Located in Suttons Bay, Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to science education on the Great Lakes. Interested in becoming a volunteer for Inland Seas? There will be several opportunities to learn more about volunteer opportunities the week of September 15, 2014.

Community focused presentations will be held September 15, 16, and 17, in Frankfort (location TBD, call ISEA for details) at 5:30 pm, Suttons Bay at the ISEA Education Center at 5:30 pm, and in Charlevoix at the public library at 6:30 pm. Each presentation will begin with a brief overview of opportunities. There will also be time for Q&A and all interested individuals will have the opportunity to chat with Emily and current ISEA volunteers. There is no prior experience required because ISEA will provide all new volunteers with the materials and training required to help educate the next generation of Great Lakes stewards.

ISEA relies on over 180 active volunteers to educate thousands of people each year about the Great Lakes. There are opportunities available both on-board the ship and in the education center & museum. On-board volunteers include the instructors for the educational programs and a large part of the crew. These volunteers work directly with students and the general public to inspire Great Lakes stewardship. Shore-side, ISEA volunteers work as education center docents, who are available to answer questions and give guided tours to interested visitors. Boat shop instructors work with young people to build sailing prams and wood-strip canoes, and wetlands volunteers plan and maintain the contracted wetlands that are along the shoreline.

Volunteering with ISEA is a rewarding experience, that allows you to engage with your community and help inspire Great Lakes stewards.

“Volunteering has been the highlight of our retirement years. It’s great to see kids so absorbed in the program and it’s been an enlightening experience for us as volunteers to learn about all of the inter-relationships that make keeping the Great Lakes healthy so important to us now and into the future,” said Webb and Alice Buell, active ISEA volunteers.

If you have any questions or would like more information about becoming an ISEA volunteer, please contact Emily Shaw, Education & Volunteer Coordinator by phone: 231.271.3077 or by email, eshaw@schoolship.org.

Interested in going on a sail? Check out the Homeschool Field Trip on October 13! Purchase tickets on MyNorthTickets.com.

More Northern Michigan Boats

The Story of Inland Seas

2014 Michigan Schooner Festival

36 Hours on South Manitou