Three Students Receive National Recognition at Recycle Regatta

The Recycle Regatta challenges students in grades K–12 to build seaworthy vessels using only discarded or repurposed materials. The competition promotes hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM), while encouraging environmental stewardship. Entries are evaluated in two categories: Most Seaworthy and Most Creative, with just two national winners selected in each grade-level fleet.

Berwick Academy’s boat was submitted through a Friday marine science enrichment program for Grades 4–6, led by Kevin McGann, a marine researcher and educator who has taught college-level courses at the University of Southern Maine, Southern Maine Community College, and at Shoals Marine Laboratory—a field station jointly operated by Cornell University and the University of New Hampshire. He is also a Berwick parent. The project was designed to integrate principles of marine science with creative problem-solving, teamwork, and sustainability. 

“I’m incredibly proud of what these students accomplished,” said McGann. “They brought creativity, focus, and curiosity—and in the process, explored real marine science concepts like buoyancy, stability, and vessel design. I’m grateful for programs like Educational Passages and the support from Berwick that make this kind of hands-on, meaningful learning possible. It’s exactly how students connect science to the real world.”

As part of the competition, the students tested their sailboat in a series of buoyancy and movement trials, making iterative improvements along the way. The final design featured pencils with colored cotton balls as the deck and railings of the ship, and a mast and sail made from green cloth.

“We’re really proud of our boat,” said Randall. “We had so much fun building it and figuring out how to make it float and sail.”