All visitors must be part of an approved program and will be sent an electronic “boarding pass” that they will use to board the boat in Port Clyde.
The college advertises programming Request For Proposals, RFPs, several times a year. The proposals are reviewed by a steering committee with the intent of approving as many proposals as possible. These proposals support programming by campus and off-campus groups/schools organized by our community partners. In addition, we run informal exploration trips through the spring, summer, and fall for students, faculty, staff, and alumni to visit the islands. Explore trips are an excellent way to gain the island experience needed to run independent programming.
The college runs a private boat from Port Clyde to Allen and Benner Islands. We have several 8-passenger SUVs available to transport groups from Colby to Port Clyde.
The boat runs outbound (Port Clyde to Allen) at 0700 every day. The boat runs inbound at 1600. We also run additional runs to support the numbers and schedule of larger groups. The additional runs must be arranged in advance.
We have four reserved parking spots in Port Clyde. It is possible to arrange for additional parking, but we strongly encourage participants to carpool from campus to save gas and reduce parking congestion.
Trips will run as long as the sea conditions are safe. The boat captain has the final say on trip safety.
Lifejackets are provided. Children under 12 are required to wear lifejackets at all times on the boat. Adult passengers are not required to wear lifejackets unless otherwise instructed by the captain.
The Islands have a number of houses with kitchens, overnight accommodations, meeting spaces, classrooms, and research labs. All houses have reliable AC power, internet, and heating.
The island has an extensive trail network that provides access to rocky shorelines, open meadows, and old-growth forests. A dirt road provides foot, truck, and bike access throughout the island. Birding, hiking, and all manner of ecological exploration are possible on the islands. Click here to see the island map.
The islands are at least one hour from professional medical services. Guests with severe allergies or other medical conditions should inform their trip director and bring their own emergency equipment. An AED, Epinephrine Pens, and first aid supplies are available, but not in every building. The island crew has been trained for emergency evacuations, but transport to Port Clyde may take over an hour.