Things are changing on Hurricane Island. The Hurricane Island Foundation was formed in 2008 and recently signed a 40-year lease with the owner of the island, who wishes to remain anonymous.
The foundation will hire an island manager for this summer and begin work repairing some buildings. The Hurricane Island Foundation (HIF) is not part of Outward Bound, although Outward Bound staff is to help with island service projects.
Hannah Pingree, a native of North Haven, is Speaker of Maine’s House of Representatives. Her 36th district includes Hurricane Island, Vinalhaven and North Haven Islands. “The future of Hurricane Island is of great importance to our community,” Pingree wrote in a press release. “We are thrilled that the Hurricane Island Foundation is dedicated to serving our community’s educational needs as well as preserving the island’s natural beauty and cultural heritage.”
Hurricane Island has a rich history. There are the remains of an old quarry town of 1,000 people who lived on the island from 1870 to 1914.
Then from 1964-2007, the island was home to the Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, established by Peter Willauer. Visitors were treated to the sight of intrepid Outward Bound students going through their paces on a variety of daunting ropes courses and sea activities in the familiar twin-masted, double ended “pulling boats.” Over four decades, the island provided an exciting outdoor experience for 35,000 students.
After 2005, the island lay dormant as the island’s owner sought advice on what to do with what was recently described as “a remarkable asset.” The Hurricane Island Foundation was formed in 2008 with Ben Willauer, a financial services adviser from Portland, as chairman of the board of trustees. Ben is Peter Willauer’s nephew.
In January 2010 a lease was signed with the owner of the island. Ben Willauer describes it as “extremely favorable,” since the owner is very supportive of the efforts of the foundation.
The Hurricane Island Foundation’s mission, as described on its Web site, www.hurricaneisland.net: “is to create and preserve an open, sustainable island community that supports and enhances the educational opportunities of Maine’s youth.” The foundation, a nonprofit organization, is currently working to re-open the existing facilities on the island as well as explore educational partnerships with groups throughout the State of Maine.
With the idea of re-introducing Hurricane Island to nearby island communities, the foundation is holding a seminar in early June for local and regional educational leaders. How can it best be used and run? Willauer stressed that whatever activities are developed, the program should be a “shared experience” between the foundation and the various groups using the island’s facilities.
In addition to having the island used by Maine’s youth, Willauer said they hope to attract adult groups. Organizations that they have been actively talking with include The Apprentice Shop in Rockland, which specializes in traditional boat building. Also interested are Thorfinn Expeditions based in Lincolnville, which offers a variety of ocean experiences on the Maine coast as well as the Kieve-Wavus camps located in Nobleboro, Maine. Outward Bound will donate some staff time to help with an island clean up. The island is also likely to be used as a solo site by Outward Bound.
In addition to ongoing fund raising, the foundation’s plans for this summer include a general cleanup of the island, repairing the mess hall (dining room) and cleaning the face of the rock-climbing site at the quarry. Willauer told me they are also in the process of getting floats and putting out guest moorings. An island manager will be hired shortly to oversee the process and coordinate volunteers.
Willauer said that the main buildings are in reasonably good shape and need only “cosmetic work” to be ready for occupancy. He stressed that the real work is on the “systems side” which include developing fresh water, power and septic systems. HIF is interested in promoting moderation when it comes to power use and wants to present the island’s plant as a showcase for how green energy usage can be achieved. With this in mind, they are finding it easier to get services in-kind from contractors rather than soliciting for specific dollar amounts.
What role will Outward Bound play in all this? Ben Willauer emphasized that although Outward Bound has been extremely supportive of the Hurricane Island Foundation, “we are not a financial proxy.” Money HIF raises does not go to support Outward Bound.
Eric Denny is director of the National Sea Program for Outward Bound. Denny stated, “We celebrate the news that Hurricane Island will continue to be a place for students from Maine and elsewhere to learn and discover more about themselves and their environment. We look forward to being a strategic partner of the Hurricane Island Foundation who will bring this wonderful, historic community back to life.”
Outward Bound will be donating a great deal of their time this summer doing service projects on the island with students.
Willauer told me that HIF welcomes Outward Bound’s help in designing their program. He described their relationship as a “real friendship. We have a lot in common.” He went on to stress, “Far from feeling threatened, their leadership has been extremely and publically supportive of what we are doing.”
Harry Gratwick’s new book is Hidden History of Maine (The History Press).