Summer Camp on Hog Island | Scenes from Maine

Each summer, 300 to 500 people of all ages flock to a small island in Maine’s Muscongus Bay to soak up nature — hiking, exploring tide pools, catching a glimpse of wildlife — as attendees of the Hog Island Audubon Camp. Founded in 1936 by the National Audubon Society, the camp offers birding and environmental education programs for adults, teens, families, and educators, who get to actually live on the island during each six-day, five-night session. Yankee senior photographer Mark Fleming recently paid a visit to Hog Island, arriving during one of the popular “Family Camp” sessions. “More than anything, it was great to see and experience — even vicariously — the incredible fun that kids can have when exposed to nature,” he says. “It seemed to me that the Audubon Society has fostered in this unique spot a family atmosphere among guests and staff alike.” Below, you’ll find some favorite photographs from his island trip. To see the full photo essay, or to learn more about the camp, see “A Sense of Wonder,” in the May/June 2018 issue of Yankee.