The 3rd Grade Get Into Your Sanctuary (3GIYS) program recently won the Sea to Shining Sea Award for Excellence in Interpretation and Education. This award is given annually by NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and recognizes success in advancing ocean and climate literacy and conservation through our countries marine protected areas. It also recognizes [...]
"Our sanctuary runs on coffee and volunteers!" At least that’s the message on the mugs we gifted to our incredible volunteers at the annual appreciation event in December 2024. It was a pleasure celebrating nearly 50 of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary volunteers that were able to join us. Over the past 25 years, [...]
Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Brings Maritime History with a Holiday Story Have you heard of “The Christmas Tree Ship?” If you haven’t, you can ask a Hinks Elementary School pupil to fill you in or anyone who joined us for a family friendly event on a Saturday in early December. This education outreach program [...]
Shelby Brunner and Jennifer Boehme, of Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS), joined Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) staff on October 17th for a community listening session, held in Alpena, MI, at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. GLOS and TBNMS listened to user feedback and input on what types of data are most valuable and where they [...]
"This research can be used to connect people from across the world." That was one of the remarks Haley Dalian from the NOAA Marine Debris Program shared after helping a group of high schoolers survey and clear litter from a Lake Huron beach recently. As the Great Lakes Regional Coordinator, she was excited to make [...]
HANNAH MACDONALD "The role of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in my life cannot be understated—it has been a cornerstone of my personal and professional development for over a decade." - Hannah MacDonaldHannah MacDonald grew up in Alpena, overlooking Thunder Bay. She was drawn to the water. As soon as she was old enough to [...]
Week of June 3, 2024 Hello Alpena! I’m Charlie Azzarito, a rising senior at Florida State University (FSU) studying Anthropology. Throughout my time at FSU, I came to learn about archaeology and grew fond of the courses and opportunities available in Florida. One track in my major focused on underwater archaeology, the study of submerged [...]
It wasn't planned, but maybe we subconsciously knew TOURISM WEEK was approaching when we said yes to welcoming two conferences to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in May. The IJC - International Joint Commission is a bi-national organization between the United States and Canada created to manage and protect the Great Lakes, and chose Alpena [...]
The power of teamwork doesn’t just show up on the basketball court or the soccer field, it is a driving force on ROV (underwater robot) teams as well, and it showed at the MATE Great Lakes Regional ROV Competition at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center on May 11th, 2024. Teams were tasked with demonstrating [...]
"Being able to bring them here gives them a core place that they can come and engage others. This experience tends to draw them back to learn more," Jay C. Martin Ph.D., professor of history at Central Michigan University The CMU Shipwreck Central class made a road trip to Alpena on Friday, April 5th to visit the [...]
