Menunkatuck Audubon Society is pleased to announce that we are offering an Audubon Hog Island Camp Scholarship to nurture interest in bird study and conservation among young birders and those interested in nature. The 2022 Scholarship will cover the full cost of ($1,690) of the Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens program from June 26-July 1, 2022.

This intensive 6-day, 5-night program will cover boreal to coastal bird species in Maine.  We will spend part of the week at Maine Audubon’s Borestone Mountain Sanctuary looking for northern Maine bird species. The remaining part of the week we will stay on Hog Island and explore the coast for shorebirds, nesting species, and puffins! A service component will be included during the week so that teens can be hands-on and a tour of the Mad River Decoys by Audubon will be provided. Teens will learn about conservation projects around the world and see how decoys are produced to bring back species. An emphasis will be placed on creating field notebooks throughout the week.

The historic cottages at Borestone and Hog Island will be more rustic in nature than the traditional Hog Island cabins. All participants should bring a sleeping bag and prepare for camping conditions while at Borestone and Hog Island. Electricity will be provided at Borestone but phone reception is very limited and there will be no internet available at either camp. Be prepared to unplug during the week and get connected to the outdoors!

The scholarship covers all meals, housing, instruction and boat trips. The scholarship winner must arrange transportation to and from the Portland International Jetport in Portland, Maine where the trip will start and end. Participants must arrive between 10:30 am and noon on Sunday at the Portland International Jetport and we will drop-off at the airport at 9:30 am on Friday. If participants arrive early on Sunday, please wait for our staff at baggage claim. 

Mountains to Sea Birding for Teens is designed for participants ages 14 to 17 years old with an avid interest in birds. There is a limit of 14 participants per session. This program requires physical and emotional maturity. Additional registration materials will be sent to applicants. Final acceptance in the program is contingent upon Hog Island Camp staff review of application materials, which include recommendation letters and a series of questions to be completed by the teen and their guardian.

Additional information about the camp is at hogisland.audubon.org/programs/mountains-sea-birding-teens.

For questions about the scholarship or the application process, email hog.island.scholarship@menunkatuck.org.

Download the scholarship application form.