Celebrating Hog Island Audubon Camp’s 90th Anniversary

Walking through the serene spruce forest on Hog Island, you may come across an occasional old tree that stands out among the surrounding second growth. Forest ecologists call this a wolf tree. If you look closely, you will find wolf trees all over New England. In forests that were clear cut for grazing pasture, a single tree was often left to provide shade for the herd. Without the constraining shade of other trees, wolf trees spread their arms wide in the peculiar branchings of creatures without kin. Those that survive now stand as elder statesmen among their peers. Hog Island’s wolf trees have witnessed Wabanaki people harvesting shellfish, farmers tending pasture and hogs, spruce saplings growing up to regenerate the forest, poets and birders softly treading through the understory, the hurricane of 1952, nor’easter of 2024, and other storms, the laughter of campers, and the stealthy movements of deer, porcupine, and other wildlife.

Establishing Audubon’s First Camp

Hog Island Audubon Camp would not exist without the vision of Milicent Todd Bingham and her mother, Mabel Todd. Mabel was a worldly woman, who traveled widely with her husband, the astronomer David Todd. Some remnants of the Todd’s globe-trotting legacy persist on the island, including Japanese torii arches marking the entrance to the holy, natural spaces on Hog Island. Mabel is perhaps best known as the original editor and publisher of Emily Dickinson’s poetry, an avocation Millicent continued following her mother’s death, with much of the work conducted during summer stays on Hog Island. Herein begins the modern artistic legacy of Hog Island, particularly the Bingham cottages, which host artists in residency every year.

It was Milicent and Mabel’s dream to protect the natural beauty of Hog Island for generations to come. When Mabel died in 1932, Millicent made it her mission to fulfill her mother’s dream. She spent the difficult years of the Great Depression searching for a partner to help her protect Hog Island and make it a haven for future generations of nature lovers. Finally, in 1936, John Baker, then leader of the National Audubon Society, agreed to help Mabel protect the land and create a nature camp for educators. This was the start of Hog Island Audubon Camp! Ninety years later, the Camp remains a haven for nature educators and enthusiasts alike.

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The Future is Bright at Hog Island

From August 20th to the 23rd, Hog Island Audubon Camp celebrated its 90th anniversary. During the celebration, over 200 people spanning generations of Hog Island staff, campers, and volunteers came together to recognize the camp’s storied history and contemplate its future.

The Friends of Hog Island

The camp has continued to thrive thanks to the steadfast care and dedication of all who’ve stewarded the island, including a dedicated community called the Friends of Hog Island (FOHI). The Friends have rallied financial support and fueled the establishment of Audubon’s Hog Island Endowment. Through significant annual contributions, thousands of volunteer hours each summer, and countless in-kind contributions, FOHI helps to sustain a tradition of environmental education on the island and their dedication keeps the camp vibrant, welcoming, and impactful for every visitor who steps onto the island.
 

Those who’ve attended a Hog Island camp session know that FOHI’s play a vital role in meal preparation, distribution, and clean up. To say “thank you”, a special FOHI Appreciation Dinner was held on August 21st .  In a Freaky Friday-esque role reversal, Audubon staff covered all elements of the meal, allowing FOHIs to fully enjoy the evening’s programming.

Following the dinner, a special evening program was held in the Fish House. A panel discussion titled “The Future is Bright at Hog Island” invited panelists Marshall Johnson, Audubon’s Chief Conservation Officer, Maggie Dewane, Hog Island Instructor, and Anthony Hill, Instructor and FOHI Board Member, along with audience members, to dream big and consider what Hog Island can be proud of in the next 10 years.

Open House

On Saturday, August 22nd, a 90th anniversary Open House featured all of the classic Hog Island experiences, including educational talks and demonstrations, nature walks, and comradery among generations of staffers and campers, some of whom spent summers on Hog Island during its earliest years as a nature camp. Throughout the weekend, campers and Audubon staff of different generations came together to share their personal experiences at Camp. Hog Island veterans watched children frolicking and exploring the grounds, continuing the legacy of Hog Island as a place for people of all ages to connect with nature.

Thank you!

Audubon’s first Nature Study Camp at Hog Island has grown to create ripple effects far beyond the island’s shores. Hog Island is a living example of how education can inspire stewardship, generation after generation. It is with great thanks to every instructor, volunteer, staff member, and camper, that the camp’s programming can continue to inspire the next generation of conservationists and share a love of birds with the world. Thank you for being part of the Hog Island community.

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