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Monthly Newsletter
September 2026
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This newsletter includes the following topics:
- Director's Note
- Teaching Moment
- Cabled Ocean Observing System Deployed Near Appledore
- Wrapping Up Another Inspiring Season of Public Programs on Appledore
- Celia Thaxter Garden Tours
- Sustainability Tours
- SML Glass Art Workshop
- Seascapes and Landscapes
- Isles of Shoals Birding
- Taste of Appledore
- Fall Volunteer Weekend
- News from the AFA
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Greetings Shoalers!
The last month has been a whirlwind of activity at Shoals. In the middle of August, we switched from our academic courses to public programs and visiting groups. Then, we rapidly transitioned to volunteer weekend and closing down the island. If you were watching the webcams, you may have seen the hundreds of Tree Swallows that were staging on Appledore and often perching on the various antennae on the top of the tower. For me, the Tree Swallow flocks are always an indication of the end of the summer season and a transition to fall.
We love sharing Appledore with people interested in the marine environment, island ecology, the natural and cultural history of the Isles of Shoals, sustainability, and the natural beauty we get to see on the island. We love seeing the joy of discovery by visiting school groups, many of whom have never seen the ocean. Our public programs and visiting groups provide the opportunity to share Appledore broadly without having to give exams or grade presentations. These programs epitomize the idea of lifelong learning. This year we added sustainability tours to the day-trip excursions we offer for people to come to Appledore. Our overnight options included our traditional Seascapes and Landscapes art workshop and fall birding with New Hampshire Audubon. We also added a glass art workshop and a Taste of Appledore that combined some of the best of the field experiences on Appledore with outstanding food at this remote, rustic field station.
Fall volunteer weekend is always a highlight. I am blown away by the generosity of our community who give so much of their time to help us prepare the island to be closed for the next seven months. They help us clean our classrooms, labs, and dorms. They help store all of the equipment and supplies we have used all summer and that have been scattered across the island. They take on special jobs that need to be done to prepare the facilities for the winter and to be organized and staged to open again in the spring. They also eat some delicious, but clearly random, food as we clear out our refrigerator and freezer. It is always great to see friends I have known for years who return to help Shoals in such a tangible way. This year included a blast from the past for me, someone I met my first summer on Appledore. Ed Lyman, who did his master’s research on the muskrats on the island and who had served as an island engineer, a teaching assistant, and the island manager over the years, was close by and was able to join us for volunteer weekend. We’re hoping he’ll be able to join us in the future for a rock talk or guest lecture on his work with NOAA on the whale entanglement response network. This network attempts to free humpback whales and other marine animals from life-threatening entanglements and to gain information to reduce the threats.
As the season was winding down, several of us took the last opportunity for unique Shoals experiences. Watching the sunrise over the ocean, making a foray to the shoe tree, or going to see the seals at Duck Island (we were looking for a reported great white shark, but didn’t see that). Two days before we moved off the island, I finally went snorkeling in the Great Tide Pool (the Swimming Pool for the earlier Shoalers) to look for the American eels that had been seen there this summer. After a disappointing first lap, I did find one and watched it use anguilliform motion to back up. Although eels had been seen on SML mud flat trips, they were not listed as being seen on Appledore in Borror’s Species Checklist for Shoals Marine Laboratory. Many classes snorkeled this year to get to see this unusual fish (yes, they were adults, and they were about 2-3 feet long).
I have always loved September on Appledore. However, now it is truly bittersweet. We have said goodbye to most of our seasonal staff, people who became family over so many shared experiences on Appledore. I continue to be impressed and awed by the amazing staff that make Shoals work each summer.
