We Count! Hawk Migration Association of North America and Raptor Migration Monitoring in the Americas with Julie Brown
2024-09-20 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual Program on Zoom
Join us in celebrating the 30th anniversary of Hawk Watch on Friday, September 20th with a virtual livestream presentation with Raptor Migration and Programs Director for the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA), Julie Brown! Brown will speak about HMNA’s work and the continental network of hawkwatching sites, why collecting spring and fall migration data is important, and what we’ve learned about raptor movements and populations. She’ll dive into migration data from the Cadillac Mountain Hawk Watch, as well as data from across the continent and what it’s showing us about the health of raptor populations.
Julie Brown is the Raptor Migration and Programs Director at the Hawk Migration Association of North America. Before joining HMANA in 2009, she migrated throughout the US and tropics working as a field biologist primarily with raptors, focusing on human impact studies, migration research, and behavioral studies. She received her BS in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine and received her MS in Conservation Biology from Antioch University New England, where she studied Peregrine Falcon migration in Costa Rica for her thesis. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, whom she met hawkwatching, and her two bird-loving children, a flock of chickens, her dog, and lots of fruit trees. She is a volunteer counter at the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory each fall.
This virtual presentation is free and open to the public – registration is required.

Science for Natural Resource Stewardship with Dr. Ray Sauvajot
2024-10-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
The Key Role of Partnerships and Collaboration in National Parks
Join us Wednesday, October 9th from 7:00pm – 8:30pm for the 2024 Acadia National Park Science Symposium evening lecture, featuring keynote speaker Ray Sauvajot, Ph.D., Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science for the National Park Service.
During his presentation, Dr. Ray Sauvajot will highlight some of the major natural resource challenges and concerns facing the National Park System and how our response to these challenges requires embracing scientific partnerships and working together at broad scales. He will discuss climate change, landscape and seascape conservation, and the critical role that parks play as catalysts for stewardship solutions and collaborative science – a collaboration that is essential for the National Park Service to succeed in its conservation and preservation mission.
ABOUT RAY SAUVAJOT
Dr. Ray Sauvajot serves as Associate Director for Natural Resource Stewardship and Science for the National Park Service (NPS), where he provides leadership and direction for natural resource management and science programs of the NPS. As Associate Director, Ray oversees national programs in biology, air and water resources, climate change response, geology, natural sounds and night skies, environmental quality and compliance, ecological inventory and monitoring, and science communication. Ray leads a diverse team of scientists, policy experts, planners, program managers, administrators, and technicians at offices in Washington, D.C., Colorado, and other locations to help advance the mission of the NPS. Ray has served in positions with the NPS for over 30 years and has also held adjunct faculty appointments in biology, ecology, and environmental science at UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, and California State University Northridge. Ray received a B.A. degree in biology from UC San Diego (1987) and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees (1993, 1997) in ecology from UC Davis.
ABOUT THE 2024 ACADIA NATIONAL PARK SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM

Hosted by Schoodic Institute and the National Park Service, the Acadia National Park Science Symposium provides a forum to learn about science taking place in the region and to interact and build collaborations with scientists, educators, students, park staff, and others working in a range of fields. You can learn more about the science symposium here.
The theme of this year’s symposium is 25 Years of Impactful Research in Acadia National Park. The symposium will highlight some of the most influential science, science communication, and education that has happened in Acadia National Park since the start of the Research Learning Center (RLC) 25 years ago. In 2000, the National Park Service began working with community members to create an RLC on the campus of the former Navy Base in Winter Harbor. The goal of Schoodic Institute (Acadia’s Research Learning Center) is to help grow science in national parks and better connect science with management, education, and communication. Since the establishment of Schoodic Institute, the amount of annual research in the park has increased more than threefold. This year’s science symposium will highlight some of the most influential examples of research, education, and communication that has happened over that time.
The symposium will take place in-person at Moore Auditorium on the Schoodic Institute campus (Winter Harbor, ME) and online via Zoom. This virtual option is open to speakers and attendees alike. Please note that there will be overnight accommodations available. Lunch will be included in registration, as well as coffee and morning snacks.

