Connecting One of Our Smallest States to Our Planet’s Biggest Wonders
New Hampshire’s Seacoast Science Center inspires ocean conservation through education and immersion

This blog is written by Kate Leavitt and Ashley Stokes. Kate Leavitt is the Director of Mission for programming and exhibits and Ashley Stokes is the Marine Mammal Rescue Program Manager at the Seacoast Science Center, located within Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire.
New Hampshire may have a small coastline compared to other states but our draw to the sea is strong. Here at the Seacoast Science Center, we’re lucky to get to spend our days connecting people to the wonders of our ocean. Providing educational experiences at Odiorne Point State Park on behalf of New Hampshire State Parks, we offer visitors a glimpse into another world, foreign and fascinating, and spark the curiosity that leads to a lifetime of conservation. The ocean is the thread that connects us all, from our tiny state to places across the globe, and we want people to understand how they play a part in that vast system. But the truth is, we can’t do it alone. We rely daily on a suite of programs and resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide us the tools we need to help inspire conservation of our Blue Planet.
In 2018, the Center hosted over 90,000 visitors—including 30,000 students—from across New England and beyond who experienced our live animal and science-based ocean exhibits. From rocky tide pools to shrubby salt marsh, guests can enjoy 135 acres of diverse coastal habitat at our locale.

NOAA’s partnership doesn’t just help the Center enhance understanding of our marine world—it also helps us mobilize active ocean champions. In late 2013, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service authorized the Center to lead the marine mammal rescue effort in New Hampshire, to go into effect on January 1, 2014. This territory was later expanded in 2018 to include a region in northern Massachusetts extending from the New Hampshire border, south to Essex, Massachusetts.

The bottom line
Without NOAA, the Seacoast Science Center would not be as well armed with the tools and information to encourage conservation and a further appreciation for New Hampshire’s vibrant coast. The resources provided by NOAA span across the agency’s offices and program staff, and each of the services are equally vital to the Center’s mission. We’re grateful for NOAA’s partnership through the years and, with their continued support, we can continue to inspire the tens of thousands of visitors who walk through our doors each year to advocate for our blue planet.