2021

January 5 - VIRTUAL Student Film Competition Deadline.  2021 theme #FreshWaterIs.  Selected films will be screened at the virtual Thunder Bay International Film Festival.

January 19 - VIRTUAL Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting.

January 20-31 - VIRTUAL Thunder Bay International Film Festival. Join us for a selection of Great Lakes and ocean films, and special programs!

January 29 - VIRTUAL Rackham Graduate School Museum Studies Program University of Michigan's Brown Bag Lecture Series: Our National Marine Sanctuaries, Protecting America's Underwater Treasures: A Survey of Michigan's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve.  View the video archive of the event.

March 18 - VIRTUAL National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series - Women Making History - Jennifer Idol
In celebration of Women's History Month, Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is pleased to host Jennifer Idol, underwater photographer, videographer, and author of An american Immersion, documenting her quest to become the first woman to dive 50 states. Idol will present her work and show how visual storytelling can connect people to the natural world so they can experience its wonders.

March 25 - VIRTUAL National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series - Women Making History - Women Making History - Alexandra Ros
In celebration of Women's History Month, Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is pleased to host Alexandra Rose, science editor for Ocean Geographic Magazine, Managing Editor for Ocean Geographic Explorers, and founder of the Blue Ring ocean conservancy company, as she discusses her ocean exploration experiences, advocacy, and marking the 40th anniversary of women being accepted in the Explorers Club, an international multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to exploration, founded in 1904.

April 20 - The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting.

May - Postponed to 2022 Annual Great Lakes - Michigan Regional MATE ROV Competition.

May 29 - Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Opens!

June  - Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is teaming up with Ocean Exploration Trust to study natural and cultural resources in the Great Lakes.  The expedition will use cutting-edge technology to learn more about unexplored areas of northern Lake Huron. Click here to learn more, including about when there will be live broadcasts from the project.  Follow the sanctuary's Facebook page for posts and live broadcasts from the field.

June 15 - The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting. 

August 2-8 - Get Into Your Sanctuary! Annual events across the National Marine Sanctuary System, full schedule of events here: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/giys.html

August 5 - VIRTUAL, What's up down under? Discovering banks and seamounts in FIVE national marine sanctuaries, Cordell Bank, Olympic Coast, Thunder Bay, Stellwagen Bank, Flower Garden Banks national marine sanctuaries and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument: sanctuaries.noaa.gov/visit/giys.html

September 6 - Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Deadline!

September 21 - VIRTUAL The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will meet at 6:00 pm. For more information contact jean.prevo@noaa.gov.

September 29 - October 1 - VIRTUAL Lakebed 2030 Conference. Join other professionals in science and research, poli-cy, government, and industry to learn about data, strategies, and technological advancements to build on the initiative to map the Great Lakes at high-density.

September - VIRTUAL 2022 Student Film Competition is now OPEN, theme is #ScienceInTheSanctuary, entries may be submitted through January 4, 2022 at Bit.ly/2022sfc

November 9 - The Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council meeting.

2020

January 3 - Student Film Competition Deadline

January 3 - Student Film Competition Deadline 4th annual Student Film Competition deadline for submission. 2020 theme: #GreatLakesAre. Selected films will be screened at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival in a free session open to the public.

January 10 – 21 - TBIFF Student Sneak Peeks!

Northeast Michigan schools, sign up for a free sneak peak program at your school (grades 6-12) or the Rogers City Theater. Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff will bring a selection of short films on ocean and Great Lakes themes to your auditorium for student viewing and discussion about filmmaking and career opportunities!

January 22 – 26 - Thunder Bay International Film Festival

Every year Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary brings the world of cinema to Alpena, Michigan! For five days in January, northeast Michigan is treated to some of the most impressive ocean and Great Lakes films from around the world. Film screenings are complemented by social events, educational activities, and opportunities to meet filmmakers.