Introducing Training Materials for Starting and Maintaining Participatory Science Projects and Programs
2025-01-08 15:00 - 16:00 | ME
Engaging people from diverse backgrounds in science is exciting and fun. Setting up and running a citizen science effort requires many different skills and knowledge in research, communication, training and community building, and project management – as well as curiosity, patience, and enthusiasm. Establishing common scientific and engagement goals can be challenging. It can be easier because now, there are training materials! The demand for training opportunities led to a collaboration among the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Schoodic Institute, to develop a toolkit and associated training materials. The Interagency Citizen Science Toolkit is now available to stimulate and guide science engagement on public lands.
In this webinar we’ll introduce you to the toolkit and its associated materials.
Presenters:
Rick Bonney is emeritus director of the Public Engagement in Science Program at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He is co-founder of the Lab’s citizen science program, co-founder of AAPS, and founding editor of the journal Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. Much of his career has focused on helping institutions develop citizen science projects and programs.
Hannah Webber is the Marine Ecology Director here at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. She runs a workshop titled “Strengthening Your Participatory Science Skills”.

2025 Acadia Amphibian Monitoring Training
2025-03-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-03-08 11:00 - 13:00 | ME
Get friendly with our neighborhood amphibians by monitoring their nighttime presence! Volunteer to help conduct research on Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula, and your data will contribute to research at the University of Maine, Acadia National Park, and Schoodic Institute.
The Acadia Amphibian Project supports research by Marisa Monroe and Dr. Noah Charney at the University of Maine, Orono, in collaboration with the National Park Service and Schoodic Institute. Marisa was awarded a 2024 Acadia Science Fellowship by Schoodic Institute in support of this work. (Click here to read the full press release). This research uses dedicated volunteers to monitor transects around Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula for the presence of amphibians on roads. This year, we will be monitoring six sites and we invite you to please sign up on a per night basis.
We will be using the Survey123 app to collect data in the field. (If you feel uncomfortable using an electronic field form, you will be provided with paper field forms). Data from this work supports the creation of a predictive model to help the park understand when and where amphibians are moving across roads. Our goal is to find ways to protect migrating and moving amphibians year round — not just in the spring.
If you would like to join this project, please fill out the registration form here and attend one of the training sessions (Thursday, March 6th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm or Saturday, March 8th from 11:00am – 1:00pm). If you cannot attend, please email marisa.monroe@maine.edu and we may be able to arrange an alternative training.
The volunteer training sessions will take place at the Acadia National Park Headquarters (20 McFarland Hill Drive, Bar Harbor, ME 04609).
IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO VOLUNTEER IN PERSON: You can still participate! If you see an amphibian on a road in Acadia National Park, we encourage you to make an iNaturalist observation. Observations will automatically be collected into a project titled “Acadia Amphibian Project”. If you do not wish to post to iNaturalist, you can email your observation to marisa.monroe@maine.edu.
Banner photo by Marisa Monroe

Southwest Harbor Coastal Meetup
2025-05-21 09:00 - 10:00 | Manset Town Dock, 55 Shore Rd, Southwest Harbor, Maine, 04679
Learn how to document coastal flooding in your community!
Climate change and sea level rise are already driving our high tides higher, causing coastal floods up and down the shores of Maine. In order to adapt, we need to increase our understanding of what water level and weather conditions lead to local flooding.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) is collaborating with the Town of Southwest Harbor to conduct a community-driven climate vulnerability assessment to identify and understand the risks and vulnerabilities of the town to the impacts of climate change. Through this project, Southwest Harbor is enrolling in GMRI’s Coastal Flooding Community Science project. That’s where you come in!
Join the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Schoodic Institute to learn about sea level rise and coastal flooding, how to contribute your own observational data to the Coastal Flooding Community Science Project, Schoodic Institute’s sea level monitoring efforts, and other ways to inform the science of change, and what you can do to support Southwest Harbor in preparing for coastal change.
Registration is not required, but encouraged. To register, click here.

MDI Science Cafe: Exploring Future Sea Levels with Science, History, and Art on Mount Desert Island
2025-06-09 17:00 - 18:00 | ME
How do we document the changing coastline of Mount Desert Island? How can history, science, and art come together to help us understand and prepare for the future?
On June 9, join MDI Biological Laboratory Science Cafe panelists Raney Bench (Executive Director at Mount Desert Island Historical Society), artist Jennifer Booher, Catherine Schmitt (Science Communication Specialist at Schoodic Institute) at this hybrid event to discuss how the “Coast Lines” project uses community art, and science to track sea levels & storm surges.
Part of the Landscape of Change initiative, Coast Lines is a public science-history-art project focused on documenting past, present, and future storm surges and sea levels on Mount Desert Island. In 2024, this work took on new and greater relevance as multiple record-setting winter storms impacted waterfronts and ecosystems all around the island.
Join us for an update on installations of the “Coast Lines” stencil that involved community partners, teachers, and students, as well as how sea level observations contributed by volunteers have informed scientific models of future sea levels and storms.
The panel will also share some lessons learned from engaging the community in thinking about the coastal landscape and how it is changing, both subtly and dramatically, and where we’d like to go from here.
To register, please click here.

