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. To learn more about this data point and other data trends related to homeschooling, both nationally and locally, please visit our Homeschooling Facts & Data page.

Stella Maris Explorers believe all children, regardless of their chosen educational modality, should have access to a thriving community. Unlike other places across America, families in coastal Mississippi are often choosing between just two widely divergent educational options: conventional school or homeschooling.

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. SME is diligently working towards viable “middle of the road” alternatives to support families and to see all children thrive.

Parent involvement is the single biggest predictor of children’s success in education; see the research here, here, and here. Stella Maris Explorers actively provide the space for the families and children we serve to create the community they need. SME believes community building is one of the most important life-long skills a well-rounded education can give a child.

We have chosen to focus on art, faith, and science education as our community-building tool because we believe our Gulf Coast benefits enormously from a focus on STEAM education. Children who are exposed to science and art education become adults and employees who are creative problem solvers, critical thinkers, and innovators.

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 through our Explorers Club program. But also plans to expand our services and programs to towards conventionally educated students as well. We launched our Luminous Lending Library in August 2025 which provides resource boxes for all educators. Additionally, we are working towards, with community partnership, an art and science event 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. Read more about our Four Year Strategic Plan.

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.

Our Catholic Core

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. In support of these core values, we want to position ourselves to support our Diocesan and local schools, public and private, as they embrace these growing the trends towards traditional family-based education emanating from the families they serve. For additional information read our Statement on Catholic Education.

Attendance at Stella Maris Explorers events is not restricted to those families and children of the Catholic faith, it is restricted to those who support our mission (to encourage art, faith, and science education) and who agree to adhere to our statement of faith (below). In the words of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, “anyone who seeks truth seeks God, whether or not he realizes it.” Genuine questions are always welcomed.

In compliance with the Civil Rights Act of 1962, Stella Maris Explorers’ policy assures that no one on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the organization.

Statement of Faith

“We believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; on the third day he arose again. He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From there, He shall come to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy
Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.” (The Apostle's Creed)

Stella Maris Explorers is a catholic organization that is faithful to the teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church and obedient to our local ordinary: His Excellency, the Bishop of Biloxi. Club meetings, field trips/studies, play dates, or other events are not the appropriate place for overt or belligerent statements, actions, or dress that reject the teachings of the Catholic faith and will not be tolerated.

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.