ALPENA – Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary is hosting several events in Alpena in collaboration with the United States Military, as hosting several events in the coming weeks. Below is a brief descrip[tion of each.

Now – Friday,: Silent Swarm

It is the 5th year that this collaborative, new-technology, national-defense-driven event has been held in Alpena. It is also one of the largest years, with more than 600 participants. A lot of new, autonomous technology is tested in the air and water. The sanctuary assists by serving as a headquarters for operations and providing on-water support. Please reach out if you’d like an interview or a more in-depth story.

Saturday – Aug. 1: Warfighter Scuba

This non-profit, which provides therapy to combat-wounded Purple Heart recipients through scuba diving, first traveled to the sanctuary last summer. They brought three veterans, and it was a transformational week. You can learn more from the film “Sanctuary:Beneath the Surface” by Kyle Maddux-Lawrence. Warfighter Scuba will return with a new group of veterans and spend a week at the sanctuary, using the Maritime Technology Training Tank and shipwreck sites as part of their scuba diving training. Please reach out if you’d like an interview or a more in-depth story.

Aug. 2 – Aug. 8: Force Blue’s Ocean Conservation School

We are also excited to welcome back special-operations military veterans with Force Blue this summer! The previous time they visited Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, they were part of their “Tour of Duty,” assisting with monitoring, preservation, and field work. This time they are hosting their Ocean Conservation School on the shores of the sanctuary and in Alpena and surrounding areas. This camp includes 13 participants, all youth from Gold Star families, with highly-trained veterans leading boot camps, challenges, and scuba diving training designed to help them build confidence, resilience, and new skills. The families of the camp participants will also travel to the area for the week, staying in local lodging and experiencing northeast Michigan.