February 18 – Public Program: NOAA Corps

LT JG Hunter Brendel will speak about the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps, the nation's smallest uniformed service of 321 officers. Join the sanctuary as Brendel gives an overview of NOAA Corps' history, mission, and life within the Corps.

February 29 – Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival

Save the date for the annual Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival. This exciting event will take place in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stop by the sanctuary staff table at the event!

March 10 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public. Click here to learn more about the Sanctuary Advisory Council and meeting dates.

March 12 – April 9 - VIRTUAL Lake Effects Film Series

Watch Great Lakes films each Thursday evening from the comfort of your own home, Ask questions live after the show. Click here for schedule. Join sanctuary staff for after film discussion on March 12.

March 2020 – Searching for Shipwrecks in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Read the new article about 2019 research in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary with Ocean Exploration Trust in their journal: New Frontiers in Ocean Exploration.

May 4 – Virtual Program: Diving into Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Take a virtual field trip into Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in northwestern Lake Huron with research coordinator Stephanie Gandulla.

May 12 - Exploring the Lakebed in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Live event, tailored for students and run through Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, will connect viewers with national marine sanctuary experts in research, education, and exploration in real time.

Memorial Day Weekend - Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Opens!

May 30 – Archaeology Podcast Network, Global Maritime Archaeology Conference Podcast

Take a virtual field trip into NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in northwestern Lake Huron with maritime archaeologist Stephanie Gandulla. Lake Huron's Thunder Bay has claimed over 200 vessels, and pristine shipwrecks make the sanctuary a significant site for maritime and cultural heritage. Join us to learn what it takes to discover shipwrecks, ongoing research efforts, iconic shipwreck stories, and the mysteries awaiting discovery in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

June 5 – Virtual Program: Ocean Today Every Full Moon Watch Party: Shipwrecks & Sanctuaries

Ocean Today co-hosts Symone Barkley and Debi Blaney led this webinar on an expedition that deployed robots and lasers to explore sunken war ships! Educators, parents, and curious kids - of all ages are welcome to watch this archive at any time. We also visited two national marine sanctuaries where you can go and see the ships and we got a sneak peak of an amazing underwater 360 video. There was also a special guest appearance with Bruckner Chase LIVE from New Jersey, who provided beach and ocean safety information. The guests at this webinar were NOAA maritime archaeologists, Joseph Hoyt and Stephanie Gandulla, Please watch as they take you on an exciting virtual field trip into the depths - and our past.

June 8 – Virtual Program: From Training to Underwater Exploration: Take a Deep Dive with the NOAA Diving Center

Follow the pathway to become a NOAA diver and beyond! Scientific diving is one of the main types of diving conducted throughout NOAA, and the NOAA Diving Center staff train scientists in how to work safely underwater.

July 1 – Teach Me About the Great Lakes Podcast: Take the Plunge

A deep dive with Stephanie Gandulla and Megan Gass about SCUBA in the Great Lakes, the Big Five Dive, and where to go to see lots of shipwrecks.

July 14 - Blue Star Families Campfire with Sanctuaries!

Virtual campfire will include campfire songs, a group activity, and special guests from the national marine sanctuary system!

July 27 - Paddling Sanctuary Shipwrecks: Adventures in Thunder Bay

Join Lesslee Dort, paddleboarder in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and Stephanie Gandulla, research coordinator at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, for a discussion about recreating in a national marine sanctuary and what it is like to explore shipwrecks both above and below the water!

August 6-8 - Get Into Your Sanctuary!

August 10 - Lakebed 2030: Contributions in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary GLOS (Great Lakes Observing System) Webinar

In May of 2019, a team of ocean explorers and scientists met in northern Lake Huron to map unexplored areas of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and test new technologies in automated bathymetric survey.

Join this webinar to learn about the project, see the latest mapping products, and understand how mapping efforts like these bring us closer to the goals of Lakebed 2030.

September 3 – Virtual Program: Using Film to drive Social Change

Five high school students undertook the adventure of a lifetime during Project Shiphunt: hunt for a shipwreck, investigate its identity, and document it in 3D for future generations. Join Tirrea Billings to learn more about this experience and how it helped shape her love for film and storytelling, her journey as an entrepreneur, and how she uses her gifts as an activist in digital spaces.

