From Juanita Roushdy

FOHI is having a reunion and fundraiser to celebrate the Hog Island Audubon Camp’s 75th anniversary during the weekend of August 20-21. Meet old friends, share stories, learn about and discuss FOHI’s plans for the future, and enjoy good food.

• Register now!

Picnic on the rocks

On Saturday, August 20, we’ll have a fundraising lobster clambake on the beach and a boat trip. Here’s your chance to share your passion and tell new donors about how Hog Island has changed your life. David Yarnold, CEO of National Audubon will join us for this event.

On Sunday, Friends will enjoy Janii’s cooking and have time to see the island. We’ll also talk about the future of the island. But most notable is a presentation by Jay Collier of new historical materials and FOHI’s plan to collect, digitize, store, and exhibit the materials. Of course, we’ll have other activities, including a tour of the ongoing Bingham cottages restoration by Eric Snyder and volunteers.

The anniversary weekend includes 2 nights on the island, lobster clambake, 2 breakfasts, lunch, and dinner, plus activities. Donation per person: $250.00

If you want to only attend the lobster clambake fundraiser and boat tour the donation is $100.00 per person.

Registration deadline is August 13.  Space is limited for the lobster clambake.

• Register now!

Contact: Juanita at president@fohi.org or 207-529-2355 for more information.

From Juanita Roushdy

Black-Throated Green Warbler enjoys the newly cleaned water garden

Week One

FOHI work week. See Julie Seifert’s second story from summer 2011 for more great work by our dedicated volunteers. Behind the scenes during the past three weeks, FOHI volunteers with good humor and smiles kept on top of the daily cleaning and cooking chores and whatever else needed doing.

Week Two, Milestone One

Joy of Birding. Despite three days of rain and unusually cold weather, 60 campers succumbed to the Hog Island spirit, Chef Janii’s food, and the boundless teachings and knowledge of Scott Weidensaul, Pete Dunne, Peter Vickery, Chris Lewey, Jerry Skinner, and Stephen Kress.

What could provide a more joyous ending to the Joy of Birding than FOHI presenting a check to Steve Kress for $50,000 in support of the operations of Hog Island for FY 11. This was the first of FOHI’s annual commitment checks, in itself a milestone since FOHI only received it’s tax exempt 501(c(3) status on February 17, 2011.

Steve Kress receives $50,000 from FOHI president Juanita Roushdy

Week Three, Milestone Two

Field Ornithology. Another brilliantly successful session, particularly so because the sun shone each day except the last!

But what really made it special was Janii’s oven failing during one breakfast and a group of campers led by Linda Ford responding to FOHI asking at breakfast if anyone had a Wolfe or Viking stove connection.

In less than 8 hours, Linda and her group raised more than $4,700 for the “Adopt a Muffin” Project for Janii’s stove from campers and FOHI volunteers. What a way to end a session – bonded in a common cause and achieving another milestone. Donations tagged for the stove are still coming in on FOHI’s website!

Elle McGee, a camper, responded to the wish list by ordering a VitaMix blender. We expect her donation any day now.

Milestone Three

One of FOHI’s goals is to gather, document, preserve,  and exhibit all historical materials of the Hog Island Audubon Camp.  Our very own Jay Collier agreed to take on this responsibility and chair the Historical Committee. He is our online publisher and posted all the items under “Legacy” on the site.

He has already started making an inventory of materials moved from Hog Island to a working spot on Keene Neck Road. More on this project will follow in another article.

The lesson - 1938 (from the FOHI archives)

Stay tuned as the summer progresses, more sessions occur, and our capital and endowment campaign move into full swing.

Thanks to our volunteers

A special thank you to all the FOHI volunteers and the instructors whose dedication and passion breathe life into Hog Island and to the campers’ enthusiasm and smiles that make it all worth while.