With gratitude for another amazing summer on Appledore and for the whole Shoals community,
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Sara Morris
John M. Kingsbury
Executive Director
Shoals Marine Laboratory
| | One of the things that is exciting on Appledore is the sense of discovery. It's found in the faces of students who see things that they have never seen before and things that they never thought they would see. This year, we had an unexpected discovery in the Great Tide Pool. Students who were snorkeling reported seeing American Eels. Faculty and staff snorkeled to confirm the identification, and several people were able to get pictures of the fish for confirmation. As many as five different individuals were seen there during snorkeling expeditions, and they were seen by most groups that went looking for them. To our knowledge, this was the first recorded occurrence of American Eels in the waters around Appledore. There was at least one still there when we left the island, and students will be on a quest to see if there are any in the Great Tide Pool next summer! | | Cabled Ocean Observing System Deployed Near Appledore Island | |
| |  | Many Shoalers have noticed projects that have been occurring on the island. In 2024, we added an additional solar array that was oriented to capture more of the afternoon and later season sun. We have also received questions about activities that have happened in Broad Cove over the last two years. We are now excited to be able to share more information about the research project driving those changes. Dr. Jennifer Miksis-Olds, UNH Research Professor and Director of UNH's Center for Acoustics Research and Education, is leading a project that developed and deployed a cabled ocean observing system in the western Gulf of Maine. Data is now being collected that includes underwater acoustic data, information about deep sea currents, water quality parameters and even a video recorder to view unique deep sea animal life! The Shoals Marine Lab has been a key partner in the project, working closely with Dr. Miksis-Olds and her collaborators including JASCO Applied Sciences on the observing system and SubCom on the underwater cable. As part of the project, the Lab upgraded our green grid with additional solar panels and new batteries, and we are currently providing all the power needed to support the data collection and transmission back to UNH’s campus. This is the first solar powered underwater listening station!
You can read more about the system and the many collaborators involved in the project in UNH’s research newsletter, Launch
| | Wrapping Up Another Inspiring Season of Public Programs on Appledore | | As we wrapped up another incredible season on Appledore Island, SML was proud to welcome a broader community of curious and engaged participants through a variety of public programs that showcase the very best of what Shoals has to offer. From day-trip experiences to immersive overnight programs, these opportunities shine a spotlight on the unique intersection of science, history, and environmental stewardship that defines the Shoals experience. These programs are made possible through the dedication of our staff, instructors, volunteers, and valued partners, including the UNH Marine Docents, whose expertise helps bring the island's stories and ecosystems to life for visitors each season, and Unitil – our corporate partner in sustainability. | | Celia Thaxter Garden Tours | | The Celia Thaxter Garden Tours attracted several special visitors this season, including a crew from New Hampshire Chronicle, which featured Appledore and Celia Thaxter's legendary garden in a television segment, as well as renowned outdoor storyteller Willem Lange, host of PBS's award-winning Windows to the Wild series. Their visits helped showcase the enduring appeal of Appledore Island and to our beloved Celia Thaxter Garden Steward, Terry Cook – our unofficial host of Appledore Island. | | photos: Ron Sher, David Hiley | | |
In collaboration with our long-time partners in sustainability, Unitil, we offered two sustainability tours this summer. Unitil not only provided underwriting for these tours, but also participated as program leaders. Their involvement provided rich historical details of the sustainability measures on Appledore as well as context of how we can serve as sustainability models for other communities.
These new Sustainability Tours were especially well-received, giving visitors an inside look at how SML models environmental stewardship through renewable energy, resource management, and island operations. Participants enjoyed learning about the island's solar and wind power systems and how sustainable practices help keep our remote island campus operating efficiently – all led by SML’s passionate engineering team. Crew from The New Hampshire Union Leader joined one of the tours and wrote a popular piece describing how Appledore is 20 years ahead of the mainland with its green infrastructure.
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SML’s new Glass Art Workshop welcomed participants for a unique blend of art, science, and nature. Led by instructors Robert DuGrenier and Jeremy Sinkus, the program taught students flameworking techniques while drawing inspiration directly from the island's botanical and marine specimens. Participants studied natural forms and translated their observations into glass artwork, creating a hands-on experience that connected creativity with scientific exploration.
