Small Island Takes on Big Environmental Responsibilities
Author Dorothy Bennett December 19, 2019
Star Island is an island off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the group of islands called the Isle of Shoals where being eco-friendly is a priority. Starting in 2011, the island has made small and large impacts varying from installing solar panels that contributes 60% of the energy the island uses to making the snack shop’s plates and silverware all compostable. The staff and visitors have fully invested in making Star Island a clean and beautiful place to be without harming the environment.
According to Ivy Peters, a 7th-grade shoaler who’s been going for 11 years, describes the Green Gosport Initiative as, “Star Island’s conservation of the isle of shoals” which is right on point. The Green Gosport Initiative is the shoaler’s drive to help the environment.
Kristen Simard, the Environmental Services Manager on Star Island, says, “the GGI [Green Gosport Initiative] has always had an overall focus on developing and modeling sustainability, including offering education and outreach opportunities to raise awareness and inspire people to effect positive change in the seacoast region and beyond.”
Star Island’s shoalers, as they are called, are the people who come back over the years to Star Island. Star Island tries its hardest to make it the prime destination. And it works, for everyone interviewed has come back for one reason or another.
Star Island, to clear the confusion, is a retreat center. It is unlike others because even though it’s a week-long retreat where you get quiet time, you also can go to the variety of activities Star Island offers.
There is also the family side of it. They have a camp-like structure where people are sorted by age and the groups are named after the surrounding islands. The kids go around the island, take care of the island chickens and learn about recycling. They help out and have fun. All the age groups have different activities and experiences.
When asked, “Do you think their attempts will help?” most answered yes, saying, as Kristen says, “Yes, because a big component of our sustainability initiative is outreach. What we’re doing is cool, but what is more important is sharing what is possible on Star Island and helping people realize that they can bring the mindset that has made changes on Star Island possible home to their own communities, towns, and states. That is how I think we’ll make the biggest difference.” Or as Nadia Trufahnestock a 7th grader who is a 4-year shoaler, “yes...it is really important, and it’s helping the environment… if more people did it…”.
Others think the opposite, like Owen Tegeder, a 7th grader who says, “No, because only a hundred or more come to Star” which might not be enough to help the earth win the battle. Owen's sentiment is valid though, according to Lindsey Greene, the administrative assistant, year-round about 4,000 conferees, 200 personal retreaters, and another load of the constant day-trippers come to Star.
Another opinion that considers how small numbers might still make a difference is from Kai Filmer, a 9th grader who says, “Maybe not all by itself but together with all the members and people that it takes to run the island, we can help inspire others to do the same...yes but only with the aid of others.”
Star Island also has opportunities to work and volunteer for a summer or year-round. Anyone older than 18 can go for a maximum of 9 weeks committing their summer to being a “pelican.” Ten permanent year-round staff members and between 100-120 seasonal staff members run the island’s programs. Emma Whitford who was a shoaler for ten years and a pelican for three summers says, “I've worked in the kitchen and also on ‘cute crew’ for setting up for events... from working in the kitchen, I became a better cook, and so I'm more likely to prepare food for myself than get take out you know and just be more environmentally conscious.'' Many others have had experiences they would never trade.
Star Island’s solar panels are one of their biggest strengths. Kristen says that Star Island has “420 solar panels, which makes us the largest off-grid solar array in the northeast (there are larger arrays, but most are grid-tied).” They have put much of their focus into creating the solar panels. In 2015 they got the title for the largest off-grid in New England!
Another significant program is Star Island’s water treatment. They use “reverse osmosis desalination, which filters saltwater to generate freshwater,” as Kristen again puts it. She includes Star Island’s water conservation goals, “all toilets are flushed with salt water, and collected rainwater is used for fire suppression purposes (all sprinklers are charged with this) and laundry.”
Now on to composting, which is one of the biggest and most important initiatives. As their website puts it, “We separate food waste from trash and compost this to transform
it into a beneficial commodity that helps improve island soil in gardens and on the lawn. Chickens also help by eating leftovers such as bread, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes (they love vegetarian pot pie!). Composting food waste helps reduce demands on island boats and provides the island with a reusable product.” They make sure everything they put out on a plate, if possible, can go back to the earth and help grow more of the food.