FOHI Opening (May 25-28)

Volunteers

• Phyllis Coelho
• Eric Eichorn
• Gaye & Robert Phillips
• Juanita Roushdy
• Julie Seifert
• Lynn Stroud
• Loretta Victor
• Helen Walsh

Seabird Conservation (May 29-June 3)

Volunteers

• Steve Berkowitz
• Mary LaCreta
• Gaye & Robert Phillips
• Juanita Roushdy
• Julie Seifert

Instructors

• Stephen Kress
• Kevin McGowan
• Richard Podolsky
• Pete Salmansohn
• Sue Schubel
• Iain Stenhouse
• Jeff Wells

FOHI Workweek (June 5-10)

Volunteers

• Steve Berkowitz
• Mary Bennett
• Bill Carpenter
• Phillyis Coelho
• Kira Ellsworth
• Libby Hyatt
• Monika Kirtland
• Mary LaCreta
• Martha & Hollis McBride
• Kerry Rosenthal
• Juanita Roushdy
• Julie Seifert
• Lynn Stroud
• Steve Schellenger
• Norm Stoltenberg
• Helen Walsh
• Emily Westcott

Joy of Birding (June 12-17)

Volunteers

• Steve Berkowitz
• Kira Ellsworth
• Maddie Lesser
• Juanita Roushdy
• Amy Weidensaul

Instructors

• Stephen Kress
• Pete Dunne
• Chris Lewey
• Jerry Skinner
• Peter Vickery
• Scott Weidensaul

Field Ornithology & Teens (June 19-24)

Volunteers

• June Austin
• Charlotte Brown
• Beth Bullock
• Kira Ellsworth
• Juanita Roushdy
• Barbara Tucker
• Donna Yorkston
• George Yorkston

Instructors

• Stephen Kress
• Lang Elliott
• Kenn Kaufman
• Kim Kaufman
• Sara Morris
• Scott Weidensaul
• Laurie McLaughlin – Teens
• Doug Wentzel – Teens

Turnover Days

• Jancie Olson
• Kendra Marchii
• Elsie Morse

FOHI Volunteer Coordinator

• Sue Schubel

From Julie Seifert

The first FOHI week was so successful that we decided to have another one, this time with more volunteers and even more projects on the To-Do board. Around twenty volunteers showed up throughout the week, eager to help out. And there was much to be done.

The "To Do" Board

From “to do” to “ta da”

First, the new furniture in the Crow’s Nest needed painting. We decided on white, so that we can have fun repainting them every year! Libby Hyatt, Monica Kirtland and Kate Harris all helped paint the new chairs and night stands, while Bill Carpenter and Steve Schellenger painted doors and bunk beds.

Additionally, Libby Hyatt, Mary Bennett, and Bill Carpenter all worked on the trails, making sure that the paths were clear and easy to navigate.

Libby Hyatt takes a break from gardening to paint!

Lynn Stroud came back for another week of volunteering, and to continue her cleaning efforts from the previous week, making sure all the cabins were spotless. She also power-washed the Helm deck.  Another returnee was Helen Walsh, our expert gardener, who weeded and planted to perfection. Libby Hyatt also helped with the gardens, especially the bell gardens, where she spent many hours weeding and pruning.

The Bridge also needed work, and many volunteers helped on this project. Mary LaCreta, Martha McBride and Kerry Rosenthal helped repaint the pillars on the porch.

Historical surprises

Donna and George Yorkton and June Austin help Janii in the kitchen

During the middle of the week, we had a special visit from Jay Collier, FOHI webmaster, who was returning to the island for the first time in several years. Jay, along with Juanita Roushdy and Julie Seifert, sorted through Hog Island’s historical files.

The files spanned many decades, and contained everything from a picture of Janii circa 1993 to the announcement of the first camp session from 1936. It was a very interesting project and made us realize the long and storied history of this island. Jay hopes to organize and scan these documents so that they will be better preserved for the future, as the story of this island continues (watch for more news on the history project).

More chores

Over at the Port Hole, Steve Berkowitz and Hollis McBride scraped paint and helped to glaze the Port Hole windows, a very important task, as the glaze holds the glass in.

Hollis McBride glazing windows of the Port Hole

When they were not at the Port Hole, Steve B. and Hollis could be found in the kitchen, where they helped wash dishes after our many wonderful meals. And speaking of those delicious dinners, Chef Janii Laberge was, lucky for us, cooking for us during this week, making dishes such as crème caramel and shrimp gumbo.

