We were excited to work with Chef Ladleah Dunn for a second time this summer for a farm-to-table celebration on Hurricane Island!
Ladleah puts the finishing touches on the Goat Cheese Panacotta
The Menu
West side of the Galley finally complete!
Jumping for Joy! We're DONE!
We are so excited to report that we FINALLY finished shingling the West side of the Galley!! It was a great collaborative effort-- volunteers during our June Volunteer day stripped old shingles, and since then we have been picking away at the project.
June 25th Volunteer Day, stripping old shingles
Outward Bound Service Learning
Despite heavy rain leading up to their arrival on Hurricane, this crew of Outward Bound students brought a ton of energy to the island and helped us expand our water-diversion ditch down the hill from the ice pond. Thanks for all of your help!
This motley pulling boat crew arrived on Hurricane near the tail-end of their 22 day course. The sun peaked through for just a few days of their trip
Island Institute Fellows Visit HI!
10 Island Institute Fellows brought a ton of enthusiasm and help to Hurricane yesterday for some service learning. They helped us paint out 42nd street cabin and the back of the lab. They were so efficient they used all our remaining white paint!
Hannah Tannebring, one of the fellows, painting out 42nd street.
Wilderness First Responder Course
Our Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course is well underway, which means there are frequent screams from "victims" and many people that have gotten some moulage treatment and... aren't looking their best as a result. The WFR programs are always a blast, and what better wilderness to choose than Hurricane? Interested in taking part in a course similar to this? check out our programs and see when the next one is available!
WFR's learn how to properly assess and stabilize a patient when they first arrive on the scene of an accident
11th Annual Vinalhaven Race
Hurricane Island had a strong contingent of athletes at this year's 11th Annual Emergency Services Benefit Challenge. The race is a 2.8 mile run, 9 mile bike that can be completed as a team or solo. Here are the results:
Mixed 11.8 Mile Run & Bike Total Time
1. Oakley Jackson, M24 Solo Male, 46:032
2. Sam Hollowell & Carson Cornbrooks, M35 Team Male, 46:53
3. John Dietter & Addison Godine, M47 Team Male, 47:48
Come out and cheer for us next year! July 27, 2014!
Oakley wins! First place male and first place overall.
Science Advisors Meeting
The Hurricane Island Foundation conducted a planning meeting of more than 50 scientists, lobstermen, educators, public policy experts, environmental architects, and residents of the greater Penobscot Bay island community.
A breakdown of the day:
- Welcome address (Barney Hallowell)
- A brief history of Hurricane Island (Cecily Pingree)
- A vision for the future of Hurricane Island (Barney Hallowell)
- Island Facilities Tours – creating a sustainable campus
- Talk by Rick Wahle (UMO Darling Marine Center) on Lobster Populations in a Changing Environment – report from the USA-Canada Symposium held in Portland (November 2012) with lessons for the Hurricane Island Center for Science & Leadership
- Statement of purpose for the afternoon (Stan Cobb)
- An example from the field – Noah Oppenheim/Cannibal Lobsters Caught on Tape: the graduate research scientist’s role
- Brainstorming: Community-identified Research Themes:
- Key research questions (monitoring the ocean climate, key species, etc.)
- The care and feeding of graduate research students
- What infrastructure/equipment is required to make Hurricane Island into a functional field station?
- Art, Science, and the Human Endeavor: the place for the humanities in science at Hurricane Island
- Getting Their Hands Wet: Involving high school students in ongoing science on Hurricane Island
- Breakout discussions on topics and priorities
- Groups Reports: “Major Findings”
- Finishing Up: synthesis and recommendations
Retreat for School Leaders
Twenty teacher leaders and principals from across Maine came to the Hurricane Island Foundation’s inaugural Retreat for School Leaders in July 2013. This course offered “an opportunity to extend your own success as a leader of teaching and learning in your school.”
Over three days, the retreat blended small-group consultation, active team initiatives, and opportunities for conversation with a distinguished staff including Roland Barth, Gordon Donaldson (primary facilitator), Tom Edwards, Gloria Delsandro, and Sue Palfrey.
Hurricane Island proved a unique environment for leadership lessons. Participants brought “leadership challenges” they face at school and left with plans to address one or two of these challenges. The personal attention each received during the retreat was a highpoint for many: “I enjoyed being able to talk about issues and really focus on mine… I found similarities with others’,” one leader reported. Another said, “It was valuable to hear about other people’s challenges; it added clarity to my own.”
Participants took to the trails in a team-learning initiative, rowed in the waters of Hurricane Sound in a team-coordination initiative, and joined in service teams to contribute to the island’s learning infrastructure. "Conversation focused on leadership dynamics within teams and the strengthening of professional cultures in schools. Living together as a community of learners in the island’s camp-like setting added immeasurably to the Retreat for many. “There was a lot of motivation and energy,” said one participant. “People were very supportive,” reported another, “I was surprised by the trust given by the group.”
All declared, this first Retreat a resounding success. HIF plans to build on this experience to offer more leadership learning opportunities to teacher leaders and administrators from Maine schools. The island’s potential as a learning opportunity for leaders will grow in the future. One teacher leader said it best: “I expected I’d do more listening [when I came to Hurricane] and not as much being listened to; that made this very powerful for me and [my fellow teacher leader from my school.]”