STEM/Marine Biology (Boston, Cambridge, Falmouth: rentals, vacation home, buying)

[tcalloway4]

My family is relocating to the Boston area!

I was interested if anyone knew of which K-12 public schools in the Boston area include Marine Biology focused programs, extra-curricular activities/clubs? I read a small article about MIT partnering with local Boston schools with its Sea Grant program/Blue Lobster Bowl? Maybe other universities in the area as well may offer similar offerings?

I have a science & marine life loving child who would thrive in a STEM oriented school with the added bonus of Marine Biology opportunities! He is still in Elementary school, we are both working parents, so access to fun summer camps/after school programs would be amazing.

Extra, extra bonus: Family friendly, welcoming, husband and I are both 35 - I will be working in the FD 3x a week and hoping for under an hour commute, if possible!

Thank you so much for any insight!

[yesmaybe]

Better ask what the budget is.

[tcalloway4]

Buying: < 1.2 - 20%+ down.

If the inventory stays low, we most likely will need find a short term rental. From what I have been reading, rentals properties are also in short supply. Our home is not yet on the market, so we have some time.

[jayrandom]

I'm not aware of anything at the high school level. At the University level, Northeastern University has a Marine Science Center located in Hahant. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is significantly bigger but also not very close to metro Boston.

Any high school program would likely at least interact with one of those two institutions, so they may be able to give better information.

[porterhouse]

A few of our neighbors have been ambassadors and had high school internships at the New England Aquarium (in Boston). One of them went on to marine biology study at university.

[simplexsimon]

I don't know for sure but I'd probably start with towns on the South Shore. Nothing wrong with North Shore towns but if you're commuting by train, North Station is a lot farther from financial district than South Station.

Edit: I just took a look at Blue Lobster Bowl's website...top 3 finishers in 2021 were Lexington High School A, Lexington High School B, and Lincoln-Sudbury A...towns nowhere near the ocean so nevermind!

[Boston_Burbs]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

I don't know for sure but I'd probably start with towns on the South Shore. Nothing wrong with North Shore towns but if you're commuting by train, North Station is a lot farther from financial district than South Station.

Edit: I just took a look at Blue Lobster Bowl's website...top 3 finishers in 2021 were Lexington High School A, Lexington High School B, and Lincoln-Sudbury A...towns nowhere near the ocean so nevermind!

Well they all have VACATION homes on the ocean

Its like Marblehead winning the state championship in Skiing. (Its not because of Mt. Marblehead)

[tcalloway4]

Haha it surprised me too! On paper Hingham looks great and checks off a lot of boxes with being near the coast and easyish access to Boston via rail.....but I think the community (based on the reviews) would be a little too intense for us? We are pretty laid back - so I was looking at Norwell or on the other side, Hopkinton?

Any other suggestions would be great!

[G-fused]

Call the Woods Hole Oceonographic Institute and explore their website. Tons of resources and your best bet for Marine Biology in MA.

https://www.whoi.edu/

Best of luck and welcome.

[OutdoorLover]

I don't know if you parents will be working in Boston/Cambridge or will have some flexibility? As several people have mentioned, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is a prominent institution on the Cape. While students below the university level aren't ready to do studies at Woods Hole, it looks like they do some forms of outreach to students at all levels - maybe nearby towns like Falmouth and Mashpee are more likely to do, e.g. field trips to Woods Hole or have a guest speaker come by - these interactions can be inspirational. Moreover, if you're really curious about marine life, and you live there, the marine life is actually all around you - you can do things like clamming, fishing, get a recreational or student lobstering permit and catch lobsters... don't need to eat your subjects, it can all be "catch and release" if desired... you can learn about stuff like the importance of salt marsh and eelgrass beds and the role of estuaries as nurseries, anadromous fish migration and lifecycle, etc etc etc. You can of course read about these things or hear lectures, which is good, but having access to that classroom material and being able to actually *see and in some cases touch* the marine life and their habitats, habits, interactions, ecological niches, etc can make it all more meaningful and enjoyable.