Left: whiteboard killer whales, Right: sperm whale model rescued from storage
Classroom Outtakes
Shoals
Day 15 @ Shoals
The students gave their research symposium after brunch and then had free time to explore the island. I went swimming and sea glass collecting with a few folks. Then we all went for a hike to the Shoe Tree, where I donated my well-loved PF Flyers (they were falling apart and got stained with seal blood during our dissection). Then we hiked out to the southern cliffs and got a great view of Star, Cedar, and Smuttynose Islands. Our evening ended with a screening of Finding Nemo.
Day 14 @ Shoals
The students took their final exam, and then we completed another seal survey in the dreamy twilight. Then we headed to Star Island for ice cream, porch sitting, and a beautiful sunset. The supermoon (a.k.a. Full Buck Moon) was rising as we rode back to Appledore
Day 13 @ Shoals
We went on a whale watch to Jeffrey’s Ledge, with a commercial vessel out of Rye, NH. It made for a long day, with lots of boating, and sleeping teenagers. I spent several hours out on the bow sprit with some students, and everyone was excited to see a fin whale, a few minke whales (photos above by Alex Kirby), and MANY sea birds. We arrived back at Appledore for a late dinner, and another beautiful sunset.
Artist Spotlight – Childe Hassam
An American Impressionist who was very inspired by the Isles of Shoals
Day 12 @ Shoals
The last two days have been full of lectures, films, and discussions. Everyone emerged from the classroom, bleary eyed, for an adventure over to White & Seavey Islands. We explored the rocky shore, climbed the lighthouse, and toured the blinds where researchers observe the thousands of terns and their chicks that nest on the island. Nora, one of the researchers, showed us how they band, measure, and weigh young chicks. Everyone enjoyed meeting Diesel, the 160 pound Newfoundland who lives with them in the old light keeper’s house.
Reading this lately…
Plus a small sea glass collection from Smuttynose
Day 10 @ Shoals
Today we had two special guests, Andrea Bogomolni and Lauren Bamford, who led the students through Seal Day. We had lectures in the morning about human impacts, ocean health, and seal conservation, followed by an afternoon necropsy of a harp seal.
Artist Spotlight – Anonymous IMMB student
This is the most gorgeous test that I’ve ever had to grade.
Nadine Stewart J Lysiak 