Janii was assisted in the kitchen by Kory Kwasow, Kira Elsworth, and Julie Seifert, and volunteers Martha McBride and Mary LaCreta. Emily Wescott also helped out in the kitchen by washing the pots and pans. In fact, Emily impressed us all with her energy. In the words of FOHI Coordinator, Sue Schubel, “Emily never stopped. Never! She did everything.” But in fact, I think these words apply to all of the FOHI volunteers.

Birthdays keep coming

But, as always, we didn’t just work. On June 7^th, we had a double birthday party for Sue Schubel and Steve Schellenger. Chef Janii prepared a delicious feast, including two birthday cakes, and many friends and family attended. The party continued on past dinner well into the night, with a campfire, s’mores, and a sing-along. We also took a boat trip out to Eastern Egg Rock on a cloudless, calm day, and we saw many adorable puffins.

Also, towards the end of the week, Kerry Rosenthal, Eric Snyder, and Sue Schubel all braved the forty-degree water to help install the tide stick.

Road Scholars

Black-Throated Green Warbler enjoys the newly cleaned water garden

Additionally, as many of you know, we had one session of camp between the two FOHI weeks, the Road Scholar Seabird Biology and Conservation Service Learning session. The session went very well, in part because of the efforts of the FOHI volunteers, both during the session and from the first FOHI week. For example, the participants enjoyed the freshly planted gardens, the spotlessly clean cabins, and, of course, the new mattresses!

In fact, the Road Scholar week was so fantastic that three of the participants decided to come back to the second FOHI week. So, we would like to give a warm welcome to these three new members: Mary Bennett, Martha McBride and Hollis McBride.

From Julie Seifert

I’m writing from Hog Island, where we have just finished our opening week of FOHI volunteering. We had as many tasks as the Muscongous has water, but our brave volunteers dove in head first, making amazing changes to the island in just a few days.

Helen Walsh watering the new plants

For example, Loretta Victor and Phyllis Coelho swept and vacuumed every corner and windowsill of every cabin. Gaye Phillips worked on the linens and the room notebooks, with some help from her husband Robert. And when Robert wasn’t helping with the books, he could be found fixing smoke detectors or in his favorite spot, next to the Hobart dishwasher.

Lynn Stroud swept the entire Fish House and then moved right on to the Port Hole. In the garden, Helen Walsh planted  brilliant purples, yellows, and oranges, colors suggested by Phyllis, who was inspired by the buoys on the Fish House. Eric “Elder” Eichorn mowed the grass and raked up the clippings, working until the lawn looked, as Robert Phillips said, “like we could play croquet out there.”

Over at the Port Hole, Sue Schubel power-washed the decks so that our visitors won’t slip on them over the summer. In addition to all these projects, our volunteers also moved furniture, made beds, cleaned the newly-remodeled Crow’s Nest, washed windows, hung curtains and planted flower boxes.

A good night’s sleep and good food for all

And here’s some exciting news for all of you visiting us this summer: The island has new mattresses! But before you could sleep on them, somebody had to move them into the rooms. So that was a task for our FOHI volunteers.

Sue Schubel carried several mattresses all across the island on her head, showing strength equal to that of her Viking hero, Egert. Meanwhile, Eric and I had the easier (and more fun) task of flinging the old foam matresses into the attic. Many of the volunteers also worked to lengthen the bed frames, so that our taller vistors will be more comfortable here.

New mattresses for the Port Hole

When we weren’t working, we enjoyed food prepared by Chef Janni Laberge and his assitant Kory Kwasow, such as a delicious Asian stir-fry and a wonderful apple crisp. We also played a Maine-trivia game and even set up a ping-pong table. On Friday, we had lobster night, of course, complete with chicken, steak, tons of appetizers and of course, lobsters!

Good news

At dinner, President Juanita Roushdy shared some wonderful news National Audubon had accepted FOHI’s business plan and FOHI will be able to fulfill its promise of giving Hog Island $50,000 for FY 2011 – the first of FOHI’s annual supplemental income to Hog Island. Additonally, she presented all the volunteers with a beautiful sea-green t-shirt, designed and printed here in Maine, with “FOHI Volunteer” on the back.