Everyone on the island stopped by the Werly building to catch a glimpse of this unique class while it was in session. As the boat departed after the program, the staff received an email from Robert and Jeremy informing us of a treasure hunt - they hid small glass shells and bismuth geodes in special places around the island for all to find. Some have already been found but keep your eyes open next time you are on Appledore!
| | This summer's Seascapes & Landscapes program continued Appledore Island's long tradition as a haven for artists, offering participants an immersive experience in drawing, painting, and printmaking. Through daily demonstrations, plein air painting, instructor critiques, and opportunities to explore the island's unique marine habitats, artists of all skill levels developed new techniques while drawing inspiration from the natural world. Participants benefited from the exceptional teaching of instructors Bill Paarlberg, Carol Schwartz, and Wendy Turner, and the program ended with a memorable gallery show in Kiggins Commons with a huge turnout from the entire island community. | | photos: Mary Droege, Terry Lee, Amy Fish | | photos: Ron Sher, Cassandra Klos, Sara Morris (American Goldfinch), Amy Fish | | |
This year’s Isles of Shoals Birding program welcomed bird enthusiasts to Appledore for an immersive exploration of its renowned migratory bird habitat. Led by expert birders Pamela Hunt of NH Audubon and Becky Suomala, participants enjoyed opportunities to observe a variety of species moving through the island. A list of 61 birds was accumulated, including several species of shorebirds, and great counts of egrets and ibis returning to the island to roost in the evenings. Additional crowd favorites that were common sights included guillemots, Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, and locally-nesting oystercatchers. The local Barred Owl was heard calling - this bird has been present on Appledore for five years now, although rarely seen.
And it wasn’t all birds all the time! Participants enjoyed a variety of Shoals programming including a boat tour around the islands, a beautiful sunset off the K-house deck, an art gallery show, and garden and sustainability tours that were very popular.
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Taste of Appledore brought together the very best of SML, blending sustainability, science, community, and culinary excellence into an unforgettable experience. Participants explored the island through guided sustainability tours, foraging expeditions, and hands-on educational programs designed to showcase how sustainability connects every aspect of life on the island.
A highlight of the weekend was the extraordinary culinary program led by acclaimed chefs, Sam Hayward and Evan Mallett, whose creativity and expertise elevated the entire experience. The SML chefs were right by their side assisting with each meal, and several participants also had the opportunity to work directly with the chefs through a special kitchen stage experience - gaining firsthand insight into professional culinary practices (including making periwinkle butter!)
Most of the food was sourced from local farms and businesses in Maine and New Hampshire, reflecting the program’s farm-to-table spirit and commitment to sustainability. Our Lab Coordinator, Kate Lochridge, also spent countless hours sourcing ingredients from Appledore’s tide pools (like green crab) and surrounding habitats, contributing to the dining experience.
Attendees enjoyed a garden party at Celia Thaxter's Garden, a flower arranging workshop with Terry Cook that used blooms from the historic garden to adorn dining tables, an island foraging expedition with Gregg Moore and John Forti that supplied ingredients for select dishes and cocktails, a fishing excursion with Eugene Won, after which freshly-caught mackerel was smoked, a memorable stargazing session with John Gianforte under Appledore's night skies, and ending with a sustainability tour with Zach Charewicz that tied everything together. One enthusiastic guest who traveled from North Carolina captured the sentiment shared by many: “This was the best vacation of my life!"
| | photos: Ron Sher, Carol Steingart, Amy Fish | | Thank you, Fall Volunteers! | | Fall volunteer weekend provides a final and meaningful conclusion for each summer season. We are genuinely grateful to the 29 people who joined us this fall to get the island ready for the winter. Collectively, they contributed more than 400 hours to cleaning, organizing, winterizing, and special projects that were needed before we closed the 2026 season. The Shoals Marine Lab could not operate without the hard work and dedication to the Lab that our volunteers show year after year. | | |
Although registration has closed for the On-Shore Fall Gathering of the SML Alumni and Friends Association, if you have registered, we look forward to seeing you in Portsmouth, NH this coming Saturday, September 26.
Please contact Jackie Webb at jwebb20@cox.net with any questions or concerns about this gathering.
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Shoals Marine Laboratory is jointly operated by the
University of New Hampshire and Cornell University.
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