Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) unveiled a long-term vision for an expanded waterfront campus at a well-attended community event on June 25, 2025, publicly announcing its Campaign for the Future of Great Lakes Education.

This ambitious $11.1 million initiative will transform the organization’s capacity to inspire and educate the next generation of Great Lakes stewards, directly addressing the growing demand for ISEA’s impactful programs from K-12 schools, universities, and environmental organizations.

The catalyst for this transformative campaign began in late December 2021 with ISEA's purchase of the south lot adjacent to its Suttons Bay campus. The vision for an expanded educational footprint took shape in 2022. In 2023, ISEA launched its second schooner and began building the necessary staff infrastructure to support future growth, a process that continued into 2024, the same year ISEA received the generous gift of the nine-acre Leo Creek Preserve. The acquisition of the north lot, including the Millside Building, was finalized in January 2025, completing the strategic property acquisitions needed to fulfill ISEA’s vision for the future of Great Lakes education.

“The enthusiastic response to our waterfront vision underscores the community’s understanding that the Great Lakes are essential to our health, economy, and quality of life,” said Fred Sitkins, Executive Director of ISEA. “Building upon the progress we’ve already made through this campaign, we are expanding our ability to meet the growing demand for hands-on, experiential learning about these vital waters, inspiring people of all ages to take meaningful action to protect them.”

The campaign focuses on investing in the programs, places, and people central to ISEA’s mission. Upon completion, the organization anticipates serving 10,000 people annually through its expanded capacity, fostering a deeper understanding of the Great Lakes ecosystem and inspiring a commitment to their care.

Thanks to the generous support received to date, ISEA has already raised 73% of its goal, a crucial step toward securing a sustainable future for the Great Lakes.

A Vision For The Future

Programs:
Leveraging its newly unified waterfront campus and the expertise of its expanding team, ISEA will deliver deeper and more impactful learning experiences for a greater number of individuals, particularly K-12 youth. The enhanced facilities allow for expanded hands-on investigations, collaborative projects, and immersive activities that go beyond the limitations of current indoor capacity. This will enable ISEA to offer more comprehensive and engaging programs that foster a stronger connection to the Great Lakes and inspire lifelong stewardship in young learners.

Places:
The acquisition of a second schooner, Alliance, in 2023, has already increased on-water educational capacity. The gifting of the nine-acre Leo Creek Preserve enhances shoreside programming. Key properties north and south of ISEA’s Capt. Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station have been acquired, creating a cohesive, three-acre waterfront educational campus. The basement of the Millside Building on the north lot will house ISEA's vessel maintenance facility. The upper level will be renovated to include a multi-use educational space for ISEA's land-based Watershed Exploration programs, teacher professional development opportunities, volunteer training, donor events, and more.

People:
The campaign has already enabled ISEA to hire key personnel, including an additional ship captain, a first mate, a Great Lakes Educator, a Communications Coordinator, and a Detroit Liaison, to meet increasing programmatic needs. In 2024, ISEA conducted 321 place-based experiential education programs, reaching nearly 7,000 participants across its ships, campus, and local watersheds, with continued growth anticipated as new/updated facilities come on board. 

To learn more about how you can support this campaign, visit schoolship.org/campaign or contact Fred Sitkins at 231-271-3077 x101 or fsitkins@schoolship.org.