The FOHIs kept working up until the last second, with many of them remaining until lunchtime on Saturday. And then, at the very last second, we had one of our most interesting projects of the week: Eric Snyder, with help from some volunteers, installed a video camera near the Osprey nest. So now, we can watch their activity, at all hours of the day, from a TV recently installed in the Bridge. Could this be the beginning of reality TV on Hog Island? That remains to be seen.

But one thing is for certain: The island is picture perfect, all thanks to the Friends of Hog Island.

From Eric Snyder, Hog Island Manager

Hog Island is slowly shrugging off winter and welcoming spring arrivals. The trails and facilities fared well over the winter, with only a few blow-downs on the trails. Ospreys are now routinely circling the point and a pair of eagles are enjoying a perch just beyond the Crow’s Nest, while on the mainland two Canada geese have claimed the small pond for themselves.

Janii has been making his spring reconnaissance of the kitchen, and start-up maintenance is just about in full swing. We have the smaller docks in and are doing repairs on some of the larger ones. Boats are getting new coats of paint and minor repairs as weather permits.

Overhauling Bingham Lodge is one of the major projects this summer

Beside our regular FOHI volunteer opportunities, we have several special projects coming up for this summer.

Maintenance projects

The first of this year’s major goals is to work broadly to rejuvenate the island’s outward appearance and inner workings. To effect such a major overhaul requires resources and much time.

We are seeking willing volunteers to work specifically on these maintenance-related projects, during all sessions, as well as pre- and post-season.

For commitments greater than a week, travel assistance may be available. Projects will likely involve scraping and painting, minor carpentry, plumbing, and landscaping work. These positions require a strong work ethic, but prior experience is not required and you will have the opportunity to learn the skills that allow for the operation of island systems.

Bingham Lodge

The second major undertaking this summer is a full overhaul of the Bingham Lodge, located on the northwest side of the main part of Hog Island. This has long been on the list of goals and many have expressed interest in reviving the historic building. This is where Mabel Todd and Millicent Bingham lived and where some of the works of Emily Dickinson were first transcribed.

Unfortunately, it has fallen into disrepair and requires significant attention. The list of tasks includes re-planking the deck, rebuilding the front and back steps, fixing and glazing windows and doors, patching the shingle siding, shoring up the foundation, cleaning up the grounds, and other improvements as money and time allow. This project will likely extend throughout the first two weeks of July, consisting of a mostly volunteer team, working under the guidance of Eric.

Get involved

If you would like to become involved in any of the above special projects by donating time, funds, or materials, please e-mail Sue Schubel, FOHI Volunteer Coordinator, at sschubel@audubon.org and put “special volunteer projects” in the subject line.

We are all looking forward to another great season (our 75^th!) and hope that you will share in the excitement by attending as a camper, visiting our trails, or donating your time. We are 98% full! We still have room for volunteers at the regular sessions.

From Juanita Roushdy

Not to be outwitted by a mere surprise wild snowstorm on April Fool’s Day, determined FOHI neighborhood volunteers plowed through the 10” snow to stuff, seal, and stamp 7500 envelopes as part of our first-ever fund drive. Perhaps the aroma of hot seafood soup and Janii’s crème brulees helped!

Janine and Eric stamp envelopes

Lennie and Janii burn the sugar

Many thanks to the neighbors, 16 on Friday night and 13 on Saturday, and to Lennie and Jancie for letting us take over their house each night and use every soup bowl! Nellie, the dog, kept the floors clear of any crumbs!

Donations are gradually coming in. As we said in our letter, every donation, and every donor, counts! Since our mailing, we’ve received an anonymous donation of $10,000 and several gifts in honor of  special people: $1,000 in honor of Julie Seifert and Maddie Lucas, who spent their college summers volunteering at Hog Island; $250 in honor of Eric Snyder; and $100 in honor of Steve Kress.

Our flocks of guillemots, puffins, loons, and wrens are growing – they’re all coming back to Hog Island! We’re so happy and thankful!

It’s been moving to read alumni’s comments:

“I was so delighted to get your letter yesterday. I learned of the camp’s closing . . . and was sad as I hoped to bring my grandchildren there . . . I am thrilled at the news and will do all that I can to support the group.” a former camper, NY.