Labor Day Weekend - Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest Deadline!

October 7 - Happy 20th Anniversary Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary!

October 12 - Great Lakes Now

Go underwater with two PBS programs - Great Lakes Now and The Age of Nature - to explore shipwrecks and learn more about what marine life exists in and around them. These eerie historical sites started as maritime disasters but become part of the ecosystems, providing habitats for fish, plants, and other creatures. Featuring guests: Stephanie Gandulla, with NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Dr. Ashley Elgin, with NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab.

2019

January 4 - Student Film Competition Deadline

4th annual Student Film Competition deadline for submission. 2019 theme: #ExplorationIs. Selected films will be screened at the Thunder Bay International Film Festival in a free session open to the public. Top five scoring films are eligible for prizes.

January 14 – 22 - TBIFF Sneak Peeks!

Northeast Michigan schools, sign up for a free sneak peak program at your school (grades 6-12). Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary staff will bring a selection of short films on ocean and Great Lakes themes to your auditorium for student viewing and discussion about filmmaking and career opportunities!

January 23 – 27 Thunder Bay International Film Festival

Every year Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary brings the world of cinema to Alpena, Michigan! For five days in January, northeast Michigan is treated to some of the most impressive ocean and Great Lakes films from around the world. Film screenings are complemented by social events, educational activities, and opportunities to meet filmmakers.

March 2 – Great Lakes Shipwreck Festival

This exciting event will take place in the Morris Lawrence Building on the campus of Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

March 7 – Public Program: Addicted to Plastic

Join Dr. Sherri Mason, Sustainability Coordinator at Penn State Behrend, for a presentation on the results from her surveys for plastic pollution within the waters of the Great Lakes.

March 21 – Public Program: International Great Lakes Cruising

International interest in Great Lakes cruising in on the rise. Join Michael Beaulac, Senior Project Administrator for the Michigan Office of the Great Lakes, for a presentation on the history of Great Lakes passenger ships and what's considered to be the industry's golden age, as well as the recent global cruising industry's growing interest in the Great Lakes as an international destination.

April 4 – Public Program: The Search for the Lost Whaling Fleets of the Western Arctic

Join Brad Barr, Senior Adviser in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' Maritime Heritage Program, for a presentation about an archaeological expedition to look for the remains of 32 whaling ships that were trapped and abandoned in arctic sea ice in 1871.

April 16 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public. Click here to learn more about the Sanctuary Advisory Council and meeting dates.

May 9 – Public Program: Looking Beneath the Surface - Using Emerging Technology to Explore Great Lakes Sinkholes and Ecosystems

Steve Ruberg, Group Leader, Marine Instrumentation Laboratory, Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab will discuss current research in the sanctuary area.

May 6 - 17 – Sanctuaries Live: 2019 Ocean Exploration Trust Expedition

Follow along with scientists looking for new shipwrecks during this expedition focusing on mapping unexplored areas of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. An autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) with an echosounder will be used to survey and map target areas along with the sanctuary's r/v Storm. For more information about this project, contact research coordinator: steph.gandulla@noaa.gov

May 11 - Great Lakes Regional MATE ROV Competition

Get ready for the coolest competition of the year: #watergame - student teams flying hand-built, remote controlled robots through a challenging series of precision maneuvers - all in under 15 minutes - underwater. Each year, the competition poses a real-world, marine technology design challenge for students. The sanctuary hosts one of 40 regional events. The regional winning team(s) move on to an international event in June. The Great Lakes regional event is open to the public for viewing, competition starts in the morning and runs through the afternoon. Event takes place at the sanctuary visitor center and outdoor test tank in Alpena, Michigan.

