Maritime History of Suttons Bay, Peshawbestown & Omena

June 28, 2012:  We had a beautiful night to sail up the Leelanau Peninsula coastline from Suttons Bay to Omena Bay.  During the sail historian Laura Quackenbush gave a running commentary on the history of the area and its people. We enjoyed a great dinner prepared aboard by our ship's cook Kathy Kane.  On the return sail Captain Tom presented an outline of the ecological history of the Bay, with an and emphasis on the impact of invasive species.  The sun was just setting as we returned to the dock in Suttons Bay.  Thanks to Laura for her presentation and for all who came on this educational sail. 

Laura gets applause for her presentation

Under sail for Omena

Kathy calls us for dinner

Bringing in the main topsail

Crew Bob Hagerman

Capt. Tom

Happy Birthday, Inland Seas!

Launch Day, May 18 1994, Treworgy Yachts, Palm Coast, FL

Tuesday May 18 is our schooner's 16th birthday. Help us celebrate at 12:30 pm dockside with a performance by the Suttons Bay High School Band. See you there. --Capt. Tom

Inland Seas Summer 2010 Sailing Schedule Announced

Today ISEA announced its 2010 summer public program schedule. After a busy spring with school classes, the schooner Inland Seas will commence with public programs in July.

The Family Ecology Sail is designed to make "scientists for a day" out of the entire family, from grandparents to youngsters. The Gull Island Birding Cruise returns to the schedule on June 14. Our Maritime History Under Sail program honors the life and work of ISEA Volunteer Instructor Claudia Goudschaal and will sail from Suttons Bay to Omena and return. The Explore Power Island trip takes us to the crown jewel of Grand Traverse Bay, and gets us ashore to hike and see the natural wonders of the island. Our most popular program is always Astronomy Under Sail. We have two Astronomy programs this year, on August 9th and 10th. And a special all-day program for community leaders is called Day on the Bay, and features presentations and demonstrations in the Education Center and an afternoon on the schooner.

ISEA also has programs for teachers. Call the office or contact our Education Director Christine Crissman for details.

Pandora's Locks' Author To Speak at ISEA

Join us for the first Inland Seas Great Lakes Seminar of the Fall 2009 series. Jeff Alexander, author of Pandora's Locks: the Opening of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway, will speak at Inland Seas Education Center Tuesday, October 13 at 7:00 pm. This seminar is free and open to the public.

Invasive species are the biggest threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem to date. Alexander chronicles the implications of invasive species since the opening of the Welland Canal and the St. Lawrence Seaway. Threats and challenges to water quality, public health, power generation, fisheries, recreation, shorelines and wetlands, marine life, birds, mammals, and more are part of the chronicle. Jeff Alexander is an award winning author and former environmental journalist. He covered Great Lakes issues for the past 20 years for several Michigan newspapers, most recently for The Muskegon Chronicle. He currently works for the National Wildlife Federation.

NMC & ISEA

ISEA has had a long working relationship with Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. This has continued this week as NMC's Watershed Studies Class, lead by Prof. Colleen Masterson Bzdok sailed aboard the schoolship Inland Seas on Tuesday morning. The class trawled for fish, took samples of the bottom sediments, hauled a net for zooplankton, and used an Alpha Bottle to collect water samples for pH, D. O. and temperature determinations. They also measured the water transparency with a secchi disk (12 meters). We had very little wind to work with, but we did sail, and it was a beautiful day to be on the lake. A second Watershed Class will sail with us on Monday September 14th.

NMC's Water Studies Institute project finds the wreck of the Lauren Castle in Grand Traverse Bay. The tug Lauren Castle, which sank 5 November 1980 off Lee Point near Suttons Bay, lies in water more than 400 feet deep. For details go to http://www.km.kongsberg.com/ks/web/nokbg0238.nsf/AllWeb/F4F5D670781F6F4BC1257623004BD9FB?OpenDocument

And, finally, ISEA's Executive Director Tom Kelly will present a program today for NMC's new Freshwater Studies program entitled "An Ecological History of the Great Lakes."

