Jessica Woodend turned a lifelong passion for marine education into a traveling business with a unique twist. Based in Topsham, Within the Whale brings marine mammal science directly to Maine schools, libraries, and summer camps, featuring a life-sized inflatable humpback whale named Chunk. Students can step inside the whale to explore anatomy and ocean conservation topics in an immersive and memorable way.
After years of working in wildlife education and animal care across the country, Jessica was inspired by similar programs along the East Coast. When she realized there wasn’t a lot like that in Maine, she saw an opportunity to launch her own venture and offer hands-on marine science experiences to communities statewide.
Starting a business from scratch presented plenty of challenges, as Jessica didn’t know where to start. That’s when she decided to reach out to the Maine SBDC. Working with Business Advisor Jenn Dobransky provided the structure and support she needed to move forward confidently. “The SBDC has been an amazing resource to help me turn my idea into a reality with a checklist of to-dos and one-on-one coaching with Jenn, my business advisor.”
With personalized advising, Jessica was able to launch Within the Whale smoothly and start making an impact right away. Schools and libraries across Maine have embraced the program, developing themed events around her visits like ocean animal days and whale weeks. “The advising provided helped me get my idea off the ground more smoothly than I could have done on my own,” she said.
Looking ahead, Jessica hopes to keep the momentum going and continue offering students a unique way to connect with marine life.