Ayla helps out

“Hog Island and those who gather there have impacted my life for the better in so many ways – so many gifts. It is imperative we do all we can to keep our beloved Audubon camp experience available to those yet to come.” Tom Schaefer, OH, Class of 1981.

Our draft business plan for Hog Island has been sent to National Audubon and will be presented at its May board meeting. We need to show our support of FOHI in providing a sustainable financial future for Hog Island- be part of our growing flocks.

May is just around the corner and so is the first FOHI volunteer week, May 25-28!

We’re excited!

From Steve Kress — 3/5/2011

I am very pleased to share the news that the programs on Hog Island for the coming summer are more than 90% filled with several already with wait lists.  This is certainly great news as we welcome this year’s campers for the 75th anniversary of the Camp.

If you would like to follow the success of the registration process, please download this report (PDF); it is updated every few weeks by Camp Registrar, Erica VanEtten.

While the Camp has filled rapidly, there are still some opportunities to spend time on Hog Island this summer as a FOHI volunteer. If you have not already signed up, I hope you will join us.

Installing carpet mat at Eastern Egg Rock. By Stephen Kress.

We have several work weeks planned that will open the island in May and June and close down for the winter in late September.

Sue Schubel is the FOHI volunteer coordinator and the point person for sending your application to assist the program. I greatly appreciate your continued help for the Camp

In addition to the work weeks, there are also several openings remaining in all of the teaching sessions to help in the kitchen and maintenance around the grounds and buildings.  In these sessions, FOHI volunteers will be able to take part in some of the classes and field trips as space permits.

Please consider join us by completing and returning this form (PDF) to Sue Schubel.

I hope you will join us for this 75th anniversary summer for the Audubon Camp.

Part of FOHI’s commitment to making the Audubon Camp at Hog Island a sustainable venture is to provide volunteers to help with opening and closing the camp and then to help during the program sessions.

Choose from one of the three FOHI workweeks or one of the program sessions. The FOHI workweeks are filled with hard work, great camaraderie, and a great sense of accomplishment. The first short week opens up the camp and prepares it for program participants — the focus is on a thorough cleaning of the camp, but there may also be painting and fix-it projects, gardening, trails to clear, and kitchen duty in the mix.

Image by Victor Gabay

The second week has lots of projects – carpentry, painting, repairs, and caring for the buildings we love. The third week does final repairs, and closes down the camp to prepare it for the long winter sleep.

The workweeks are a time to enjoy the beauty of the island with a small group of friends and a more relaxed schedule than during regular camp sessions. A boat trip to Egg Rock Puffin Island is the reward for the second and third workweeks!

Volunteering during a program session week is fast-paced. Kitchen duty, general housekeeping of the buildings, and other odd jobs as the need arises will keep us busy, but you’ll still have time for some fun and learning. During these sessions you’ll have an opportunity to meet world-class instructors, fascinating participants from all over the country, and go on a field trip when space permits.

With any volunteer stint on the island, you’ll enjoy Chef Janii’s exceptional cooking — he’s full of culinary surprises! But best of all, you’ll enjoy a sweet exhaustion and know that you’ve helped our much loved Audubon Camp pulse with life for yet another year as part of the FOHI team.

Accommodation and food are included in your volunteer stint. For more information or to sign up contact Sue Schubel, otherwise known as “Seabird Sue,” at sschubel@audubon.org, or download the form and return it to Sue Schubel at 11 Audubon Camp Road, Bremen, ME 04551-3233.

Volunteer spots are limited so sign up soon and bring a friend — share the fun and labor of love!

