South Carolina Aquarium Introduces Plan for New Waterfront Education Facility, Boeing Learning Lab at the Maritime Center

Press Release

The South Carolina Aquarium is excited for the future of education programming, thanks to Boeing’s generous gift of $2 million to support the Boeing Learning Lab at the Maritime Center, the Charleston peninsula’s first waterfront multidisciplinary learning center.

The first aquarium to open their doors with a full-fledged master education plan, education has been at the heart of the South Carolina Aquarium mission from the very beginning. The opening of the Boeing Learning Lab in 2024 will revolutionize the way the community connects with the natural world, enabling the Aquarium to expand their reach and offer thousands more students free, STEM education programming with the Charleston waterfront serving as their backdrop. Director of education, Brian Thill, is excited about the possibilities that the Learning Lab will offer for students.

“The place where sky meets water will become their classroom; they’ll breathe in the salty air and experience the sights and sounds of the Charleston Harbor,” says Thill. “For some, this may be their first or only trip to the coast; For others, this will be the catalyst that leads them to becoming the next generation of conservation stewards and STEM professionals.”

Over the years, the Aquarium has worked to expand programming to better serve the community with offerings for early as well as lifelong learning, teen programming, statewide education outreach, virtual programs and student internships. Currently, classroom space within the Aquarium limits how many students can visit; the Aquarium must turn away two out of every three students that apply to the free Dominion Energy School Programs, a core standards-based education and field trip experience for students of South Carolina. Now, bolstered by Boeing’s leadership gift, the Aquarium team will have indoor and outdoor multidisciplinary classroom spaces to double the number of students served annually.

Within the Learning Lab, the Aquarium will deliver a robust slate of education programming and partner with scientists and researchers to deliver groundbreaking interactive presentations on diverse conservation and resilience topics. The Learning Lab will serve as an experiential learning hub for current education programs — Dominion Energy School Programs, Virtual Programs, Education Outreach, High School Intern Program and more — and will act as the launchpad for new offerings to better serve students across the state in the future.

“The Boeing Company and the South Carolina Aquarium both share similar passions for sustainability, conservation and STEM education, and the development of the Boeing Learning Lab was a natural extension of our longstanding partnership,” said Lindsay Leonard, senior director of Government Operation for Boeing. “The Lab will promote conservation through education, awareness and connection to the natural environment. Its prime Charleston Harbor location, adjacent to the International African American Museum, will allow students and adults alike to benefit from several immersive educational experiences now available along Charleston’s waterfront.”

The physical location of the Boeing Learning Lab is uniquely positioned to unlock the waterfront for the greater Charleston area. It will be available as a meeting space for organizations and businesses to collaborate and better serve our community. President and CEO, Kevin Mills, is committed to this vision.

“Life along the waterfront has defined Charleston for centuries, and we’re committed to providing even greater accessibility and opportunity for all segments of our community, especially those in greatest need,” Mills said.  “We are grateful to Boeing for its belief in our vision, and for bringing our fundraising even closer to the finish line.”

For more information on the Boeing Learning Lab, watch the video below.
–

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us