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Small Teams, Big Impact

Established in 2024, Shipwreck Coast Friends (SCF) hit the ground running, and as the philanthropic partner raised over $100,000 in its first year in support of sanctuary outreach and education.

Shipwreck Coast Friends logo.

The sanctuary has two full-time staff, but works with dozens of partners and volunteers to accomplish its mission.

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary logo.

Here are some of our favorite impacts:

Website displayed on a computer and tablet.

SCF

New Website

Established a dynamic, interactive website to engage, educate and captivate visitors with a sanctuary online experience.

Audience in a theater watching a shipwreck film onscreen.

SCF

Film Festival

Hosted First Annual Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast International Film Festival. Welcomed 200 attendees, and showed 8 films from around the world.

Scuba diver swimming along the bottom of the water examining the ground.

SCF

$14,000

Awarded $14,000 in funding to understand the threat of rising acidification levels in Lake Michigan and create a model that will be replicated in the other Great Lakes

Child standing in front of a large propeller in a museum exhibit.

SCF

$15,000

Awarded $15,000 in funding to engage 32 K-12 educators in a Sanctuary on-land, on-water and underwater experience that will be taken back to their classrooms to inspire students to become involved in its future.

Group of people in front of a National Marine Sanctuary tradeshow booth with one wearing a virtual reality helmet.

SCF

Outreach Events

Worked with Sanctuary staff to support 35 outreach events with 3,300 attendees to engage and connect people to the Sanctuary and the Great Lakes.

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary logo.

SCF

Acting as advocates for the Sanctuary

Meet annually with members of Congress and their staff to elevate Great Lakes policy issues in support of budget for research and programing and to advance legislation to enhance policy outcomes.

Large group of people in a conference room.

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Advisory Council

Established a 30 member sanctuary advisory council. These local community and government members help guide sanctuary management, support programming and outreach, and act as liaisons to their communities. American Indian Tribes and Nations also have a seat on the council.

Two people standing in front of a series of screens showing an underwater camera view.

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$780,000

Written or co-written over $780,000 in successful grants aimed at Great Lakes conservation, science, and education. The sanctuary is a catalyst for research and education. It has attracted new researchers to the region and established new Great Lakes literacy education programs.

Topographical map of various colors representing different depths.

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Mapping the Lakebed

NOAA and the private sector have mapped 95% of the sanctuary’s lakebed in high resolution. Made possible updated nautical charts, habitat maps, and new shipwreck discoveries. Only 15% of the Great Lakes have been mapped in this level of detail. The project contributed over $330,000 to the local economy through fuel purchases, marina services, and lodging/meals.

A collection of buoys on the deck of a large ship.

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Mooring Systems

Installed 24 moorings systems and markers buoys at popular shipwrecks sites. These promote safe public access by paddlers and divers, and help protect these nationally-significant historic sites from anchor damage.

Group on the deck of a ship with various heavy equipment.

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Real-time Data Buoys

Established and maintain three real-time data buoys. These new buoys provide wind, wave, and water temperature data to the public. Improve public safety, increase our scientific understanding of Lake Michigan, and give recreational and charter anglers detailed water temperature data. Online buoy data was accessed over 270,000 times since their launch.

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary logo.

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Infrastructure Strategy

Published a community-based Sanctuary Infrastructure Strategy. This roadmap takes a regional approach and envisions visitor experiences in Two Rivers, Manitowoc, Sheboygan, and Port Washington. Embodies the idea of “Four Communities, One Destination.”

Two people examining a museum exhibit.

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New Exhibits

Co-developing exhibits in coastal communities, including a newly opened 2,500 sq. ft. exhibit at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum. The new exhibit enhances one of the region’s most popular tourism destinations. Also installing exhibits at Sheboygan Visitor Center and Port Washington Historical Society. A new exhibit will open at the Rogers Street Fishing Village in Two Rivers in 2025.

Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary logo.

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Outreach Events

In 2024, sanctuary staff participated in 35 outreach events reaching 3,265 people.

You Make it Possible

Help preserve the Sanctuary’s rich history and expand access for families, students, and researchers. Everyone deserves a Sanctuary experience.

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