Second Grade Class First to Experience New Boeing Learning Lab on the Charleston Harbor
CHARLESTON, S.C. — April 22, 2025 — Yesterday was an exciting day for environmental education as the South Carolina Aquarium proudly welcomed its first class into the new Boeing Learning Lab at the Charleston Maritime Center. Second graders from Windsor Hill Elementary School participated in the inaugural Dominion Energy School Programs class at the Learning Lab, diving into the fascinating world of native habitats, fitting on the eve of Earth Day.
Boeing Learning Lab: A New Era in Environmental Education
The expansion of Dominion Energy School Programs into the new facility will double the number of students the Aquarium is able to serve annually, ensuring that more young minds engage with core standards-based education programs. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Aquarium has provided science-rich learning experiences to an average of 6,000 students each year through School Programs. These programs, which are free and designed to align with teachers’ curriculum, exemplify the Aquarium’s 25 years of dedication to bring science and environmental education to life for the students of South Carolina.
“We are proud of our enduring commitment to the South Carolina Aquarium and the expansion of Dominion Energy School Programs,” said Keller Kissam, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “Just steps away from the Lowcountry’s sparkling waterfront, this one-of-a-kind educational opportunity will connect thousands of eager students with the majesty of South Carolina’s natural resources for the very first time. We value this partnership, which is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards across our great state.”
As the curious young students prepared to enter the waterfront classroom, they were surrounded by the salty air of the Charleston Harbor, making clear the connection between the curriculum taught in the programs and the natural environment.
“We are so excited to be in the new classrooms! The kids got to touch animals and learn about habitats,” said Windsor Hill teacher Brianna Hockney. “Having classes here, the kids could visually see how the river flows into the ocean, which helps them to fully understand it, rather than just talking about it. They really enjoy that.”
Dominion Energy’s generous support allows the Aquarium to continue offering these invaluable school programs at no cost to South Carolina students, making it the foremost complimentary science education program in the state. With an emphasis on collaboration with statewide education systems, the programs are continually refined to meet the evolving needs of students and teachers.
“Over the past 25 years, we’ve served more than 164,000 schoolchildren through School Programs,” says Assistant Director of Education Jaime Thom. “We’ve seen that spark of curiosity and connection to the natural world develop, and we’ve heard how many of them carried this experience into their future careers. Knowing we now have the chance to serve double the amount of schoolchildren in the Learning Lab fills me with excitement, anticipation and hope for the future of water, wildlife and wild places.”
As the world celebrates Earth Day, the expansion of Dominion Energy School Programs at the Learning Lab stands as a testament to the importance of environmental stewardship and education. These programs light the path for future generations to become passionate advocates for our planet.
For more information, visit scaquarium.org
Local News Via - MyrtleBeachSC.com
