Lobster College 2008

Lobster College Attendees enjoying Larry the Lobster Finger Puppets from Lobster Gram

Lobster College 2008 hosted by the Lobster Institute & Kenniston Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast is finally over and was a smashing success! Tickets sold out fast for this extended learning weekend that ran from September 18th-21st. "Lobster College Students" stayed at the historic Kenniston Hill Inn B&B, which is an actual Lobster Boat Builders Mansion. This 1786 mansion built by David Kenniston, a prominent shipbuilder and landowner is now wonderfully restored with 10 incredible guest rooms.
Kenniston Hill Inn B&B in beautiful Boothbay Maine After the arrival and welcome session at the Inn, the real fun begins with the first lobster dinner! Because this is a Lobster Learning vacation, each lunch and dinner contains Maine's main export, the lovely Maine Lobster. The next few days are filled with fun, hands-on learning. Students visit an actual working Lobster Wharf to see how real lobster men pull up traps, and galvanize so many industries with one simple crustacean. Lectures and Lobster continue till graduation day when college attendees receive their diplomas and awards, and then it's back home to share the new found Lobster knowledge.

The Nichols: Lobster College Attendees & Lobster Gram Customers attending Biology class during Lobster College 2008.

The most rewarding part of this long weekend, is knowing that the tuition costs go to help the Lobster Institute with their yearly fund raising. The Lobster Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to lobster education and sustainability. What better way to support such a great cause than to take part in an experience such as this.

Lobster College students on the Docks near the Lobstering vessel, the Hunky Dory

When Lobster Gram got wind of the Lobster College, they wanted to help out the cause. After all, they too are dependent on Lobsters to make a living. Lobster Gram sent out an Email notification detailing the Lobster College to their customers and were able to get a few of their customers to fill the remaining positions! The day the email notification was sent out, so many visitors went to the the Lobster Institute site, their servers crashed (But not before selling out the class!)
All in all, Lobster College is a great example of how businesses of all kinds can work together toward common goals like preserving Maine Lobsters and all of the industries it supports.
Lobster Gram Email Blast Promoting Lobster College

Definitely the most interactive and creative gift we received

"...we had the lobsters last night and they were SO DELICIOUS!...Sarah's a big animal lover so I did the submerging (she did the trance-inducing massage) and we had the whole candle-lit, clam chowder, butter melting, shell cracking experience. What a great gift - definitely the most interactive and creative gift we received..."
Xander Berkeley (George Mason on Fox's "24")and Sarah Clarke (Nina Meyer on "24")

Thanks for an epicurean delight.

I just had to tell you that you absolutely made my birthday! My roommate and I have been trying different lobster tails from you (which you make so easy by offering sampler packages). We cook two different types of tails, carefully keeping track of which one is which. We then get half of each tail so we can do a direct comparison. I never realized how different they could be. So far we have come to the conclusion that we prefer the cold water lobster tails, especially the South African. For my birthday yesterday, my roommate sprang for a couple of Tristan lobster tails. We feasted on them, marveling on how sweet and tender they are. Each bite was better than the one before. Although we did dip them in melted butter, we both agreed that we could have happily eaten them au naturel. Needless to say, they are our new favorites, and we will look forward to enjoying them again on special occasions. Thanks for an epicurean delight.
Robin Klawansky

You offer a unique product and wonderful service.

Our lobster dinner last night was delicious. We could not believe how meaty our 1-lb. lobsters were! Thanks so much. They were a real treat, and the whole process - from selecting our catalog item, through receiving the delivery - was simple and smooth as can be. You offer a unique product and wonderful service. Congratulations and continued success to your company.
Mr. and Mrs. John E. Hathaway