Schoodic Institute

2024 Project ASCO at Harriman Point
2024-07-08 06:30 - 07:30 (America/New_York)
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 8, 2024 from 6:30am – 7:30am at Harriman Point (Brooklin, ME) as we head into Maine’s rocky intertidal to collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed. Please register for this volunteer event below.
We will begin the field day with a refresher training and then work together to collect along the shore at each site. To find our training videos, please visit our Project ASCO page.
Participation in this event includes working with Schoodic Institute researchers in the rocky intertidal, a place where slips, trips, and falls can be a concern due to wet or unsteady rocks and seaweed. Please come prepared with weather appropriate field gear, long pants, close toed shoes, and enthusiasm for learning about Maine’s rocky intertidal ecosystem!
Project ASCO is a participatory science research initiative designed to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”) is the dominant species in most of the rocky intertidal zone of Maine and provides habitat for other species living in and visiting the intertidal zone. Rockweed is currently harvested in Maine and sustainable management requires knowledge of the total amount of rockweed throughout the state. Participants in Project ASCO can help answer the question, “How much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

2024 Project ASCO at South Blue Hill Landing
2024-07-09 06:30 - 08:00
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 9, 2024 from 6:30am – 8:00am at South Blue Hill Landing (Blue Hill, ME) as we head into Maine’s rocky intertidal to collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed. Please register for this volunteer event below.
We will begin the field day with a refresher training and then work together to collect along the shore at each site. To find our training videos, please visit our Project ASCO page.
Participation in this event includes working with Schoodic Institute researchers in the rocky intertidal, a place where slips, trips, and falls can be a concern due to wet or unsteady rocks and seaweed. Please come prepared with weather appropriate field gear, long pants, close toed shoes, and enthusiasm for learning about Maine’s rocky intertidal ecosystem!
Project ASCO is a participatory science research initiative designed to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”) is the dominant species in most of the rocky intertidal zone of Maine and provides habitat for other species living in and visiting the intertidal zone. Rockweed is currently harvested in Maine and sustainable management requires knowledge of the total amount of rockweed throughout the state. Participants in Project ASCO can help answer the question, “How much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

Path to Pen: Nature Journaling
2024-07-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Eliot Hall, 14 Musetti Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Practice putting pen to path in this introduction to nature journaling. Take a leisurely walk on the paved paths through the woods of the Schoodic Institute’s campus and on a level segment of the Sundew Trail. Fine tune your senses to the quiet natural beauty around you and see what you can discover! We will practive simple writing exercises to record and deepen your connection to Acadia’s story.
Our meeting location will be next to the wayside sign by Elliot Hall near the South Parking lot on Schoodic Intitute’s campus (view campus map here). We will end at the Picnic Pavilion on Jacobson Drive.
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and dressing in layers to accommodate changes in temperate. Please feel free to bring a favorite pen or pencil (optional), sunblock, insect spray, and a water bottle.
This event is free (supplies included!) and family friendly for ages 10 and above.

2024 Project ASCO at Hadley Point
2024-07-10 07:00 - 08:50
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 10, 2024 from 7:00am – 8:50am at Hadley Point (Bar Harbor, ME) as we head into Maine’s rocky intertidal to collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed. Please register for this volunteer event below.
We will begin the field day with a refresher training and then work together to collect along the shore at each site. To find our training videos, please visit our Project ASCO page.
Participation in this event includes working with Schoodic Institute researchers in the rocky intertidal, a place where slips, trips, and falls can be a concern due to wet or unsteady rocks and seaweed. Please come prepared with weather appropriate field gear, long pants, close toed shoes, and enthusiasm for learning about Maine’s rocky intertidal ecosystem!
Project ASCO is a participatory science research initiative designed to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”) is the dominant species in most of the rocky intertidal zone of Maine and provides habitat for other species living in and visiting the intertidal zone. Rockweed is currently harvested in Maine and sustainable management requires knowledge of the total amount of rockweed throughout the state. Participants in Project ASCO can help answer the question, “How much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

Be a #SoilHero! Recurring Save Our Summits Volunteer Program
2024-07-10 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-07-17 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-07-24 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-07-31 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-08-07 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-08-14 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-08-21 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-08-28 08:15 - 12:15 and 3 more dates
Hike to one of Acadia’s iconic summits AND help Acadia National Park’s efforts to restore native vegetation!
Acadia National Park, in collaboration with Friends of Acadia and Schoodic Institute, invites tenacious hikers to bring bags of soil to the summits of Penobscot and Sargent Mountains. You’ll get to choose how much soil you’ll carry – carrying as little as five pounds (about the size of a large freezer ziplock bag) is a huge help! This soil is integral to the ongoing summit restoration efforts in Acadia National Park.

Our Recurring Save Our Summits Volunteer Program occurs every Wednesday from June through September, 2024. Hikes run from 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., weather permitting. *Advanced registration is required. Register online at the link below.
Meet at the Parkman Mountain Carriage Road Trailhead off Route 3 in Acadia National Park. Participants will hike up to the summit of either Penobscot Mountain or Sargent Mountain with a Volunteer Leader.
Register Here!

