NAHANT — During the latest Nahant Community Breakfast event, community members were invited to partake in a unique and exciting experience over at Star Island, located off the coast of Maine.
The event was held on Friday morning at the Nahant Village Church on 27 Cliff St., where residents were encouraged to enjoy a hot plate of eggs, bacon and sausage — and in the process, hear from the church’s guest speaker, Christana Wille McKnight, island minister and community project manager for Star Island Corporation.
Star Island Corporation has owned the island since 1916, where it provides affordable journeys for families and individuals, according to McKnight. The website stated that its mission is to hold and maintain the island as a center for religious and educational experiences. While the island was founded on the liberal spiritual ideals of Unitarian-Universalism and the United Church of Christ, the island sees waves of people visiting who represent a wide range of beliefs and ideals.
McKnight came before the hungry crowd to offer residents a glimpse of reconnecting with nature in a vacation-like environment, where she spoke of a loosely-defined “conference” — which isn’t so much a conference in the technical sense of the word and more along the lines of an educational getaway, according to McKnight.
“I think we need more ‘third places’ in the world these days,” McKnight said in reference to people getting accustomed to the routine loop of home, work and back. “We need places where we gather in community, and really connect in the ways that are relevant to our lives and souls.”
She went on to say how being a part of the conference gives individuals a stronger sense of community. “People come and enjoy themselves, and they meet other people that are on the island the same time as them, and they have these new bonds forged with all the folks who come to the island.”
She noted the island has guests who have been continually visiting for over 50 years. “There are also people that actually don’t remember a time when they didn’t visit the island, and they are 90 years old.”
McKnight said that was one of the main underlying reasons that pushed her in the direction of working for Star Island Corporation. “The conference is basically family camp,” she said. “We have some that are for adults, some that are multi-generational, some are very focused, and others are wide-ranging.” One example of a conference theme, according to McKnight, was “New England Heritage.”
She went on to elaborate on how the island is a place for everything from spiritual renewal to summer fun. Guests can stay the week or visit for the day, and take part in a wide range of activities like row boating, running, swimming, learning about the island’s rich history, and even more relaxing elements such as massage therapy.
