Project Oceanology

What Project Oceanology does

Project Oceanology (legally the Interdistrict Committee for Project Oceanology) is a non-profit marine science education organization founded in 1972, headquartered at 1084 Shennecossett Road in Groton, Connecticut on the UConn Avery Point Campus. It delivers hands-on, experiential marine science programs focused on the Long Island Sound estuary using a fleet of research vessels (including the Enviro-Lab), Carolina skiffs, and a waterfront facility comprising laboratories, classrooms, a cafeteria, meeting space, and a 14-room hostel. Core offerings span three modalities — on-the-boat, on-the-shore, and in-lab/in-school — covering K-12 students, summer camp participants ages 9-17 (residential and day), homeschool families, scout groups, and the general public through public cruises and Marine Science Day.

The organization maintains multi-decade longitudinal ecological datasets (15+ years of seal monitoring, 30+ years of gull rookery data) used in student data analysis labs, and its curriculum is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Ocean Literacy Principles. Notable technical and physical assets include otter trawls, plankton nets, Peterson grabs, sediment cores, Van Dorn bottles, YSI meters, ROVs, and field chemistry kits. Strategic partners include UConn Avery Point (facility host, dining services, faculty workshop leaders), Mystic Aquarium (joint camps), CT Sea Grant, the Connecticut National Estuary Research Reserve, and the Ledge Light Foundation.

Project Oceanology operates a hybrid revenue model: tuition and program fees (camp tuition $555-$1,055/week; school programs $825-$1,425 per 50 students; public cruises $30-$45), donations and grants (including the Dr. Howard 'Mickey' Weiss Scholarship Fund administered via Connecticut Community Foundation), corporate and group charters, and facility rentals. Programs are registered via the Active Network online platform and direct email/phone inquiry. The organization is licensed by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Division of Licensing and serves more than 25,000 students and adults annually.

Name

Project Oceanology

Legal name

Interdistrict Committee for Project Oceanology

Website

https://oceanology.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Project Oceanology is a non-profit marine science education organization founded in 1972, operating from a waterfront facility on UConn Avery Point in Groton, Connecticut. It delivers hands-on boat, shore, and lab programs on Long Island Sound to K-12 schools, summer campers, homeschool families, scouts, and the public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Science Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Water & Marine Guiding Services (Kayak, Canoe, Raft, SUP, Sailing) (THAAALAB)

Keywords

• Marine science education
• Oceanographic research programs
• Environmental monitoring
• Hands-on science education
• Estuary ecology programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Groton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Primary revenue stream from fees charged for summer camp programs (residential and day camps), school group programs (boat, shore, lab/in-school), public programs (cruises, charters), and events. Programs are priced per participant or per week.
2. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, scholarship fund contributions (Dr. Howard 'Mickey' Weiss Scholarship Fund), matching gifts, IRA charitable rollovers, 529 plan gifts, and in-kind donations of boats, motors, and equipment. Major donor program with Amazon Wish List.
3. Corporate and Public Packages: Revenue from boat charters, facility rentals (hostel minimum 7 rooms, meeting room/classroom seating 52), and public/corporate event packages.
4. Grants and Fundraising: Funding from grantors and community organizations to support tuition assistance programs for families with financial need, particularly in Connecticut towns including East Lyme, Groton, Ledyard, Lyme, Montville, New London, North Stonington, Old Lyme, Salem, Stonington, and Waterford.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Project Oceanology is a non-profit marine science education organization that delivers hands-on, experiential learning programs about the Long Island Sound estuary. It operates a fleet of research vessels (including the Enviro-Lab Research Vessel) and small boats, a waterfront laboratory and classroom facility, and a residential hostel at the UConn Avery Point Campus in Groton, Connecticut, serving K-12 schools, summer campers, homeschool families, scouts, and the general public. Core offerings include boat-, shore-, and lab-based school programs, residential and day summer camps for ages 9-17, public cruises, private boat charters, a homeschool series, Marine Science Day, scouting events, and corporate/group packages.