BioBlitz for a Resilient Forest Future (at Schoodic Forest)
2025-07-03 09:00 - 11:00 | ME
iNaturalist Early-Detection Training with MCHT and Schoodic Institute
Curious about how introduced insects are affecting Maine’s trees? Want to go out in the woods and identify species? Join Schoodic Institute and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) for an iNaturalist early-detection training and be a forest health detective!
Learn how to identify species of management interest, including harmful insects and at-risk species, and report them using iNaturalist. Researchers use these data to monitor the distribution of these species and maintain healthy forests. After the event, you’ll be able to take these skills with you and continue reporting your observations of these species wherever you encounter them.
When and where?
Rain or shine, join us from 9am – 11am on July 3 at Schoodic Forest in Winter Harbor, ME (find on Google Maps or scroll down to view).
We will meet here at 9am, and scientists from Schoodic Institute and MCHT will first lead a training about how to use iNaturalist and identify our focal species. After the training, volunteers will go out into Schoodic Woods to look for and record observations of these species and participate in a BioBlitz to identify as many species as possible.
What to bring?
Please bring a smartphone or other device compatible with iNaturalist (helpful tip: if you don’t already have the iNaturalist app downloaded to your device, we suggest doing so prior to the event!). If you don’t have a device, reach out to us ahead of the event and we will provide tablets for use. We also recommend bringing sunscreen and water, and wearing comfortable walking shoes.
Questions? Reach out to Kyle Lima at klima@schoodicinstitute.org.
Photo by Natalia Portales

2026 Schoodic Winter Birding Adventure
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 | ME
Discover winter birds on the Schoodic Peninsula!

Embrace the magic of winter on the Schoodic Peninsula with a free, self-guided birding adventure open to all ages and experience-levels on Saturday, January 17th from 8am to 12pm.
This event is a great way to explore Acadia’s winter wildlife at your own pace. Meet us at Schoodic Institute’s Gatehouse for warm drinks, snacks, and fun activities before walking the loop road to the point.

Meet Gillian, Abby, and Julia—our 2025 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellows
Borrow binoculars and explore bird ID guides
Play games to learn more about birding

Then, set out to discover the region’s winter birds at your own pace! Located at the entrance to Schoodic Institute’s campus in Winter Harbor, ME, swing by the gatehouse first to meet the team, enjoy refreshments and games, then explore the area.

All ages and experience levels are welcome—beginners encouraged!

Please note: heated and accessible bathrooms will be located at the gatehouse. Parking on the Schoodic Institute campus can be found near Rockefeller Hall and at the North Lot (there will be directional signs to help point you in the right direction). If you have mobility issues, there will be parking spots available near the gatehouse.

Questions? Please reach out to Gillian Audier at gaudier@schoodicinstitute.com.

Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia National Park with Earthwatch II
2026-08-23 - 2026-08-29 | ME
Join Earthwatch in Acadia National Park to help scientists uncover the impacts of climate change on one of New England’s most iconic and biodiverse landscapes, contributing to crucial conservation efforts for its future.
The granite mountains and craggy coasts of the islands that make up Acadia are famous for their beauty and wildlife. This is classic, unspoiled New England. Our partner, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, is based near the tip of Schoodic Point, feet away from the crashing surf.
Acadia is home to a stunning diversity of wildlife. It is on a bird “superhighway,” a route heavily traveled by birds that migrate between Canada and South America. Researchers have recorded 23 species of warblers alone here. The park’s lakes and coastal waters also provide a home for 30 fish species and a wide array of invertebrates, such as sea stars and urchins.
But global changes–like warming temperatures and ocean acidification–are significantly impacting the park, threatening the diversity of wildlife within. Acadia’s scientists have compiled over 120 years of detailed natural history observations to compare current patterns to. On this expedition, you’ll help collect similar data that can be compared to this extended time-series data set, revealing how a changing climate influences Acadia. Few places in the country have such a rich pool of observations to draw from and make comparisons to.
Join us in helping scientists tell the story of how humans are transforming Acadia. Your efforts will contribute to research to inspire management strategies to protect this unique and vital national treasure. This is your chance to impact the future of one of the nation’s most beloved parks.
Find more information, including registration and full daily itinerary, here.

Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia National Park with Earthwatch III
2026-09-06 - 2026-09-12 | ME
