College

Owned by the [Oceanside Conservation Trust](http://oceansideconservationtrust.org) (OCT), College is a rocky islet located just off the southwest shore of Long Island in Casco Bay. College is almost connected to Long Island at low tide. The island is treeless, with beautiful but fragile patches of goldenrod and bayberry. A striking orange-yellow lichen blankets the southeast-facing ledges. A concrete foundation on the southwest side of the island marks the site of a WWII navigation light.

College is a lovely place for weary paddlers to take refuge from the legendary Hussey Sound currents. Given its close proximity to inhabited islands including Long, Peaks, Great Diamond and Little Diamond, visitors are asked to keep a low profile. Long Islanders have a history of enjoying College Island, and their traditional use of the property should be respected.

Seals often haul out on the ledges surrounding College Island. Please keep a comfortable distance from seals when using the island and step only on bare rock (not soil, lichens, or other plant life). College has at times been home to nesting terns; please report any signs of nesting bird activity to MITA.

In 2011, OCT began managing vegetation on College by removing exotic and invasive plant species such as Asiatic bittersweet and rugosa rose to provide space for bayberry and other native plants. One of the beneficiaries has been poison ivy, which is common in the vegetated portion of the island.