Sessions

• May 25 – 28 – Friends of Hog Island (FOHI) – opening camp, cleaning, painting, misc. projects
• May 29 –June 3 – Maine Seabird Biology & Conservation – kitchen, cleaning
• June 5 – 10 – Friends of Hog Island (FOHI) – cleaning, gardening, painting, misc. projects
• June 12 – 17 – Joy of Birding – kitchen, cleaning
• June 19 – 24 – Field Ornithology/ Teen Camp – kitchen, cleaning
• July 14 – 19 – Sharing Nature: Educator Week – kitchen, cleaning
• August 15 – 20 – Chapter Leader Week – kitchen, cleaning
• September 11 – 16 – Maine Seabird Biology & Conservation II – kitchen, cleaning
• September 18 – 23 – Friends of Hog Island (FOHI) – closedown, cleaning, painting, carpentry

From Steve Kress, Director Audubon Seabird Restoration Program

The final Audubon Camp in Maine session for the 2010 season was titled ‘Maine Seabird Biology and Conservation’. This service learning program was a collaborative venture with Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel). It represents the strengths of combining the on the ground seabird management of Project Puffin with the power of 32 people — motivated to not only learn about seabird biology, but participate in direct conservation actions.

[flickr-gallery mode="photoset" photoset="72157624919932261" pagination=0]

The group assembled on Hog Island on Sunday, Sept. 19 for the five day program. This was the second Road Scholar program at Hog Island this summer. Like the late May-early June program which focused on censusing nesting seabirds, this program connected eager volunteers with service projects that required many helping hands.

Hog Island volunteers raise a sign for the Cruickshank Wildlife Sanctuary

Like other sessions this summer, this group represented every corner of the country — 16 states in total. Ages ranged from 52-75 and included a great diversity of semi and retired professionals. All actively participated in the program. In addition to the registered participants, eight members of FOHI (Friends of Hog Island) volunteered their time to assist in the kitchen and join in on the field projects.

The group was fortunate to have exceptionally good weather, even though mid September is typically one of Maine’s best weeks for outdoor activities. Flat calm seas prevailed for the first two days with temperatures in the 70’s — ideal for landing the entire group on Eastern Egg Rock. Once ashore the group divided into four teams that set about various projects that included:

• Cutting overgrown vegetation from the artificial puffin burrows that once housed Newfoundland puffin chicks and digging new entrances to adapt them for Leach’s storm-petrel nesting. Soon fifty burrows were restored and ready for storm-petrels to nest next summer.
• Pulling abandoned lobster traps from seabird nesting habitat. Past storms had tossed the traps onto the island creating danger for nesting seabirds. Two black guillemots and a laughing gull were found entangled in the traps, tragic reminders about the issue of entanglement. By the end of the 2^nd day, more than 50 lobster traps were pulled out of the nesting habitat and several hundred abandoned buoys and other plastics were collected.
• Removing vegetation from the Allan D. Cruickshank sanctuary sign, repainting the letters and re-installing it with new posts.
• Clearing vegetation from overgrown Common and Roseate Tern habitat and installing outdoor carpet mats to serve as weed barriers, thus creating new habitat for these threatened seabirds. About 200 square meters of new habitat resulted.

The 32 participants donated more than 200 hours of work to help the Egg Rock seabirds. The equipment to cut the vegetation and purchase the weed barrier was provided by a grant from NAWCA (North American Wetland Conservation Act) administered by the U.S. Fish and wildlife Service and LL Bean.

When advance winds from Hurricane Igor made landings unsuitable at Egg Rock for the remainder of the week, the group happily turned their service inclinations to entering seabird data on Project Puffin computers, cutting invasive barberry shrubs and scraping and painting window trim on Hog Island buildings! In addition to the service projects, the group found time to visit many local birding hotspots and hear lectures on backyard landscaping for birds from Stephen Kress and bird migration from Scott Wiedensaul.

By Betsy Cadbury

Not too hot, not too cold, not too damp, and not too dry: perfect weather for accomplishing all the tasks that lay before us during the Service Week of June 10-14, when the Friends of Hog Island (FOHI) volunteers gathered in greater numbers than ever before (28!) to get our work assignments from Director Seth Benz and Property Manager Sue Schubel.

Slide show by Art Bohrer

The magnitude of the projects was awe-inspiring, but with willing hands the work load was lightened, as we chipped away at the jobs until everything was finished. The heavy wind storm earlier this spring had caused significant damage, bringing down the huge spruce by the gazebo and littering the trails with debris. Eric Eichorn had his work cut out for him, hauling away wood and cutting out the enormous root system of the spruce.