Underwater Exploration for Non-Divers

Join ISEA for a day-long underwater exploration of shipwrecks and underwater features in Grand Traverse Bay. Come along with underwater photographer Chris Doyal and ROV builder/operator Kurt Jankowski as they investigate the remains of ships long concealed under the surface. Talk with the divers as they explore the wrecks using the two-way audio comminucation system. Watch as they encounter schools of fish and other creatures using live video connected to underwater ROVs (remote operated vehicles). Learn about the maritime history of Grand Traverse Bay as you beomce crew members on the gaff-rigged schooner Inland Seas.$80/person, $75/child under 18; limited to 25 people. Lunch is included while aboard the schooner. Call (231) 271-3077 to registerJoin ISEA for a day-long underwater exploration of shipwrecks and underwater features in Grand Traverse Bay.

Summer Sailing Schedule Announced

Inland Seas Education Association - 2009 Public Program Schedule

Schooner Inland Seas

Sailing from Suttons Bay unless noted. Please arrive one half hour before listed sailing time

Family Science Sail (Three hours, for families, $40/person, $35/Child under 18) Become a “scientist for the day” as you help monitor the health of the lake by trawling for fish, collecting plankton, sampling the lake bottom and completing water quality tests. You will also get a chance to steer the ship and help hoist the anchor and the sails.

June 26: 2:00 pm
June 27: 9:00 am
July 1: 9:00 am, Charlevoix
July 2: 2:00 pm
July 3: 2:00 pm
July 17: 2:00 pm
July 23: 2:00 pm
July 24: 2:00 pm

July 25: 9:00 am
July 29: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
July 30: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
July 31: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 3: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 8: 9:00 am
August 10: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 11: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 12: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 13: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 14: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
August 17: 2:00 pm, Traverse City
August 21: 2:00 pm
September 4: 2:00 pm
September 5: 9:00 am

Explore Power Island (All day, for families, $80/person, $75/Child under 18) A full-day of history, geology, and ecology aboard the schooner Inland Seas and on Power Island in Grand Traverse Bay. Dress for hiking.
July 21: 9:00 am – 5 pm, includes lunch. Traverse City–Elmwood Township Marina

Maritime History Under Sail (Adults, $55/person) Discover the rich maritime heritage of Suttons Bay, Omena, and Peshawbestown on a three-hour sail guided by the ship’s crew and a guest faculty of local historians. A light meal will be served while underway.
July 23: 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm, includes dinner. Suttons Bay

Astronomy Under Sail (Adults, $45/person) Join astronomer Dick Cookman as we will leave the dock in Suttons Bay before sunset and sail away from the shore lights for a clear view of the night sky. Our most popular adult program.
August 20: 9:00 pm – 11:15 pm
August 21: 9:00 pm – 11:15 pm

Grand Traverse Bay Underwater Shipwreck Exploration (All day, for families, $80/person, $75/Child under 18) A day-long underwater exploration: communicate with divers via live video and audio systems as they explore shipwrecks and other underwater features in Grand Traverse Bay.
August 18: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, includes lunch. Traverse City–Elmwood Township Marina

Geology of Grand Traverse Bay (Families, $80/person, $75/Child under 18) Learn about the geology that gives our Bay its unique character. From the glaciers to modern human impacts, we will see it above and below the water. Includes lunch and a hike on Power Island.
August 19: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, includes lunch. Traverse City–Elmwood Township Marina

Invasive Species Research for High School Students: Overnight programs for 10 students, offered 3 times. (H. S. Students, with teacher recommendation. $300. Scholarships may be available) Details at www.schoolship.org.
June 29 & 30 - Suttons Bay to Charlevoix

July 15 & 16 - Grand Traverse Bay

July 27 & 28 - Grand Traverse Bay

Invasive Species Field Course for Teachers: Three day intensive program that mixes teachers with working scientists. You will go back to your classroom with stories to tell, lessons to teach, and an unforgetable experience. Contact Chis Crissman, ISEA Education Director for application details.

July 20 - 22

We can custom design a sailing/learning program for your youth group, church, neighborhood, family reunion, or just a group of friends. Give us a call and we can discuss your interests.

Details on all ISEA programs at www.schoolship.org or call 231-271-3077