From the Pilothouse
Earlier this month we wrapped up our 21st Schoolship season with 3,930 new Great Lakes stewards "graduating" from our program. Since our founding in 1989, the total number of shipboard students is now at 83,109! More than the numbers is the amazing learning experience each of these students received aboard ISEA vessels. The fact that so many schools send classes to us year after year is testimony to the positive impact we have on the students.
We are already planning a busy 2009 season. Sixty classes have already signed up for spring Schoolship sessions and we have a big summer planned, culminating with our participation at the Chicago Tall Ship Festival at the end of August.
Even though we are not sailing, thing are quite busy at ISEA with grant writing, fund raising, report writing and planning. We are always glad to have winter visitors, so stop in at the Education Center and say hello this winter.
And Happy Halloween!
Tom Kelly, Executive Director |
All classes take place from 6:30-8:30pm at the Inland Seas Education Center unless otherwise noted.
January 6
Introduction to ISEA, our Great Lakes Schoolship Program, and Education Center
January 13
Luke Clyburn of the Noble Odyssey Foundation will present a seminar, "The Norwood Project: Underwater Adventure into the Past"
January 20
The Great Lakes and Global Freshwater
January 27
Safety Aboard the Schoolship
February 3
Sample Collections and Weather
February 10
Water Chemistry
February 17
Benthos
February 24
Plankton
March 3
Fish
March 10
Seamanship
March 17
Teaching Strategies
March 24
Stewardship and Review
April 7
All Day New Volunteer Instructor Training (9:00am-5:00pm)
April 14
Veteran Instructor Training (1:00-5:00pm)
April 21
Lead Instructor Training (2:00-5:00pm)
April 30
New Volunteer Schoolship Programs (8:30am-12:30pm OR 1:15-5:15pm) |
Volunteer to take care of our aquariums and fish
Volunteer to help with donated boat acquisition & sales
Laptop computer for shipboard use
Digital video camera
Mounted Great Lakes fish
Foul weather gear | |
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Benefit Showing of Waterlife
a Tremendous Success!!!
 The board and staff of ISEA would like to thank everyone for helping make our Waterlife benefit such a success! The event began with a nice picnic dinner outside the Inland Seas Education Center. The tent and heaters, provided by Monstrey's, were a welcome sight on a cold afternoon. Thanks to all the volunteers who helped with the dinner: Pete Bentley, Don and Norma Blumenshine, Chuck Dickerson, Don and Jane Gorski, and Bill and Barb Klein.
After dinner, everyone walked over to the Bay Theatre. Before the movie began, ISEA shared our need to raise $2,000 to balance our budget for our fall Schoolship Programs. The audience exceeded our expectations by donating $2,500! Another $1,000 was donated by Tim Haring and Peninsula Title Services LLC, to make a total donation of $3,500. Thanks to everyone for being incredibly generous.
When all was said and done, over $13,000 was contributed to ISEA's 2009/2010 annual budget at a time when every dollar counts. We thank you for your generosity and for your presence in support of our mission to protect our Great Lakes for future generations. We also thank Randi Coste, Kent Nordin, Denise Sica, John Visser, and our event sponsors Northwestern Bank and an anonymous donor for their help in the success of this event. |
Great Lakes Seminar Series: "Hydrographic Survey of Grand Traverse Bay"
November 17, 2009
 ISEA's 2009-2010 Great Lakes Seminar Series continues on November 17 at 7:00pm at the Inland Seas Education Center. Hans VanSumeren, Executive Director of the Water Studies Institute, and Mark Breederland, Extension Educator with Michigan Sea Grant, will discuss the preliminary findings of their first effort to map the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay. The seminar is free and open to the public.
Northwestern Michigan College's Water Studies Institute is spearheading the first effort to map the bottom of Grand Traverse Bay in 80 years, an endeavor which already is expected to lead to the first public pictures of a 1980 shipwreck near Lee Point. Assisted by Michigan Sea Grant, NMC is conducting advanced hydrographic surveys of both east and west arms of Grand Traverse Bay and northern Lake Michigan. Since existing data dates to the 1920s, the survey project will provide important updated and expanded information with multiple applications, including environmental impact assessments, commercial navigation charts, and supporting fisheries. VanSumeren and Breederland will discuss the first phase of underwater research, conducted with side-scan sonar equipment aboard the NMC research vessel Northwestern. Research will continue next summer and their findings will be shared with the public.
Click here for more information about this and other upcoming seminars. |
ISEA's Volunteer Instructor Training Course Begins
January 6, 2010
 Come join us for our 2010 volunteer instructor training course. Become an ISEA volunteer instructor and help us provide students with an exciting science and sailing adventure. Not sure if you want to become a volunteer? Come to the introductory session on January 6, 2010 to learn more about ISEA. No experience required! Already an instructor? Come back for a review and an update on ISEA programs.
The volunteer instructor training course takes place on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm at the Inland Seas Education Center in Suttons Bay (100 Dame Street). Classes include an educational presentation and hands-on activities led by ISEA staff and experienced volunteer instructors. If Suttons Bay Schools are closed due to weather, no class will be held that evening.
For a complete list of the volunteer instructor training schedule, check out the column to the left. For more information, head to our website. If you have further questions or would like to register for the training course, please contact ISEA Education Director Christine Crissman by phone at 231-271-3077 or e-mail. |
EPA and Environment Canada Publish the State of the Great Lakes 2009 Highlights
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Environment Canada recently published the State of the Great Lakes 2009 Highlights. This report is based on information gathered for the State of the Great Lakes Ecosystem Conference. This informational report highlights some of the major issues facing the Great Lakes today, such as the loss of wetland habitat, invasive species, lake levels, contamination, and climate change. Click here to read the highlights report. |
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Winter Project Volunteers Needed
 There are several projects ISEA would like to complete over the winter season and we could use your help. Some projects include inventorying and organizing our library, finding teacher e-mail addresses (to help create a teacher newsletter), digitizing our past data, maintaining our aquariums, and much more. If you are looking for a short or long-term project to keep you busy during the cold winter months, please let us know. I am sure we can find a project that is right for you. This is a great way to meet people, have fun, and help protect the Great Lakes through education. If you would like to volunteer, please contact ISEA Education Director Christine Crissman at 231-271-3077 or by e-mail. |
A Great Lakes Legacy
Making a bequest to Inland Seas Education Association is a very easy way to create your own Great Lakes Legacy. The preservation of our Great Lakes will remain a critical task for many years to come, and by planning a future gift to Inland Seas, you may be able to give a larger gift, and make a greater difference, than you ever thought possible.
Click here to learn more about gift planning. You can also contact ISEA's Development Director Steve Cruzen at 231-271-3077 or by e-mail. | |
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