Helen Walsh and Barb Tucker tackled the hummingbird garden under Tom Leckey’s professional supervision; Betsy Cadbury, Julie S., and Maddie L. planted Grace’s Garden; Naomi Halpert, Libby Hyatt, and Art Borror worked on the kitchen and Buchheister gardens, while Loretta Victor oversaw cleaning projects in all the buildings.

A whole work gang, including Bob Speelman, Roger Engle, and Art spent at least two days on the mainland, clearing brush and building a new shade garden below the visitors’ center, while another group made up of Beverly Engle, Marilyn Smith, Jill Mallios Speelman, Cindy Cooke, Blanche Townsend, Ellen Doubleday, and Yael Seligman cleaned both mainland and island stores and sorted T-shirts under the eagle eyes of Maine Audubon Store Manager Carroll Tiernan. And all participants were on deck in the form of a chain gang to haul the initial big food delivery to the island.

Ken Mandler and his daughter Catherine, Vic Gabay, and Sara Dinyari cleared trails back on the island, while David Doubleday, armed with an arsenal of his own personal tools, fixed everything he could find to fix, along with helpers Eric Eichorn and Mike Seifert. Mike also helped Jay scrape, prime, and paint trim on the bath house.

Art oversaw the installation of the tide gauge in 55-degree water, assisted by Betsy, Julie, and Maddie, who then went for a (short — very short!) dip off the dock: gotta toughen up those thin-blooded Florida gals!

Bob Halpert retreated to the kitchen to spell chef Janii, whence he emerged at timely moments armed with chicken curry and his signature strudel, now become a FOHI Service Week tradition.

None of this could have been accomplished without the able assistance and support of the terrific staff and Student Assistants: Heather, Andrea, Erin, Erics 1 and 2 (!), Sharon, Laura, Rebecca and Kory. We were a tough group, but they survived our teasing and are now sufficiently “broken in” to deal with the rest of the summer!

But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and did we play! Art and Tom led early-morning birdwalks and tidal explorations, Heather and Art organized a song-fest, Tom Schaefer and Sue Schubel entertained us with slide shows, and we all enjoyed a cocktail party and lobster feast. And best of all, we got to be the first ones to ride on the new Puffin V! Twice! We had a special christening ceremony, with Seth breaking a bottle of champagne on the bow while Captain Anthony Liss muttered under his breath, “Don’t chip my paint — go for the anchor chain!”, followed by a sunset cruise, and then later in the week a trip out to Eastern Egg Rock to welcome the puffins back.

At a general FOHI meeting, co-chair Betsy Cadbury thanked everyone for all their hard work and dedication. She also thanked Seth and the staff for helping to make this year’s Service Week such a success and so much fun. She extended greetings from co-chair David Klinger, who was unable to join us, but whose quiet presence, wisdom, ideas, and advice were felt throughout the week.

Betsy thanked outgoing FOHI co-chair and Web publisher Jay Collier, whose expertise and generous involvement over the past few years led to the creation and growth of the www.fohi.org site and mailing list. Jay is stepping down from FOHI, and is looking for a new Web volunteer to take the site into the future. (Inquiries welcome!) Nevertheless, the current Web site will remain available as an archive of FOHI’s first five years. Yael Seligman has kindly offered to join David and Betsy as the third FOHI co-chair.

Art made a special presentation of Hog Island T-shirts to Julie, Maddie, and Cat Mandler, for their exceptional and energetic participation in all activities and their willingness and sense of humor at all times. Good to have such committed and caring young people carrying on the FOHI traditions!

Participants were offered an opportunity to sign up for a free session this summer in return for acting as FOHI representative. Seth, Betsy, and Yael will come up with a handbook of FOHI rep responsibilities and make it available later this summer.

We discussed plans and suggestions for next year, including maintaining the “sticky” board with its listing and prioritizing of tasks, getting in touch with former FOHI participants, and setting up a system of captains for various work details.

All in all, it was a most successful Service Week. Seth has made it clear that the energy, expertise and time that FOHI participants put into helping ready the camp for its opening session is invaluable to his staff and to Maine Audubon. And that message was reiterated by the five Maine Audubon Board members who showed up for a day to help us work, and whose encouragement was much appreciated by all. We hope to see everyone back again next summer!