Learning by Doing: Brooks Students Immerse Themselves in Hurricane Island Life

By Michaela Beckman

Warm weather brings warm faces. Three high school interns from the Brooks School made their way through the Hurricane Island community early this summer, lending a helping hand and an excited spirit. The Brooks School has a professional summer internship program: Students on the Forefront. It opens doors for rising seniors to explore career paths through direct experience. On Hurricane Island, Alder, Kevin, and Phoebe dipped their toes into the ocean of marine science and sustainability work. For Lead Educator Claire, who coordinated the students' schedules, the goal was to “learn about the island, the sustainability needs to live on an island like Hurricane, and [to] get some career exploration… specifically in aquaculture and marine sciences”, Claire said.

*From left: Kevin, Alder, and Phoebe ready to powerwash.*

The Brooks students rotated through nearly every corner of Hurricane Island’s operation. They tended to the garden, worked with the facilities team, helped the galley, and visited the aquaculture farm with the research team.

Alder had interests in marine biology and ornithology, making Hurricane Island immediately stand out among the internship options. "It sounded like the perfect opportunity," she said. "I've always been an avid fan of nature."

Not only did she engage with her interests, but she left with an understanding of sustainability. "It's hard to be entirely sustainable," Alder reflected. "I think Hurricane definitely does a really good job of that."

Learning and living on an island makes sustainability tangible. Instead of sitting in classrooms talking about environmental responsibility, the Brooks students experienced it firsthand. Hurricane Island uses sustainable systems which include composting toilets, greywater marsh applications, lithium-ion battery use, and food waste management. The Brooks students tracked food waste with the kids after meals, helped clear waste from the outhouses with the facilities team, and cleaned the biofouling from the aquaculture farm nets. "The things that I don't think about at home are the things we think about here," Phoebe said. Those everyday responsibilities became important lessons in stewardship and environmentalism.

*Taking care of the garden under the guidance of Briar, Hurricane Island’s garden educator.*

Kevin found himself more conscious of human impact from everyday activities. "Living on Hurricane for these past two weeks has…made me more aware of how much can be done to save energy, to recycle, and save water,” he said.

Kevin recounted working with the aquaculture team, where he helped clean and sort scallops and oysters. Hurricane Island utilizes a 3.2-acre aquaculture farm for ongoing research of these bivalves. Recent efforts include scallop handling methods research and growth monitoring. "I got to see how data is tracked on them… I think that will always stick with me." Only time will tell when Kevin comes across another scallop or oyster. What is certain, though, is that he will see beyond the shell to the research, care, and stewardship that supports the knowledge behind these bivalves.

An unexpected lesson was in community, something Phoebe found just as valuable as the scientific knowledge she gained. Living and working alongside Hurricane Island staff showed her what it looks like when everyone contributes toward a shared purpose. "I feel like I've learned the most from just the people here," she said. "Everyone's here for the same purpose. Everyone wants to contribute all the time and help each other out." This highlights the essence of island living experienced on Hurricane Island that is unlike any other.

Because there were only three students, Claire was able to tailor the internship around their interests. A trip to Seal Island resulted, where the students observed puffins and other seabirds in their natural habitat. The excursion became one of the highlights of Alder’s time on Hurricane. "I love going bird watching on boats," she said, referring back to her ornithology interests.

Phoebe thought back to what education looks like for her. "There's so many things where I'm like, 'Wow, I never would have learned this in a classroom,'" she said. That kind of experiential learning is exactly what Hurricane Island hopes students of all ages take away.

"It was super great to have them," Claire said. "They were always happy to jump right into anything, and I think that really fits the culture of Hurricane."

As the internship came to an end, each student carried home something different. Whether it be new scientific knowledge, leadership skills, career inspiration, or a stronger sense of community, together, their experiences reflected the power of experiential learning.

For future learners on Hurricane, the Brooks students have left surprisingly consistent advice: Come ready to work, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.