Turn in that cell phone to the captain when you board and expect schooner travel's challenges and a potential career idea, according to a signup wiscassetschools.org links to, for a program called the Marine Learning Project. According to marinelearningproject.org, this is planned to involve multi-day trips, Maine students, Wiscasset School Department and the 131-foot, 1973 South Bristol-built schooner Harvey Gamage.

 "Phone time will be allowed when not underway," the signup states.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson told the school committee about the program May 13 and fielded Wiscasset Newspaper's questions the next day. She also announced the schooner will have an open house in Wiscasset harbor Sunday, June 22 from noon to 3 p.m. before the Portland-based vessel heads to Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor.

Andersson said of the open house in Wiscasset, "Everybody's invited, everyone in the whole town ...You can go onboard (and) explore the ship ... see it for yourselves."

Andersson told the committee the Harvey Gamage is "truly magnificent," and the endeavor is "a huge, incredible, mind-blowing, for me, honor that we're even part of the discussion on this project." She said the project fits with a theme the department has been talking about: Introducing students to maritime trades.

Andersson said in the phone interview, she believes in tapping into students' or staff members' expertise in areas that can increase students' engagement and their career options.

Lack of engagement is students’ “biggest barrier,” Wiscasset Middle High School Principal Sarah Hubert said. 

Andersson said the idea for Wiscasset to possibly be involved with a schooner came from a past Harvey Gamage crew member, WMHS social studies teacher Alyson Graham.

"Well, this thing is happening. It's been developing all year," and will start this summer and next, Andersson said.

As marinelearningproject.org explains, the Harvey Gamage is a "classroom under sail. As part of the Marine Learning Project, the schooner hosts dynamic onboard programs designed to: Introduce students to Maine’s proud maritime heritage; cultivate seamanship, teamwork, and leadership; promote interest in maritime and marine-related careers; and inspire stewardship of the marine environment ... The Marine Learning Project and the Harvey Gamage are working closely with the Wiscasset school system."

Learn more at wiscassetschools.org, where signup has opened. The site says to register before June 15; for $250 and steps including a medical form, a Wiscasset or other Maine eighth grader or high school student can take one of a series of trips; the 2025 ones are July 7-11 from Boothbay Harbor to Boothbay Harbor; July 14-18 from Boothbay Harbor to Rockland; July 21-25 from Rockland to Rockland; and July 28–Aug. 1 and Aug. 4–8, both from Rockland to Boothbay Harbor.

In other matters May 13, Andersson said practice evacuations using a bomb threat scenario went "super well" May 12, in the morning at Wiscasset Middle High School and afternoon at Wiscasset Elementary School.

Wiscasset Ambulance Service, Wiscasset police and fire departments, Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency and school department administrators took part, Andersson said; the exercises were planned over months, were kept mostly a secret until that day, took moments, were "all in all" calm and orderly, and yielded a lot of learning, including a couple things to improve, which is the point of these drills, she added.

Hubert said one of the observers found students listened and did a great job, exiting WMHS so quietly, they could not even be heard. 

The committee accepted with regret the resignations of Extended Learning Opportunities Coordinator Tim Fortier, middle school social studies teacher Clint Pike and custodian Ron Harrison; and nodded hiring Stephanie French, WMHS school counselor; Steve Wallace, custodian; and Caleb Fletcher, high school math teacher.

Andersson noted voters passed the school budget offer by a 3-1 margin last month after “probably the most lengthy and transparent process that I’ve ever seen in Wiscasset in the 20 years that I’ve lived here.” And she reminded residents to vote on the budget at the polls June 10.

Hubert will explore starting a skeet shooting club. She and Andersson said no public school in Maine has one. Hubert favors the idea Andersson said came from resident John MacLaren. Andersson and husband Mikael are members of Wiscasset Rod & Gun Club down the road. “I’m actually a really great shot,” Andersson added.