HISTORY OF MSSV
The program started at Northeastern University in Boston in 1991. The program was funded by The National Science Foundation and the initial program was focused on training programs for middle school science teachers in New England. The trainers were faculty members from Northeastern. Very early in the program, the concept of introducing retired scientific and engineering professionals to the science teachers evolved, and in the early teacher training programs, groups of volunteers attended training classes along with the teachers. Through this association, teachers and volunteers met and many worked out arrangements to assist science teachers in their classrooms on a regular basis.
Initially, two-week summer training classes were held in Maine and many volunteers were introduced to science teachers here in Maine.
Gradually the principal thrust of the effort changed to that of associating the teachers and volunteers and providing special training for the volunteers in the skills that would enhance their usefulness to the teachers. The program branched into two directions, with one called Seed concentrating on teacher training and another called RE-SEED, concentrating on the utilization of volunteers. Both programs are still operating in Massachusetts under the original names.
In 2003 the organization in Maine became independent and established a non profit 503 (c)(3) corporation. The program was initially called PROJECT RE-SEED, MAINE. Eventually the program was re-named Maine School Science Volunteers or MSSV because we felt that the name better described what we did. Under the old name many people assumed that we were involved with re-forestation.
The program in Maine has evolved from the original RE-SEED model of presenting demonstrations in science classrooms and a strong emphasis on physical science to our present model which includes not only classroom activities but after-school science clubs and other science related activities. Today, MSSV has programs and skills in all fields of science.
