This month we begin our 22nd year of Protecting the Great Lakes Through Education. As in past years, this new year will be filled with great challenges and great opportunities. The challenges are mainly financial, that is, keeping the organization robust in a soft economy. We are doing this by seeking new donors (individual and institutional) and asking our long-time supporters to do a little extra this spring for ISEA. (You will soon receive a letter from me in this regard). We are also actively seeking grant funds to help schools with their tuition, as many school budgets are on the rocks. ISEA is committed to making the Schoolship available to as many students as possible.
The opportunities that lie ahead are many. We are planning new multi-day programs this summer with a number of new partners including the Shedd Aquarium, Lake Superior State University, Grand Traverse Bay Stewardship Initiative, and a consortium of other shipboard education programs including Grand Valley State University, Michigan State University/Michigan Sea Grant, and BaySail. These collaborations allow us to secure funding for programs not otherwise available. I'll be giving you more details on these programs as they are firmed up in the weeks ahead.
Even though the ground is covered with snow, we will begin spring outfitting in just 8 weeks! I look forward to having you back aboard Inland Seas very soon.
Tom Kelly, Executive Director |
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Tom Kelly to Speak at a Leland Educational Foundation Event February 17, 2010
ISEA Executive Director Tom Kelly will speak about his work with ISEA and what influenced him along the way in a presentation, "My Life in Boats" on February 17, 2010. The event is being held at the Leeland Public School's Performing Arts Center (PAC), beginning with a reception at 6:30pm followed by Tom's presentation at 7:00pm. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door. Call (231) 256-3818 for more information. |
Sailing from Suttons Bay unless otherwise noted.
Family Ecology Sail
July 2: 9am & 2pm
July 5: 2pm
July 6: 9am & 2pm
July 7: 2pm
July 8: 9am & 2pm
July 15: 9am
July 28: 2pm (TC)
July 29: 9am & 2pm (TC)
July 30: 9am & 2pm (TC)
Aug 2: 9am & 2pm (TC)
Aug 4: 9am & 2pm
Aug 5: 9am & 2pm
Aug 9: 2pm
Aug 10: 2pm
Gull Island Birding Cruise
June 14: 10am-2:30pm
July 7: 6-9pm
July 13: 9am-5pm (TC)
Aug 9: 9-11:15pm
Aug 10: 9-11:15pm
July 16: 9am-5pm
Aug 6: 9am-5pm
Aug 11: 9am-5pm
Sept 4: 9am-5pm |
Volunteer to take care of our aquariums
Volunteer to help with donated boat sales
Laptop computer
Mounted Great Lakes fish
Foul weather gear |
On January 19, 2010, experts found the DNA of Asian carp in Lake Michigan for the first time, just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Michigan's request for an injunction to force Illinois to close navigational locks and dams. Two days later, Senator Debbie Stabenow and Congressman Dave Camp announced the introduction of the CARP ACT (Close All Routes and Prevent Asian Carp Today) to the Senate. This bill would direct the US Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to prevent Asian carp from entering the Great Lakes. Details include the immediate closure of Chicago-area locks, immediate installation of interim barriers, enhancement of existing barriers and monitoring, mitigating the impact on commerce and the city of Chicago, and preventing and eradicating Asian Carp.
The Inland Seas Education Association will present a seminar that focuses on Phragmites at 7:00pm on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at the Inland Seas Education Center. Andy Knott, Executive Director of The Watershed Center-Grand Traverse Bay, will discuss the recent invasion of Phragmites and what is being done to control it in the Grand Traverse Bay area. This seminar is free and open to the public.
ISEA will be offering two after-school workshops for students in Suttons Bay Middle School on Monday March 1 and Tuesday March 2, 2010 from 3:30-5:00pm as part of the Winter Workshop series coordinated by the SEEDS 21st Century Community Learning Center. The first program will be held at the Education Center and will give students an introduction to the Great Lakes and will discuss the impacts of invasive species on the Great Lakes ecosystem. The second program will be held at Suttons Bay School and will cover some of the learning stations normally taught on the Schoolship (sediment & benthos, water chemistry, plankton, and possibly fish). 
