On June 30, 2026, we officially broke ground on the new ISEA Education Center on the north end of the campus. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our donors, this $6.4 million facility is completely funded, and construction is officially underway. Project updates can be found here.
For more than 35 years, Inland Seas Education Association (ISEA) has equipped young people with the inspiration, knowledge, and resources necessary to ensure the long-term health and stewardship of the Great Lakes. The experience of learning about the Great Lakes, whether on the water or within the watershed, cannot be replicated in a classroom. Students need to collect, touch, see, and hear the environment to connect with it truly.
Since 1989, more than 192,000 individuals have participated in ISEA programs. Over the past eight years, demand for our unique year-round STEM programming has outpaced our physical capacity. This Campaign for the Future of Great Lakes Education was created to exponentially scale that impact.
Funds Raised to Date: $11,707,948
Campaign Progress
The early phases of this campaign have successfully transformed our infrastructure, fleet, and staff capacity. The table below outlines what your community support has already secured and where we are directing our final fundraising focus.
| Campaign Component | Current Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Land Acquisition | 100% Funded | Purchased both the north and south properties adjacent to our original lot, creating a cohesive three-acre waterfront campus. |
| Schooner Alliance | 100% Funded | Purchased in November 2022, retrofitted and put into service in 2023, doubling our regional shipboard programming capacity. |
| Staffing and Expenses | 100% Funded | Funded crucial campaign operational expenses and added a full-time captain, mate, and educator roles during the expansion. |
| Leo Creek Preserve | Gift to ISEA | In 2024, this outdoor learning preserve was gifted to ISEA by Kate Thornhill and the Leo Creek Preserve Board of Directors. At Leo Creek, ISEA demonstrates how actions on land impact the Great Lakes through our Watershed Exploration programs. |
| ISEA Education Center | 100% Funded | CURRENT PHASE – Groundbreaking event held on June 30, 2026, on the north end of campus; building construction is fully funded. |
| Project Contingency | Active Fundraising | A critical safety net to cover any unforeseen construction cost overruns and material fluctuations. |
| Maintenance Fund | Active Fundraising | Long-term fund to support our ship and building maintenance costs. |
| Campus Enhancements | Active Fundraising | Funding for community-focused campus features including benches, public walkways, and outdoor art installations. |
| Additional Learning Spaces | Stretch Goal Fundraising | Install a waterfront dock for ROV and other shore-based programs. Fundraise for the Sturgeon Cove Learning Pavilion to serve as a near-shore educational space. |
Core Pillars
The Campaign for the Future of Great Lakes Education stands firmly on three deeply interconnected pillars: Programs, Places, and People. Together, these pillars ensure that our newly expanded fleet and campus not only look impressive from the shoreline but also actively deliver transformative, hands-on experiences that will shape Great Lakes stewards for generations to come.
Expanding Our Programs
Our real-world, hands-on STEM formats create deep, lasting connections to the water. The increasing demand from K-12 schools, universities, and regional environmental organizations confirms the immense value of ISEA’s teaching approach. Expansion allows us to reach underserved urban and rural youth across the entire Great Lakes basin, ensuring our programs map directly to state education standards and expose students to future environmental career pathways.
Enhancing Our Places
This campaign creates an interconnected hub of learning and community engagement. Beyond our tall ships and the Capt. Thomas M. Kelly Biological Station, the campus will feature a large indoor space for group learning and a dedicated boat shop for vessel maintenance. Furthermore, the gift of Leo Creek Preserve to ISEA provides a perfect natural watershed laboratory, illustrating clearly to the public and students how actions on land impact the health of the Great Lakes.
Investing in Our People
There are no programs without exceptional people to lead them. To support our growth, we have successfully scaled our team of passionate professionals, adding a full-time Captain, First Mate, and Great Lakes Educator. As our year-round programs continue to grow to meet regional demand, your ongoing investment ensures we can sustain this incredible team and expand our staff for the future.
Timeline
2021 | Property Expansion
Purchased the south adjacent waterfront property to lay the physical foundation for a publicly accessible educational campus.
2022 | Fleet Expansion
Purchased the schooner Alliance to work in tandem with the schooner Inland Seas.
2023 | Scaling Operations
Began programming on the Alliance, expanding our geographic reach.
Built staff infrastructure by hiring key full-time shipboard and educational staff.
2024 | Watershed Expansion
Leo Creek Preserve gifted to ISEA.
2025 | Property Expansion and Public Phase Launch
Purchased the north adjacent waterfront property to create a cohesive three-acre waterfront campus.
The public phase of the campaign officially opened, allowing the broader community to join our efforts as we finalized architectural designs and core fundraising.
2026 | Groundbreaking and Construction Commencement
Officially broke ground on the north campus Education Center with full construction funding locked in place.
2027 | The Finish Line and Ribbon Cutting
Our target for raising remaining maintenance and enhancement funds, completing core building construction, and hosting our community ribbon-cutting celebration.
Visionary Stretch Goals
By exceeding our base campaign goals, new donors have a unique opportunity to help fund two transformative waterfront additions.
The Waterfront ROV Dock
This proposed addition will establish a dedicated dock on our waterfront designed specifically for underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) exploration. It will allow students to deploy advanced technology directly from our campus, expanding our STEM programs and giving learners a real-time window into the underwater dynamics of Suttons Bay.
The Sturgeon Cove Learning Pavilion
Planned for the shoreline of our newly acquired south property, this open-air educational pavilion will serve as an outdoor lakeside classroom. The structure will protect students from the weather elements during land-based watershed lessons while keeping them seamlessly connected to the sights and sounds of the shoreline ecosystem.
Donate
Every dollar counts as we finalize this historic expansion. Whether you choose a one-time donation or a multi-year pledge, your contribution directly builds Great Lakes stewards. Naming opportunities are still available for prominent campus areas and features.
Cash
Make an outright gift or pledge your support. Pledges can extend three years, and donations may be eligible for tax deductions.
Planned Gifts
You can create a meaningful Great Lakes legacy through a planned gift. Planned giving options include bequests, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance policies, retirement plans, or other arrangements.
Gifts of Stock
Stock, or other appreciated assets, can be donated and may qualify for a charitable tax deduction. If the stock has appreciated, you may avoid paying capital gains upon transferring it to ISEA.
Qualified Charitable Distribution
Individuals who are 70 1/2 years old or older can donate a maximum of $100,000 to ISEA directly from a taxable IRA instead of taking their required minimum distributions
Check out the future vision of the Inland Seas Education Center!
To follow along with the constuction updates, please check out our social media here:
Instagram: @inland_seas_education_assoc
Facebook: @Inland Seas Education Association
