It’s hard to capture the character and energy of a Shoals summer in words. We follow the cadence of our calendar (new classes on Monday, food run on Wednesday, brunch on Sunday), the cycles of the tides, and the vagaries of the weather. Who knew that an offshore hurricane would produce some of the largest crashing waves I’ve seen on the island combined with clear blue skies? Usually we are braving gale force winds and driving rain to see the waves and surf we experienced last weekend. Over the last month, we have experienced many of these moments that are consistently part of the magic of Appledore.
Throughout the summer we say hello to new faces and old friends, and farewell to others. We know it will be some time before meet again. For some it may be a few weeks while others may not be back for a year or more. As I watch our students and visitors fall in love with the island, the ocean, and the lab, I am so grateful to Jack Kingsbury, the early supporters at both Cornell and UNH, the dedicated building crews and volunteers, the generous donors who helped achieve the vision, and the 60 years of engaging faculty and hard-working, talented staff members, all of whom have created, nurtured, and stewarded the Shoals Marine Lab.
Since our last newsletter, our undergraduate courses ended, our high school classes and programs have come and gone, our SURG students presented the results of their 10 weeks of research on the island and left, and numerous groups have visited the island for workshops, special programs, trainings, orientations, and tours. We also welcomed 80 people to join in the 60th season celebration/reunion. While the seas were rougher than we would have liked, our fantastic waterfront team was able to get all of the groups to the island safely, and reasonably dry. The outstanding food (thanks to the amazing kitchen crew and guest chefs Sam Hayward and Evan Mallett), special events (cocktails in Celia’s garden thanks to the SML staff team who step up to make the Shoals’ experience special), Shoals’ activities and walks by Shoals faculty and alums, and the slide show of photos from many different eras at the lab kept everyone engaged throughout the weekend. Despite coming from different class years, different classes, different roles, and different career paths, the energy on the island was palpable because of a shared love of the island and an interest in sharing it with others. And who but Shoalers would be so understanding when we had to change boat schedules and cancel the sunset cruise to Duck Island because of the sea state?
One of the core tenets of both our mission and our strategic plan is the development and nurturing of an engaged and supportive SML community. This month has shown how well we achieve this goal with so many different groups of people, whether for a day or two or for the whole summer.
The leaves are starting to change color, so I know we will soon be closing the lab for the season. I am trying to make the most of each of the remaining days in this year’s season. Hoping you are enjoying the rest of your summer (or early fall) season as well.
60th Season Celebration & Reunion
Our 60th celebration/reunion was a huge success. We had folks that attended for a day trip, one-night, or two-nights to accommodate different schedules. We began on Friday with the 42 two-night guests enjoying cocktails in the garden (including Shoals inspired mojitos and dark and stormies) and a beautiful charcuterie board, followed by a lobster dinner in the Commons. On Saturday, 24 people joined for the day trip and 14 for the one-night option. Activities included intertidaling, an intertidal buffet (no we didn't eat everything, but Carol arranged an amazing diversity of intertidal organisms), a visit to the garden, an island history walk, a walk around the island learning about many of the native and non-native plants, and a discussion of SML updates. Lunch on Saturday was a pig roast, with the island kitchen and operations staff learning the ins and outs of a new smoker, and dinner was a traditional Cornell chicken barbeque (of course we offered vegetarian and vegan options throughout the weekend). Sunday brunch was delayed to allow Evan Mallett to get to the island and join Sam Hayward in cooking an amazing meal (Sam's brandade cakes, lobster hollandaise to make lobster eggs benedict, UNH smoked trout gravlax, and Maria Parloa's tomato chowder from the original Appledore Cook Book, among other delights). Throughout the weekend we enjoyed photos of the Shoals across the decades, and Joel Gardner collected video memoires from anyone willing to share anecdotes about their time on the island. Because of the seas, we had to cancel our planned sunset cruise to Duck and snorkeling adventures. There is always more to do and see at Shoals than time allows, so we all will have more adventures for our next reunion/celebration weekend.
Photos from the weekend are trickling in, and we will continue to share, but here are just a few that capture the spirit of SML!
Three generations of the Sheckler family (left), Traditional luggage line (right)
Class of 1977: (left to right) Mike Coburn, Ron Sher, Jackie Webb, Mary Miraglia, Carol Steingart, Nancy Schlotter, Bill Cliff
The Power of the Sea
As Hurricane Erin moved out to sea, we felt her impacts on the sea state on Appledore. All weekend, we watched large waves crash on the Appledore rocks. While most of the force hit the east side of the island, we had to raise the brow and secure the dock because a wind shift led to large waves crashing in Babb's cove. We wondered how the seals were doing on Duck Island, and we saw more seals than normal in our mooring field. We adjusted our boat schedule to take advantage of wind shifts that reduced the height and lengthened the period between waves. For years, faculty have told students who were intertidaling not to turn their back on the sea because they could be swept away (and end up in Portugal). This weekend showed the enormous power of the sea and the need to be aware of your surroundings to stay safe close to the sea. It also showed the beauty of the island that changes with the seasons and conditions. We could easily imagine Childe Hassam, Olaf Brauner, or J. Appleton Brown drawing inspiration from the sea this weekend.
photos: Sara Morris
Research Symposium
On August 9, twelve students from the Shoals Undergraduate Research Group (SURG) presented their research findings at the annual SURG Symposium on Appledore Island. Their topics ranged from invasive shrimp and roseate tern foraging strategies to underwater community composition, lobster bait preferences, and more. The day-long event was attended by SURG students’ friends and families, as well as members of the Navigator Circle donor group.
Each year, SURG students spend ten weeks on the island conducting intensive research while developing a deep connection to the island’s environment, community, and to one another. This year’s cohort, mentored by Drs. Mike Sigler and Rebecca Atkins, was selected from hundreds of applicants. Their presentations marked the culmination of a transformative summer—one that not only advanced scientific understanding but also fostered lasting professional and personal growth. The symposium was a celebration of curiosity, collaboration, and commitment to marine science.
News From Our AFA Community
Alumni and Friends Association
Many thanks to the AFA committee that planned the reunion over the last several months. They created a wonderful suite of programming to make a memorable celebration of the 60th SML season. The AFA held a formal meeting during the weekend, and folks can expect to hear from AFA Chair, Jackie Webb, about future opportunities to engage with the AFA. The Shoals team will offer updates about this season and future plans through zoom meetings during our "off season" for our community members in partnership with the AFA.
60th Committee: (left to right) Terry Cook, Jaclyn Spear, Jackie Webb, Sue Kennedy, Ron Sher, Mike Coburn, Carol Steingart. Not pictured are: Matt Norwood, SML Director of Operations, and Cam Ragland, SML Program Coordinator, who ensured the logistics of the weekend went smoothly on the island.
This is a space to share news with our community.
If you have something you'd like to share, please contact us.
Wish List Success!
During the 60th Celebration and Reunion weekend, we added our wish list to the white board in Kiggins Commons and we are excited to say that two of the items were donated by attendees - the rainwater reservoir for the garden and new mattresses for the staff in Bartels!
Please reach out to Amy Fish, Director of Community Relations, at amy.fish@unh.edu if you are interested in making a donation designated toward any of these items. Thank you!