If you’re SOS hiking with friends, family, or another group, we highly recommend you carpool. The trailhead has limited parking. Don’t forget your park pass! Arrive prepared to be on trail for a few hours. Dress appropriately with reliable hiking boots and sweat-wicking apparel. Bring water and snacks, as well as anything you may need for your known medical and allergy needs. Bring a backpack with extra room to stow your soil. Carrying soil up via backpack is the most convenient method. Participants must stay with the group on the hike up to the summit, but are free to continue exploring the park on their own after dropping off their soil and checking in with the Volunteer Leader. If conditions are expected to be rainy or slippery on the day of the hike, participants will be alerted via email and invited to register for the next drop-in opportunity.
The Routes
Participants will hike with soil up to the summit of Penobscot OR Sargent Mountain.
Sargent Route
Elevation gain: 1,040 ft
Distance: 4.20 mi
AllTrails Map
Penobscot Route
Elevation gain: 1,086 ft
Distance: 4.33 mi
AllTrails Map

Summit Restoration is Critical
Despite their hardened granite, Acadia’s mountain summit ecosystems are incredibly fragile. Human-caused climate change is causing longer growing seasons, more rain, less snow, and fewer species that we know and love. Extreme weather events are damaging landscapes, cultural resources, and infrastructure. Invasive plants species are trying to out-compete native summit plants. Trampling by humans has damaged the plant communities at the top of mountains. For the last several years, Acadia National Park, Friends of Acadia, and Schoodic Institute worked together to evaluate new vegetation plantings and soil replacement on Cadillac Mountain summit. This research continues to provide managers with invaluable information on how to direct change toward desired future conditions on Cadlillac and other summits in Acadia. Turns out, getting soil on the summits is a critical piece of the revegetation puzzle. The loss of vegetation has caused soil to erode, which means there’s no place for seeds to settle and grow.
That’s where you come in. By carrying soil to the summits of Sargent and Penobscot Mountains, you’ll play an important role in the restoration of these vital ecosystems and their future resiliency. That’s something to feel proud of. (Bonus: you’ll get a wonderfully scenic hike in Acadia!)
Lean more about this science-based approach: Learning How to Restore Mountain Summits

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-07-10 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on July 10, August 7, and September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

2024 Project ASCO at Fort Point State Park
2024-07-25 07:00 - 08:35
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 25, 2024 from 7:00am – 8:35am at Fort Point State Park (Stockton Springs, ME) as we head into Maine’s rocky intertidal to collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed. Please register for this volunteer event below.
We will begin the field day with a refresher training and then work together to collect along the shore at each site. To find our training videos, please visit our Project ASCO page.
Participation in this event includes working with Schoodic Institute researchers in the rocky intertidal, a place where slips, trips, and falls can be a concern due to wet or unsteady rocks and seaweed. Please come prepared with weather appropriate field gear, long pants, close toed shoes, and enthusiasm for learning about Maine’s rocky intertidal ecosystem!
Project ASCO is a participatory science research initiative designed to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”) is the dominant species in most of the rocky intertidal zone of Maine and provides habitat for other species living in and visiting the intertidal zone. Rockweed is currently harvested in Maine and sustainable management requires knowledge of the total amount of rockweed throughout the state. Participants in Project ASCO can help answer the question, “How much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

2024 Project ASCO at Sears Island
2024-07-26 07:30 - 09:25
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 26, 2024 from 7:30am – 9:25am at Sears Island (Searsport, ME) as we head into Maine’s rocky intertidal to collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed. Please register for this volunteer event below.
We will begin the field day with a refresher training and then work together to collect along the shore at each site. To find our training videos, please visit our Project ASCO page.
Participation in this event includes working with Schoodic Institute researchers in the rocky intertidal, a place where slips, trips, and falls can be a concern due to wet or unsteady rocks and seaweed. Please come prepared with weather appropriate field gear, long pants, close toed shoes, and enthusiasm for learning about Maine’s rocky intertidal ecosystem!
Project ASCO is a participatory science research initiative designed to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”) is the dominant species in most of the rocky intertidal zone of Maine and provides habitat for other species living in and visiting the intertidal zone. Rockweed is currently harvested in Maine and sustainable management requires knowledge of the total amount of rockweed throughout the state. Participants in Project ASCO can help answer the question, “How much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-08-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on August 7 and September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-09-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