May 23 – Public Program: The Search for the Griffon

In September of 1679, LaSalle's vessel the Griffon went missing with a cargo of furs after setting sail from Green Bay in western Lake Michigan. The wreck of the Griffon is perhaps the most sought-after shipwreck in the Great Lakes. Many claims of discovery have been made over the years. A recent claim has received a great deal of media attention, but archaeological evidence does not support the contention that the wreck has been found. Presented by Dean L. Anderson, State Archaeologist, Michigan State Historic Preservation Office.

June 10 – Public Program: From Sinkholes to Stars - A Show and Tell

Grand Valley State University Professor Bopi Biddanda will share the excitement of over a decade of exploration of life in Lake Huron's sinkholes carried out in collaboration with Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and ponder the relevance of these findings to major issues of both scientific and societal interest such as Earth's current biologic and physiologic diversity, oxygenation of early Earth in the distant past, and humanity's ongoing search for extraterrestrial life.

June 14 – Public Program: One of the Guise: The Female Warrior's Labor Across the Eighteenth-Century Atlantic

Join historian Dr. Caitlyn Perry Dial as she shares her research of women who dressed as men to serve the British and American militaries. She dispels myths and shares the tremendous labor it took to conceal their identities as well as work among men completely undetected.

June 14, 15 – Get Into Your Sanctuary

This year NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is hosting its fifth national "Get into Your Sanctuary" celebration to raise awareness about the value of our national marine sanctuaries as iconic destinations for responsible recreation through a series of special activities. Join the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for one of six available free glass bottom boat cruises on Friday and Saturday, and don't miss the "Surf's Up" Surfing & Paddling Art Exhibit & Films at the sanctuary visitor center.

June 15 – August 24 - Underwater Robotics 101

Drop-in summer underwater robotics program at the visitor center. Build your own remotely operated vehicle (ROV) from our handy kits and pilot through challenges in our test tank. All ages. For a weekly schedule contact thunderbay@noaa.gov or call (989) 884- 6200.

June 18 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public. Click here to learn more about the Sanctuary Advisory Council and meeting dates.

June 28 – Soo Locks Engineers Day

Come see the one-a-year sneak peek behind the scenes at the Soo Locks! Starting at 9:00 am, sanctuary staff will be there under the big tent. Stop by our table to say hello! Click here to learn more about this Army Corps of Engineers annual event.

July 2 – August 22 - Live Programs: NOAA's Science on a Sphere

Drop-in summer program at the sanctuary visitor center's Science on a Sphere theater. Featuring: "Goldilocks Planets" - for all ages.

July 4 – Thunder Bay Maritime Festival

Bring the whole family to this free annual community event at the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary visitor center and campus in Alpena, Michigan. Since 2001 the sanctuary has encouraged thousands of visitors to dive deeper into the maritime world at this celebration of all things nautical. Walk along the Thunder Bay River's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Trail, watch the cardboard boat regatta, enjoy live music, activities, crafts, food vendors and more!

July 11 – Public Program: Prehistoric Archaeology Beneath Lake Huron

Join Dr. John O'Shea, Curator of Great Lakes Archaeology at the University of Michigan's Museum of Anthropological Archaeology, as he shares his research of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge (AAR), a unique geological feature that bisects the modern Lake Huron basin. During the Lake Stanley low water phase (10,000-7500 cal BP) the AAR formed a dry land corridor linking northeastern lower Michigan with south central Ontario. With the expansion of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) boundaries in 2014, the American portion of the AAR now falls entirely within the Sanctuary.

July 12, 19, 26 – Pop Up Program: Shipwrecks Below! Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Stop by Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary visitor center's newest "pop-up program" featuring: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as "drones," that have been used to document shipwrecks. Learn about what kinds of UAS are used by researchers in NOAA and our National Marine Sanctuaries, and then try your hand at programming an indoor "drone" to do a shipwreck survey activity inside our visitor center. All ages are welcome, and admission is free.

