Stella Maris Explorers

Stella Maris Explorers is a catholic nonprofit organization serving children in the greater Biloxi, MS area. Our mission is to encourage art, faith, and science education through in-person programs and to help families raise well rounded and faith-filled children. Stella Maris Explorers is 501(c)(3) public charity and donations are tax deductible.

Why Support SME?

Stella Maris Explorers was founded to remedy a need for higher quality hands-on art and science education. We are providing access to science manipulatives and experiments, superior art supplies, faith-based activities, and field learning that would otherwise be inaccessible to our members. Since Mississippi homeschoolers do not have access to public funding or resources owned or activities organized by the public-school districts, homeschooling families are often left without any practical method of achieving consistent, high quality art creation and scientific experimentation. This is especially true amongst minority and financially disadvantaged families; who according to a July 2021 Washington Post article, have seen their rates of homeschooling increase, in some cases, six-fold. Comparatively, the general population's homeschooling rates across the same time period only doubled.

This notable return to traditional family-based education comes as many families, even those who choose public and private schooling for their children, are recognizing modern primary education has too often become a lifestyle of busyness. Parents, particularly devoutly religious parents of all faiths, are coming to realize, in greater numbers than ever before, just how many models and pedagogies of education exist. Furthermore, the conventional American educational model is just one among many and maybe not the best one. Yet for many, homeschooling has too many drawbacks. Unlike other place across America, families in coastal Mississippi, are often choosing between just two widely divergent options: conventional school or homeschooling. SME is diligently working towards viable “middle of the road” alternatives to support families and to see all children thrive.

Stella Maris Explorers is a catholic organization. We strongly resound the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2205): the family is a “communion of persons,” it is “a sign and image of the communion of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit.” In addition to imaging the Trinity, “in the procreation and education of children [the family] reflects the Father’s work of creation.” SME staunchly supports educational choice, families as domestic churches, and the primacy of all parents as the first and most important educators of their children (as they agreed to be in the Rite of Baptism). In support of these core values, we want to position ourselves to support our Diocese and local schools, public and private, as they embrace these growing trends emanating from the families they serve.

We have big dreams. Not only to continue and to grow our pioneering work as the first STEAM-based 501(c)(3) public charity on the MS Gulf Coast that addresses the needs of the homeschool community on a weekly basis. But also plans to expand our services and programs to towards conventionally educated students as well: such as a catechesis lending library and an art, faith, and science resource center. Community support is crucial to our continuing ability to provide our current high-quality, in-person programs and to increase our capacity for these new programs.

Stella Maris Explorers is ever committed to our mission to empower children with scientific and artistic knowledge, and support families as they raise children who value beauty, truth, and goodness.

For additional information read our Statement on Catholic Education and our Four Year Strategic Plan.

How We Got Our Start

Stella Maris Explorers is the brain-child of Nicole Webb and Ashley Rodriguez (pictured). They founded SME together to cultivate a vibrant catholic homeschool community in the Biloxi-Ocean Spring area. For many homeschooling families hands-on art creation and science experiments are the first things to be pushed aside in deference to reading, writing, and arithmetic. And the three "Rs" are foundational, no question about it! But the soul needs creativity and exploration - art and science. It was here that Stella Maris Explorers was born: to enliven a love of art, faith, and science in the children of the greater Coast community.

Additionally, it's always been the mission of Stella Maris Explorers to provide the most affordable enrichment option for homeschooling families. Keeping the costs of operations low and asking participating families to only cover the cost of materials and supplies. We have been blessed to have successful pursued grants and community donations that have made it possible for us to bring even more STEAM enrichment activities to the families we have the pleasure of serving.