Teamwork took center stage—not on the field, but in the water—as student teams competed in the 2025 MATE Great Lakes Regional ROV Competition at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center in Alpena. Teams were tasked with demonstrating their ROVs' (remotely operated vehicle) capabilities in the Marine Technology Training Tank as they navigated through a series [...]
Anchors play a key role in telling the story of maritime history. They’ve also become iconic symbols around the world. The BIG Anchor Project , launched by the Nautical Archaeological Society in 2008, invites volunteers (or "citizen scientists" as we often call them) to help document anchors they come across. With over 500 anchors currently [...]
On March 10, 2025, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary researcher Andi Yoxsimer gave a talk about multibeam sonar to a group of seventh and eighth grade students at the Immanuel Lutheran School in Alpena, MI. The students are currently completing a unit about deep sea exploration and wanted to learn more about the technologies utilized [...]
NOVEMBER: THE DEADLIEST MONTH ON THE GREAT LAKES *this is a copy of a social media campaign we did in 2024 featuring November shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Facebook post from 11/3/24 But we can't just blame the weather. Other factors contributed to a higher frequency of lost ships, and unfortunately lost lives, [...]
Have you heard of FORCE BLUE and their Tour of Duty? Picture this. Retired special operations veterans + marine conservation = giving back and making an impact. Force Blue helps veterans use their unique skills to support scientists and conservationists at marine sanctuaries across the United States. We were honored to host them in Alpena [...]
Earth is Blue and Stories from the Blue are professional video productions created by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries with the goal of inspiring people everywhere to care for our ocean, and to spread the message that our Earth isn't green - it's blue. This planet is an ocean planet and the National Marine [...]
Great Lakes Students Get a Sneak Peek of Festival Films Each January, leading up to the annual Thunder Bay International Film Festival, the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary education team brings a sneak peek of ocean and Great Lakes independent films to local students. From Rogers City to Alcona, Posen to Alpena, our education team [...]
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 [...]
