This 2023 e-news is a remarkable reflection on the year as it summarizes the great work accomplished by our staff, supporters, students, and researchers. I invite you to dig in and celebrate with us all that has been accomplished as we work toward achieving our mission of developing leaders prepared to solve challenging environmental issues.

While we take pride in our accomplishments, we mourn the loss of a dear friend Roz Zander, a dedicated supporter who is responsible for making Hurricane Island internationally relevant as a training site for young sustainability leaders across the globe. The spirit of her work carries on while we continue to build understanding for scientific thinking, climate change and sustainability.

The significance of 2023 and our work will be felt for decades to come.

"There’s not another marine lab that I know of on the East Coast which has this kind of oceanographic connectivity and the science that can come from this is huge."

UMaine Marine Biologist

Dr. Bob Steneck, Board Member

For photos of the construction process and more information on this innovative, sustainable new facility. Please visit the Hurricane Island Field Research Station page.

Hurricane Island remembers Roz Zander for all that she has done to raise awareness and take action for sustainability and climate change around the world.

Our ongoing partnership with United People Global (UPG) is a great example of her dedication to bringing young people together to spark inspiration and action. In the UPG Sustainability Leadership program, participants learn what sustainability means and they are presented with different experiences to understand how to address the challenges of specific ecosystems in a sustainable way, exploring the local environment, understanding problems, challenges, and thinking about sustainable solutions based on field investigations. Check out the June 2023 UPG highlights video on YouTube.

The Finance Authority of Maine awarded us $499,161 toward the Field Research Station construction through the THRIVE forgivable loan program. For the second year in a row we received support from the Maine Department of Education Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative for a number of programs bringing over 60 students to Hurricane Island.

Science & Research Director

Dr. Anya Hopple will lead the research team to continue the community-driven collaborative research at Hurricane, and make the best use of the Field Research Station.

Education & Programs Director

Will Galloway has joined us as our new Education Director. Will comes to us as a familiar face, and brings a wealth of experience from his time as Head of School at nearby Watershed School in Camden.

Lead Scientist Phoebe Jekielek has been pursuing a PhD in Ecology and Environmental Science at the University of Maine.

Phoebe is evaluating environmental DNA (eDNA) as a tool for monitoring and managing commercial fisheries using both field and lab experiments.

Hurricane Island has been an essential part of this work in many ways - providing boat and personnel support for field sampling efforts, unique access to aquaculture and wild scallop beds, and reaching students and visitors alike with information about eDNA and Phoebe's project.

Phoebe has been presenting her work at conferences and convening other researchers around eDNA applications in shellfisheries.

We continued collaboration with Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, Bates College, Colby College, and fishermen and farmers in a statewide project to better understand scallop larval supply along the entire coast of Maine.

Other research work included microcredentialing in the aquaculture industry, isotope analysis of scallops, shell coloration, and science communications, visit our 2023 blog posts.

Our research and collaborative work is supported by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), NOAA Saltonstall Kennedy-Program, the Builders Initiative, and the Davis Conservation Foundation among others.

Listen to current and former Hurricane researchers discuss their professional and personal growth fostered through Hurricane Island.

The Field Research Station Ribbon Cutting brought us some distinguished guests and press with a full writeup in MaineBiz and coverage in the Penobscot Bay Pilot and Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors as well as in the North Haven News.

We were also fortunate to have Belfast Area High School Educator Charles Lagerbom write about his experience at a summer Aquaculture Workshop on Hurricane Island.

The Working Waterfront covered our work with RSU13 students under STEM & Liberal Arts Academy Coordinator Jennifer Cross.

5600 Program

Participation Days

New in 2023

12 Aquaculture workshops

19 Seasonal Staff

14 Year Round Staff

Staff and collaborators ventured to Waterman's Community Center on North Haven for a lively panel discussion on place-based education which featured author David Sobel, Shaun Johnson (NHCS Principal), Page Nichols (Maine DOE), and teachers and students from the North Haven school.

View the recording here!

Hurricane island welcomed groups from North Haven Community School and Vinalhaven School over the summer, and we were delighted to host both the Vinalhaven Land Trust and North Haven Conservation Partners.

Between hosted events and other island visitors

we engaged with over 800 guests in our 2023 season!

Join us in wishing Peter O. Willauer the happiest of birthdays as he enters his 90th year and as we celebrate 60 years of his guiding vision on Hurricane Island!

Please follow the links below to share your best wishes and fond memories. Photos and stories are welcome and will be shared.

We are grateful for the generosity that sustains us.

Thank You

For Supporting Hurricane Island!

Take a look at last year in review in our Annual Report!