The Penobscot Bay Leadership Collaborative (PBLC) to take place July 11-24. This is a 14-day exploration in seamanship, science and sailing in Penobscot Bay for 10 female-identifying Knox County middle schoolers.

Three local organizations, the Apprenticeshop, Hurricane Island Outward Bound School (HIOBS), and Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, have come together around a shared vision: to foster the development of character and apply curiosity for science and craftsmanship for Midcoast Maine youth. Through this partnership, students from Maine island and coastal communities are given the opportunity to build meaningful skills and relationships as they challenge themselves and each other through a 14-day expedition.

Participants will conduct a service project during the expedition and will carry their learning forward as they engage in a community-driven action during the following school year. 

“Our extraordinary Penobscot Bay and Maine Islands provide an unparalleled platform for this experience,” said the collaborative, in a news release.

This will be the fourth year PBLC has run, alternating between male identifying and female identifying middle schoolers. This year, the camp is inviting 10 female-identifying Knox County middle schoolers to ignite their curiosity and sense of purpose through hands-on learning and teamwork. These young leaders will learn woodworking, knot-tying, sailing, rowing, and a host of navigational skills at the Apprenticeshop in Rockland. With Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership, they will study marine ecology, invasive species, microplastics pollution, and ocean acidification, developing leadership and community building skills using the tools and methods of science informed sustainability practices. Finally, they will head to sea for coastal exploration on a HIOBS Pulling Boat. On this expedition, they will take the maritime skills learned earlier in the week and apply them to work together as a team, hone their leadership skills, and strengthen their sense of self-reliance.

Following the summer intensive, Hurricane Island Center for Science and Leadership will provide year-long leadership mentoring to the students, working with teachers and school leaders to offer support as each student engages in a community focused action and builds skills as a science informed leader. Participating middle schools include Camden-Rockport, Oceanside, St. George, Hope, Appleton Village, Medomak, Vinalhaven, North Haven, Troy Howard, and Lincolnville Central.

PBLC runs from July 11-24 and is a fully funded program, free to all participants thanks to the collaborative fundraising efforts of these three youth-oriented nonprofits. If you’d like to make a donation towards the program, visit the donate page. The collaborative is working together to raise $25K in program support. https://www.hiobs.org/programs/pblc/