselves as a future marine scientist.
Will you help us unlock the match and open the door to the next generation of ocean stewards? Together, we can reimagine hands-on marine learning.