Star Island is not going to stop there. They are still determined to make the island even more of a safe and fantastic place to be. As Emma Whitford puts it when old and new shoalers participate in island activities they will “learn those environmental skills and then take them onto the rest of their lives.” If you ever end up there, make sure to ask questions and take a tour of the incredible environment they have kept up.
According to Ivy Peters, a 7th-grade shoaler who’s been going for 11 years, describes the Green Gosport Initiative as, “Star Island’s conservation of the isle of shoals” which is right on point. The Green Gosport Initiative is the shoaler’s drive to help the environment.
Kristen Simard, the Environmental Services Manager on Star Island, says, “the GGI [Green Gosport Initiative] has always had an overall focus on developing and modeling sustainability, including offering education and outreach opportunities to raise awareness and inspire people to effect positive change in the seacoast region and beyond.”
Star Island’s shoalers, as they are called, are the people who come back over the years to Star Island. Star Island tries its hardest to make it the prime destination. And it works, for everyone interviewed has come back for one reason or another.
Star Island, to clear the confusion, is a retreat center. It is unlike others because even though it’s a week-long retreat where you get quiet time, you also can go to the variety of activities Star Island offers.
There is also the family side of it. They have a camp-like structure where people are sorted by age and the groups are named after the surrounding islands. The kids go around the island, take care of the island chickens and learn about recycling. They help out and have fun. All the age groups have different activities and experiences.
When asked, “Do you think their attempts will help?” most answered yes, saying, as Kristen says, “Yes, because a big component of our sustainability initiative is outreach. What we’re doing is cool, but what is more important is sharing what is possible on Star Island and helping people realize that they can bring the mindset that has made changes on Star Island possible home to their own communities, towns, and states. That is how I think we’ll make the biggest difference.” Or as Nadia Trufahnestock a 7th grader who is a 4-year shoaler, “yes...it is really important, and it’s helping the environment… if more people did it…”.
Others think the opposite, like Owen Tegeder, a 7th grader who says, “No, because only a hundred or more come to Star” which might not be enough to help the earth win the battle. Owen's sentiment is valid though, according to Lindsey Greene, the administrative assistant, year-round about 4,000 conferees, 200 personal retreaters, and another load of the constant day-trippers come to Star.
Another opinion that considers how small numbers might still make a difference is from Kai Filmer, a 9th grader who says, “Maybe not all by itself but together with all the members and people that it takes to run the island, we can help inspire others to do the same...yes but only with the aid of others.”
Star Island also has opportunities to work and volunteer for a summer or year-round. Anyone older than 18 can go for a maximum of 9 weeks committing their summer to being a “pelican.” Ten permanent year-round staff members and between 100-120 seasonal staff members run the island’s programs. Emma Whitford who was a shoaler for ten years and a pelican for three summers says, “I've worked in the kitchen and also on ‘cute crew’ for setting up for events... from working in the kitchen, I became a better cook, and so I'm more likely to prepare food for myself than get take out you know and just be more environmentally conscious.'' Many others have had experiences they would never trade.
Star Island’s solar panels are one of their biggest strengths. Kristen says that Star Island has “420 solar panels, which makes us the largest off-grid solar array in the northeast (there are larger arrays, but most are grid-tied).” They have put much of their focus into creating the solar panels. In 2015 they got the title for the largest off-grid in New England!
Another significant program is Star Island’s water treatment. They use “reverse osmosis desalination, which filters saltwater to generate freshwater,” as Kristen again puts it. She includes Star Island’s water conservation goals, “all toilets are flushed with salt water, and collected rainwater is used for fire suppression purposes (all sprinklers are charged with this) and laundry.”
Now on to composting, which is one of the biggest and most important initiatives. As their website puts it, “We separate food waste from trash and compost this to transform
it into a beneficial commodity that helps improve island soil in gardens and on the lawn. Chickens also help by eating leftovers such as bread, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes (they love vegetarian pot pie!). Composting food waste helps reduce demands on island boats and provides the island with a reusable product.” They make sure everything they put out on a plate, if possible, can go back to the earth and help grow more of the food.
Star Island is not going to stop there. They are still determined to make the island even more of a safe and fantastic place to be. As Emma Whitford puts it when old and new shoalers participate in island activities they will “learn those environmental skills and then take them onto the rest of their lives.” If you ever end up there, make sure to ask questions and take a tour of the incredible environment they have kept up.