Hog Island (Lincoln County, Maine) facts for kids
Hog Island is a special island located in Muscongus Bay in Bremen, Maine, United States. It is about 330 acres big, which is like 250 football fields! The island is part of the Todd Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary also includes about 30 acres on the mainland across from the island. Today, Hog Island is home to the famous Audubon Camp in Maine. This camp is run by the Seabird Restoration Program, also known as Project Puffin, which is part of the National Audubon Society.
Island History
Hog Island has a long history, including being used for farming a long time ago. In the late 1800s, it became a popular summer spot with an inn and bungalows called The Point Breeze.
Mabel Loomis Todd's Vision
Around 1910, a woman named Mabel Loomis Todd became very interested in Hog Island. She was famous for being the first editor of Emily Dickinson's poems. Mabel bought parts of the island to protect its trees from being cut down. She and her husband, David Peck Todd, who was an astronomer, built a simple summer camp there. Their family and friends enjoyed this camp until the 1960s.
Audubon Camp Begins
Mabel's daughter, Millicent Todd Bingham, worked with the National Audubon Society to create a nature study center on the island. The Audubon Nature Camp opened in the summer of 1936. Famous people worked there, including Roger Tory Peterson. He was a well-known author of the Peterson Field Guide series, which helps people identify birds. Carl W. Buchheister, who later became the president of the National Audubon Society, was also a director at the camp.
Hog Island Audubon Camp
Today, the Hog Island Audubon Camp offers amazing programs from late May through September. The camp is run by Audubon's Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. They have six-day programs where people can stay on the island. These programs teach about ornithology (the study of birds) and the environment. There are sessions for adults, teenagers, families, and teachers. You can find more information about these camp sessions by visiting https://hogisland.audubon.org/.