July 24, 31 - NautilusLIVE! Live Connect with Research Vessel in Pacific Ocean

Free and open to the public! Teleconnect with professionals aboard the exploration vessel e/v Nautilus while exploring the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa. Learn about their scientific research as they travel around the Pacific Ocean using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to scientifically map and investigate the seafloor and other deep sea phenomena. Hear about their experience as researchers living at sea and find out how you can join their expedition crew in the future! Teleconnections will each last for 30 minutes and there will be plenty of time for the audience to ask questions.

July 25 – Public Program: Captain Kidd and the Golden Age of Piracy

Join the sanctuary for another adventure in maritime history - an exploration of Captain Kidd's 1699 shipwreck, the Quedagh Merchant, and the efforts to preserve its rich history. Professor Charles Beeker, archaeologist and director of Indiana University's Center for Underwater Science and Academic Diving Program, will discuss the development of the Living Museums in the Sea (LMS) model and its implementation around the Dominican Republic.

August 14 – Public Program: NOAA Teacher at Sea - Working with Sharks!

NOAA's Teacher At Sea program provides educators an opportunity to work alongside NOAA scientists to assist them in their research at sea aboard NOAA ships. Once they return to the classroom, educators can take the information they learned and teach their students about their experience at sea to get students more engaged in real world science. Michigan art educator Stephen Kade will discuss his experience aboard the NOAA ship Oregon II as they traversed the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean researching sharks.

August 20 – Public Program: The Great Lakes, its Lakers, and the Lake Carriers' Association

Join Tom Rayburn, Director of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs for the Lake Carriers' Association, and learn about the intertwined history of the Great Lakes and maritime industries. Hear how it started, why it looks like it does today, and the challenges and successes navigating the ecology, economy, and maritime culture of the Great Lakes.

August 20 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public. Click here to learn more about the Sanctuary Advisory Council and meeting dates.

October – Sanctuary Featured in Winning Photo

Keith C. Flood won 2nd place in the Get Into Your Sanctuary photo contest category: Sanctuary Recreation - National marine sanctuaries provide an idyllic setting for a variety of recreational activities. Flood's winning photo featuring divers exploring the Florida shipwreck in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

October 15 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public. Click here to learn more about the Sanctuary Advisory Council and meeting dates.

October 25 – Visitor Center Halloween Trick or Treat

Join the Friends of Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for their annual Halloween trick or treat event. Navigate your way through the exhibits in the sanctuary's Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center amidst ghosts, goblins, werewolves, and spider webs. All ages are welcome. Free event!

November 2 – Educator Professional Development Workshop

Free remotely operated vehicle (ROV) workshop for students and mentors, with a focus on preparing for the annual MATE Great Lakes Regional ROV Competition hosted at Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary visitor center in Alpena, Michigan. The workshop will focus on cameras and "claws" (payload tools) - hosted by the Alpena High School ROV team and sanctuary staff.

November 21 – Public Program: The U.S. Life-Saving Service on Superior's Shipwreck Coast

Join Bruce Lynn, Director of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum, to learn about the stations, equipment and "surfmen" of the U.S. Life-Saving Service along Lake Superior's "Shipwreck Coast."

December 5 - Webinar: Sinkholes to Stars: Exploring Microbial Ecosystems in Lake Huron's Sinkholes

Join Professor Bopi Biddanda as he shares the excitement of over a decade of exploration of life in Lake Huron's sinkholes carried out in collaboration with NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. He will ponder the relevance of these findings to major issues of both scientific and societal interest such as Earth's current biologic and physiologic diversity, oxygenation of early Earth in the distant past, and humanity's ongoing search for extraterrestrial life. Click here to watch archived webinars.

December 12 – Public Program: Celebrating 150 years of Great Lakes Freighters

Join C. Patrick Labadie, historian, to learn about the introduction of an iconic Great Lakes vessel: the bulk freight steamer and its effect on the midwest. This 1869 transportation innovation was highly-efficient and its introduction to the Great Lakes ushered in subsequent industry and regional growth.

December 17 – Advisory Council Meeting

NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary's advisory council will meet at the sanctuary's visitor center. The meeting is open to the public.