Another Successful Year for the Outer Island Project

It was another successful year for the Outer Islands Project (OIP), a conservation initiative led by White Squall, in partnership with the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere (GBB), to maintain and restore campsites on the outer islands of Eastern Georgian Bay. Since its inception in 1997, the OIP has been working tirelessly to keep the islands clean, safe, and welcoming for visitors.

This season, over 30 volunteers spent eight days across 14 islands, caring for over 60 campsites. Their efforts included:

  • Thunderbox Maintenance: Moving 14 thunderboxes to new holes, replacing 4, and renovating 1
  • Garbage Collection: Collecting 8 bags of garbage, a boatload of dock foam, and removing a plastic chair from the water
  • Habitat Restoration: Dismantling informal fire pits and trimming paths to thunderboxes
This year alongside the cleanup efforts, GBB mapped the campsites that were visited so that users can see where staff and volunteers focus their stewardship efforts, and to make Outer Islands adventures easier to plan.
The 14 islands visited this year were:
·       Cathcart Island

·       The Pancakes

·       Wall Island

·       Rapier Island

·       McCormick Island

 ·       Franklin Island

·       Rumble Island

·       Winkler Island

·       Dart Island

·       Hertzberg Island

 ·       Huckleberry Island

·       Snake Island

·       Green Island

·       Big McCoy Island

 

The Outer Islands Project’s biggest fundraiser, the Franklin Challenge, took place on June 22, 2025, with over 100 kayakers, canoers, and even a few dogs paddling from Snug Harbour around the coast of Franklin Island. The 2025 event raised over $20,000 to support the OIP’s conservation efforts.

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Franklin Challenge!

The date for the 2026 Franklin Challenge has been tentatively set for Sunday June 21, 2026. Registration will open in early spring and will be announced on the White Squall website.

Read the OIP year end report here and the GBB report here.