BREMEN, Maine, March 2, 2006 — Scholarships are available for Audubon staff, interns and chapter members to attend residential sessions this summer at Hog Island Audubon Camp in Bremen.
Those interested can get an application by e-mailing camps@maineaudubon.org, calling (207) 781-2330, ext. 215, or downloading from www.maineaudubon.org.
Accessible only by boat, Hog Island Audubon Camp is located on a 330-acre coastal wildlife sanctuary in midcoast Maine. Since 1936, its summer sessions for adults, educators, young people and families have been led by some of the most respected naturalists and environmental educators in the nation.
“If everyone had the opportunity to spend a week at a place like Hog Island, I believe our world would be a much different place,” says adult camper Stacie Moon from Bowie, Maryland, “because living in nature can really change one’s opinions of the world.”
Campers awake to the sound of woodland bird and lobster boats and spend the day exploring the island’s spruce forests, fern-filled meadows, and rocky tide pools. Evenings feature presentations by special guests. Sessions include gourmet meals and lodging in rustic 19th-century buildings.
“I was just nine years old when I read an account by Roger Tory Peterson about a magical place called Hog Island Audubon Camp,” said Kenn Kauffman, international birding authority, author, and educator. “Now I teach a session or two there every year, helping carry on a tradition with results that are felt across the continent.”
Results are felt across the continent as well as in the heart. “I cannot say enough about my week at Hog Island,” said Moon. “It was an incredible experience that has changed me in many ways.”
Sessions in 2006 include a Hog Island Reunion for alumni to relax, reflect and reconnect with nature and old friends (July 24-26, $195) as well as an Audubon Leadership Workshop for Audubon chapter or center leaders to network with peers and learn how to raise funds, energize volunteers, incorporate Audubon initiatives and offer compelling nature programs (August 13-19, $700).
Hog Island Audubon Camp’s other 2006 offerings include:
For Adults
Field Ornithology, June 25-July 1 ($1,050)
Join nationally known ornithologists Kenn Kaufman, Scott Weidensaul, Steve Kress, and others to explore the marshes, beaches, barrens, seabird colonies and forests of Hog Island and beyond, where Rachel Carson and Roger Tory Peterson once birded.
Natural History of the Maine Coast, July 2-8 ($1,050)
Soak in the sights, sounds and smells of coastal Maine while exploring tide pools, checking out seabird islands, searching for butterflies and more. This signature session has delighted participants for 65 years.
Workshop for Educators, July 9-15 ($1,000)
Science and nonscience educators: rejuvenate your spirit and learn from peers and renowned instructors how to incorporate environmental education into your lesson plans. Session includes field trips, boat cruises, take-home materials and more.
Cultural and Natural History of Coastal Maine, July 16-22 ($1,200)
Explore islands and rocky ledges, search for evidence of prehistoric human settlements, and visit seabird colonies and Maine’s richest lobster habitat in spectacular Muscongus Bay.
Naturalizing by Kayak, July 16-22 or August 28-31 ($1,200/$695)
Explore secluded coves and marshes, thread through rock ledges, and visit other islands in beautiful Muscongus Bay.
A Maine Island Experience, August 20-26 ($985)
Leave behind the busy tourist route and spend a week walking trails along the rocky shore, exploring tide pools, searching the forest for colorful birds, learning about lobsters and other marine life, and more.
Om on the Island Yoga Retreat, August 28-31 ($395)
Deepen your connection to nature and motivation to take care of it through a weekend of yoga and exploration on spectacular Hog Island.
Bird Migration and Conservation, September 10-16 ($985)
Travel to local migration hot spots such as blueberry barrens, tidal marshes, and the outstanding migrant trap Monhegan Island. On Hog Island, enjoy presentations and discussions with experts.
For Teens and Youth
Bird Studies for Teens, June 25-July 1 ($1,050)
Teens ages 14 to 17: with renowned birder and author Kenn Kaufman, study birds, venture out to a seabird island with Audubon’s Project Puffin, and work alongside biologists as they monitor endangered piping plovers.
Natural History for Teens, July 2-8 ($1,050)
Teens ages 14-17: discover and explore by kayak and foot the interrelationships between coastal Maine’s plants, animals, habitats and landscape.
Coastal Kayaking Adventure, July 10-15 or July 25-29 ($995/$850)
Teens ages 14-17: based from a tenting site on a remote cove of Hog Island, combine sea kayaking, backcountry camping and investigation of the natural world along the Maine coast.
Youth Camp, July 30-August 5 ($1,050)
Boys and girls ages 10-13: learn about yourself, nature and how it all relates. Small sessions promise plenty of personal attention.
For more information about Maine Audubon camp programs, visit www.maineaudubon.org or call (207) 781-2330.
