For more than 45 years, the Natural History Conference, held at the Oceanic Hotel on Star Island, has given adults and families a perfect vacation, with daily presentations on topics as diverse as ornithology, animal migration, wildflowers, geology, botany, entomology, archaeology, and oceanography. This year’s conference will be from June 21 to 28, 2026, and will focus on the marine environment of the Gulf of Maine.
This year’s conference, held June 21–28, 2026, explores the theme Active Hope: Water is Life.
Join Conservation Law Foundation’s Great Bay—Pisataqua Waterkeeper, Melissa Paly, and her colleagues as they share
current challenges impacting the estuaries and the Gulf of Maine, and ways that we can become champions for clean water and the biodiversity it supports.
In addition to diving into science and environmental advocacy, you will find opportunities to actively participate in habitat restoration, coastal cleanup, making art, journaling, book discussions, nature walks, spiritual reflection, and playful connection. People who attend Natural History Week (NHW) say Star Island is like summer camp for adults.
As a Waterkeeper, Melissa works at the intersection of science, policy, advocacy, communications and community organizing to improve the health of our region’s waterways. Why Active Hope? During this time of political divisiveness and disregard for facts and scientific integrity, we need to come together in community to keep the faith and support one another to be the change we wish to see in the world. The water needs us. Our planet needs us. We are not separate from the ecosystems we enjoy. As water quality disintegrates, as we lose native species, we lose a part of ourselves.
Fortunately, there are dedicated, grounded-in-science advocates that can show us a way forward. This conference encourages interdisciplinary and multigenerational learning with workshops in science, art, advocacy, spirituality, and time in nature.
Our conference also welcomes Sean Mahoney, fifth generation Star Islander, who is promoting regenerative agriculture on Star Island through his Sacred Landscape Design proposal. Sean will share his perspective on the history of Star Island’s landscape and the importance of regenerative practices to improve biodiversity for generations to come.
In partnership with the Rutledge Maine Lab, we will engage in working the land on Star to bring some of his vision into fruition.
In addition to a morning lecture series with our keynote speakers, and regenerative agricultural activities, NHW will offer
• Awe-filled Island walks in the morning inviting us to go deeper into our relationship with nature
• Daily Social Hour with one evening featuring invasive green crab apps as a tasty way to help control the European Green Crab population.
• Dedicated space for a series of art classes and personal art making and journaling to document our journey with a “Creative Reflections” reception on Friday
• An informative walk and talk on the geology of Star by Tom Chase
• Get inspired to advocate for the protection of Gulf of Maine waterways.
• Time to just sit back on the porch and read. Perhaps join our book club for the week discussing the book, My Oceans by Christina Rivera.
• We will be delighted in the evening with TJ Cullinane sharing readings by Celia Thaxter invoking the wildlife of the isles of Shoals in her writing. Then diving little deeper into the natural history of those creatures and exploring if they still live on the islands today.
• Fun and games with a Star Island Scavenger Hunt! Our goal for this conference is to encourage Active Hope to engage people of all ages to be aware of the critical needs of the water around us and more importantly to find the inspiration and energy to to be a part of healing our water, our planet and ourselves.
Room, Board & Program Fee
Accommodations in both the Oceanic Hotel, built in the 1870’s, and its neighboring cottages are charming and simple. Every room offers a beautiful view of the island. Families are grouped according to the ages of their children. Singles and older couples tend to stay in buildings without children. Some rooms have private baths, though most are shared. All meals included. Natural History Week is a 7-Night Conference, Sunday – Sunday. The conference program fee and a room-and-board deposit are due upon registration. Generous discounts and grants are available separately.
We hope to see you on Star in 2026!