Seven Windham High School (WHS) students recently embarked on a journey of over 3.5 hours to explore the Downeast Institute, a remarkable marine research laboratory, hatchery, and education center on Beals Island, Maine. Accompanied by WHS ELO Coordinator Lorraine Glowczak and WHS Science Teacher Lauren Ruffner, the students delved into marine ecosystems, sustainable agriculture, and environmental practices, gaining valuable insights into the physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence these systems. After a quick lunch, the group toured the University of Maine at Machias campus. Despite the cloudy, wet, windy, and cold weather, the students braved the UMM tour with resilience, viewing marine animal skeletons and exploring a small art, papermaking, and old printing press department and museum.