What is CREST?     CREST is a three-year, $1.2 million grant to the Island Institute from the National Science Foundation (NSF).  Along with the Island Institute  11 island and coastal high schools (including our own Washington Academy) and middle schools, and a number of academic institutions are using technology to find creative solutions to community challenges while promoting student awareness of technology related careers in Maine.

Washington Academy student learning to use a GPS unit during a summer institute.

What will CREST do for Washington Academy?     Washington Academy will benefit from this grant in the form of technology equipment, training for both students and teachers to attend CREST career fairs, college campus visits, and summer institutes.

What will CREST and Washington Academy do for our community?    After receiving training from the Island Institute, Washington Academy's core group has targeted the following community based goals:

ATV & Snowmobile Trails

Recreational Water Access

Hospitality Listings (Examples:  Motels, B&Bs, Restaurants, etc)

Recreational Sport Activity Locations

Work in Progress Map on Railbed Trails and Recreational Areas

What are some of the "tools" necessary to make all of this possible?     Students and teachers learn Ethnography, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Web Design.

Ethnography consists of the description of a culture or community based on firsthand accounts and observations. In the context of CREST, digital cameras, camcorders and voice recorders will be used to document and preserve living histories.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a tool that relates information to place. With GIS, students can study the Earth and their community in a whole new way. They can arrange, display, and analyze information about place (including communities, natural resources, etc.).

Web design is an excellent way to prepare students for the real world by giving them experience in digital communication. By integrating web design into existing curriculum, students can create a personalized web site while learning valuable skills.

What's next?     We are continually planning and implementing some of the steps necessary to fulfill our goals by holding meetings, contacting community resources, working with local and state organizations on the recreational trails, and obviously starting on our web presence!  There is an abundance of energy for this project!!! 

Be sure to keep checking out our website as this project progresses over time.

Ready to Apply?
Start now by completing our Online Inquiry Form.

Visit Washington Academy! Call our Admissions Office at (207) 255-8301 to schedule a campus tour and interview or request a return phone call at your convenience.