From maple syrup tapping to installing a weather station on top of a Lewiston elementary school, Jennifer LaBonte always finds a way to bring science and math experiences to students.

It’s part of why she won the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s first Wayfinder award.

As a science and math instruction specialist for Lewiston Public Schools, LaBonte partners frequently with the research institute’s scientists and teachers to bring their ideas to life. It’s helped enrich Lewiston Public School students with hands-on learning experiences. 

“The Wayfinder tries to find ways to make it happen. That’s what I’ve been doing with Gulf of Maine Research Institute,” LaBonte said. “With the research scientists, we brainstorm and co-design and bring teachers and students with their knowledge in and make it happen.”

It’s helped LaBonte’s teachers in Lewiston with several projects, like tapping trees for maple syrup.

The institute helped install a weather station on top of Farwell Elementary School, collecting information on wind speed, humidity and temperature. Based on the data, elementary students calculated the exact time to tap maple trees to collect sap.

Lewiston’s partnership with the institute started in 2005.

It’s part of the institute’s Connected Learning Ecosystems, which supports regional networks of educators across New England and northern New York, said Glenn Prickett, president and CEO of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. In 2023,  it helped Lewiston students learn to code small robots called Ozobots, which they regularly use as part of computer science lessons.

Leadership at the institute credits LaBonte for strengthening the relationship over the years.

Prickett said LaBonte stood out as the inaugural winner of the award for her dedication in developing the next generation of leaders to be scientifically literate, as well as her work in the Lewiston schools around diversity and ensuring that all students have fulfilling experiences.

Part of that is organizing the district’s 600 sixth graders to attend the institute’s LabVenture Program, which buses students to Portland for a hands-on learning experience where they touch aquatic life, learn what it’s like to be a fisherman and more. The institute covers all costs associated with bringing students, but it’s up to teachers to sign up.

“This is where we prime kids to think they could be a scientist. If we can grab them while they are young, get them excited and have more science experiences, it’s how we create future scientists,” LaBonte said.

In the upcoming school year, LaBonte plans to take all six of the sixth-grade classes to LabVenute. Students will continue to code for the Ozobots and tap maple trees to collect sap for syrup this fall.

And, as school budgets continue to get tighter, LaBonte said she’s thankful for the institute for providing the free experiences for students.

“Even if we don’t have enough money in the school, it doesn’t mean we can sacrifice what the kids are learning,” she said. “As a parent and as an educator, it’s not the kids’ fault that the adults in the community can’t find funding for something.

“When you know better, you do better. We know what’s best for kids. Even if we don’t have the funds, we have to find the things we can to make sure they have the best education they have,” LaBonte said.