Product overview

Project Oceanology is a non-profit marine science education organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and public access initiatives. The core offerings include residential and day summer camps for ages 9-17 (Ocean Camp, Marine Science Research Experience, Ocean Explorer Academy, Undersea Technology Camp), educational programs for school groups (On the Boat, On the Shore, Lab or In-School), and public programming (Seal Watch Cruises, Oceanographic Cruises, Boat Charters). Additional offerings include Homeschool Series, Marine Science Day, Scouting Events, and online resources like Shorebird Scientists and TREDS. The organization operates from a waterfront facility in Groton, Connecticut and partners with Mystic Aquarium for joint camp programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ocean Camp A one-week residential overnight camp (Sunday-Friday) for ages 12-17, exploring Long Island Sound by boat and shore with hands-on marine science activities using real oceanographic tools such as trawl nets, seine nets, salinity meters, and sediment corers. Meals provided via UCONN Dining Services. Priced at $955 per week for the 2026 season.
• Marine Science Research Experience (MSRE) A one-week residential camp for aspiring marine scientists ages 14-17, offering the opportunity to design and conduct a research project guided by professional marine scientists, culminating in a poster or symposium presentation. Priced at $1,055 per week for the 2026 season.
• Ocean Explorer Academy A one-week day camp (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM) for ages 9-11, featuring themed weeks (Eco Engineers, Hidden Habitats, Animal Adaptations, Art & Science) with exploration of Long Island Sound habitats aboard research vessels and Carolina skiffs. Priced at $555 per week for the 2026 season.
• Undersea Technology Camp A one-week day camp for ages 11-13 focused on ocean technology and marine engineering, where campers design and build SeaPerch ROVs, collect plankton, map the seafloor, and measure water conditions. Priced at $595 per week for the 2026 season.
• Mystic Aquarium Partnership Camp A joint summer camp program with Mystic Aquarium offering Marine Animals and their Environment (Grades 4-6) and Environmental Conservation Camp (Grades 7-10), combining research aboard Project Oceanology's vessels with Mystic Aquarium experiences. Campers split time between both facilities.
• Seal Watch Cruises Guided public tours aboard the Enviro-Lab Research Vessel to observe Harbor Seals on their migratory journey from Maine through Long Island and Fishers Island Sounds, with trips typically observing more than 100 seals. Adult $45 / Military $40 / Child $30.
• Oceanographic Cruises Hands-on environmental monitoring programs aboard the Enviro-Lab Research Vessel where participants learn to use oceanographic equipment and explore sea life in Long Island Sound. Adult $45 / Military $40 / Child $30.
• Boat Charters (Enviro-Lab Cruise) Private boat charters for up to 50 participants offering customizable marine science experiences including sunset cruises, seal studies, plankton collection, mud grabs, water quality measurements, and maritime history cruises.
• On the Boat Educational Programs Research vessel programs for school groups (K-2 through High School) where students participate in environmental monitoring, trawl net hauls, plankton tows, lobster pot pulls, and water quality measurements using oceanographic equipment. Programs run 2.5 hours and accommodate up to 50 students per trip.
• On the Shore Educational Programs Shore-based educational programs including nearshore fish studies, rocky intertidal zone explorations, beach clean-ups, and salt marsh investigations at various locations including Bluff Point State Park and Pine Island. 2.5-hour programs for up to 50 students per trip.
• Lab or In-School Programs Laboratory and in-classroom programs including critter bins, squid dissections, plankton exploration, fish printing (Gyotaku), seal adaptation studies, and engineering challenges such as bycatch reduction and wind turbine design. 2.5-hour programs for up to 50 students per session.
• Homeschool Series Weekly marine science programs for homeschool students ages 5-8 and 9-12, with monthly themed series (January through March) covering marine organisms, polar seas, open ocean, intertidal zones, and ecosystem topics. $35 per 2-hour class; $15 discount when signing up for all 4 classes in one month.
• Marine Science Day Annual event for students in Grades 4-8, featuring hands-on workshops led by marine science educators, UConn professors, and environmental experts at Project Oceanology and UConn Avery Point. $35 per student. The 2026 edition (21st annual) is scheduled for May 13, 2026, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, and includes workshops and boat excursions.
• Scouting Event Scouting program for ages 11-17 offering Oceanography Merit Badge preparation, including boat cruises and hands-on lab work investigating Long Island Sound components. $85 per participant (Scouts and Adults); Saturday, April 25, 2026.
• Public & Corporate Packages Customizable programs including boat charters, shore programs, lab programs, and facility rentals (hostel with 14 rooms, meeting room seating up to 52) for groups and corporate events.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 25,000 students and adults served annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UConn Avery Point CampuscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Oceanology is based on the UConn Avery Point Campus in Groton, Connecticut. UConn provides the waterfront campus location including facility space, and UConn Dining Services provides meals for campers. UConn professors and graduate students participate as workshop leaders for Marine Science Day events.
• Mystic AquariumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject Oceanology and Mystic Aquarium co-deliver joint summer camp programs. Campers spend part of their week aboard Project Oceanology's research vessels exploring Long Island Sound, and the remainder at Mystic Aquarium learning about marine conservation and animal care. Programs cover grades 4-6 (Marine Animals and their Environment) and grades 7-10 (Environmental Conservation Camp).
• UConn Avery Point Faculty and Graduate StudentsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUConn Avery Point faculty and graduate students serve as workshop leaders for the annual Marine Science Day event alongside Project Oceanology's marine science educators.
• Connecticut National Estuary Research Reserve (NERR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNERR staff participate as workshop leaders for Marine Science Day, contributing expertise on estuary research and Long Island Sound conservation.
• CT Sea GrantminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCT Sea Grant staff participate as workshop leaders for Marine Science Day, bringing marine science research expertise to student participants.
• Ledge Light FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ledge Light Foundation collaborates with Project Oceanology to provide tours inside Ledge Light Lighthouse as part of the Nautical History, Plotting, and Navigation high school program.
• Connecticut Office of Early Childhood - Division of LicensingminorOthersProject Oceanology's summer camps are licensed by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood Division of Licensing, ensuring regulatory compliance and standards for youth camp operations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Mid-Atlantic environmental nonprofit operating student field programs and boat-based environmental education. Comparable as a regionally rooted environmental education nonprofit with on-water programming and donor-supported model.
• Save the Sound: Long Island Sound-focused environmental nonprofit running education and citizen-science programs in CT/NY. Comparable on estuary-focused environmental education and citizen-science positioning.

Direct peers

• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk: Norwalk, Connecticut aquarium running boat-based marine education cruises, K-12 field trips, and school programs on Long Island Sound. Highly comparable in geography, audience (school groups and families), and experiential programming format.
• Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI / Guided Discoveries): California-based residential marine science camp program running boat, snorkel, and lab experiences for youth. Closest pure-play analog as a multi-day marine science camp using fleet vessels and field equipment.
• Mystic Aquarium: Connecticut-based marine science institution offering on-water and aquarium-based youth, school, and summer programs. Project Oceanology's explicit program partner for joint summer camps, making it the most direct comparable on marine science education for K-12 and family audiences in the Northeast.
• Coastal Studies for Girls: Residential marine science program for teenage girls in Maine offering hands-on coastal and ocean science education. Directly comparable as a residential marine science camp experience for youth, sharing experiential fieldwork and small-cohort pedagogy.

Emerging players

• Ocean First Institute: Marine conservation nonprofit offering K-12 marine science curricula, youth programs, and educator resources. Comparable in nonprofit marine education mission and school/district audience.

Broad incumbents

• New England Aquarium: Major Boston aquarium and broader marine education institution running K-12, teen, and summer marine science programs. Larger scope but overlapping experiential learning programs and audience.
• National Aquarium (Baltimore): Large aquarium operator with school, camp, and public marine science education experiences. Comparable audience (K-12, families, public) at broader scale.

Others

• NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (Education): Federal program delivering marine science education, citizen science, and school resources through the national marine sanctuary system. Comparable on marine education content delivery and ocean literacy framing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/proj_oceanology
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectOceanology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/project-oceanology
• Instagraminstagram.com/projectoceanology/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Project Oceanology