Sea Level Rise Trail Tour
2024-09-20 12:00 - 13:30
Join us on Friday, September 20th from 12pm-1:30pm at the Bar Harbor Oceanarium and Education Center for a bag lunch and tour of the sea level rise trail during the king tide!
King tides are the predicted highest high tide and lowest low tide of the year. They are important because they show us what rising seas will look like on the landscape. On Friday, September 20th, just after 12pm noon, Mount Desert Island will experience a king tide, and we invite you to explore the Oceanarium with us to learn more.
Many people have questions about whether the January 2024 storms were an anomaly or a sign of what’s to come. When we hear “one foot of sea level rise”, what does that look like on our coastline? Join Raney Bench from the Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Jeff Cummming of the Oceanarium, Catherine Schmitt of Schoodic Institute, and artist Jennifer Steen Booher for a talk about sea level rise, last winter’s storms, and our future. Learn how to measure and mark predicted high tides in places around the island you care about, and join us in a conversation about coastal resilience and how we can plan for the future.
Bring a bag lunch and wear sturdy shoes for this short walk through the marsh.
Interested in learning more? Here are some helpful links:
Coastlines Project
Gulf of Maine King Tides Project
News coverage from Mount Desert Islander

Pints for Purpose with Dr. Chris Nadeau
2024-09-26 17:00 - 19:00
Join Friends of Acadia on Thursday, September 26 at Terramor Outdoor Resort (Bar Harbor, ME) for Pints for a Purpose, featuring Schoodic Institute’s Climate Change Adaptation Scientist Dr. Chris Nadeau!
Pints for a Purpose is a free series co-hosted by Friends of Acadia and Terramor Outdoor Resort. All are welcome to attend and $1 of every beer purchased benefits Friends of Acadia. Gather around the fireplace, sip a beer, and hear stories about the history and future of Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island.
You can view more information, including the full speaker line-up, online here: https://friendsofacadia.org/get-involved/events/pints-for-a-purpose/

What Drives Early-Career Environmental Science Professionals?
2024-10-01 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Program on Zoom
Why do we do this work?

What are the driving forces behind the enthusiasm of early-career environmental science professionals? Join us virtually on Tuesday, October 1st from 12:00pm – 1:30pm for our 2024 Acadia National Park Science Symposium opening event! Gain insight from our early-career science professionals as they share their inspirations in a series of 10-minute lightning talks.
Featured speakers for this year’s livestream (download the PDF here):
Becca Stanley – Recreation Technician Lead, Friends of Acadia
Jack Byrley – Preventative Search And Rescue Ranger, North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park (former Visual Information Specialist, Acadia National Park)
Chris Silcox – Education Ranger, Schoodic Education Adventure
Hanae Garrison – Stewardship Manager, Royal River Conservation Trust (former Schoodic Institute Ecology Technician)
Marisa Monroe – Graduate Research Assistant and Acadia Science Fellow, University of Maine
Will Greene – Research Associate, Perry Institute for Marine Science (former biological field technician and science communicator, Friends of Acadia)
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.
If you are interested in being a speaker and sharing your early-career insights during this presentation, please contact Trevor Grandin at tgrandin@schoodicinstitute.org.
This presentation will take place online via Zoom.

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Acadia Retreat
2024-10-24 - 2024-10-28 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) New England is thrilled to announce a brand new retreat at Schoodic Institute! Open to traditionally published authors and illustrators, the Acadia Retreat will be held October 24-28, 2024 at Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor, Maine.
SCBWI New England’s stellar faculty for this inaugural retreat are: Eileen Robinson (Editorial Director/Executive Editor, Charlesbridge Moves), Kevin Hawkes (Author/Illustrator), and Alison Johnson (Director of School Programs for Island Readers & Writers). In addition to faculty presentations, working time, optional school visit consultations, and play time, the afternoon of October 27th will be a children’s book festival so we can celebrate our books and each other out in the community!
Tell me more! What is the Acadia Retreat?
The Acadia Retreat is open to traditionally published authors and illustrators, whether you are celebrating your debut or your 100th book! The goal of the retreat is to play, flex creative muscles, restore, connect with ourselves, each other, and the natural world around us. There will be campfire. There will be lobster. There will be hikes, deep salty-ocean-breeze breaths, creative time, and a brand new festival celebrating you and your books! You’ll come away refreshed and inspired!
Where do I register?
To register, please click here.

2024 Eek of Ecology!
2024-10-26 13:00 - 16:00 | Eliot Hall, 14 Musetti Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Join us for this year’s Eek of Ecology Halloween Festival!
Visit the campus of Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor to trick-or-treat through learning stations about local plants and animals. Encounter friendly spiders, bats, and eels inhabiting local Maine habitats! Learn about ravenous endangered species, ghoulish invasive species, ghosts of ecological history, and more!
This event takes place on Saturday, October 26 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm (rain or shine). Activities are appropriate for the whole family and provide a fun, safe, learning environment offered in a drop-in format. Come for 20 minutes or for 3 hours to Eliot Hall on the Schoodic Institute campus (Winter Harbor, ME) for “eek-citing” activities for everyone. Please note, children 12 and under should be accompanied by an adult.
Questions? Give us a call! (207-288-1310)

Acadia's Winter Birds with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-11-09 10:00 - 12:00
On Saturday, November 9 from 10am – 12pm, join Seth Benz (Schoodic Institute’s Director of Bird Ecology) and the Wendell Gilley Museum to learn about Acadia’s Winter Birds! This event will consist of a brief indoor presentation followed by an easy “Causeway Forest Stroll”. We’ll review resident bird survival strategies, and discuss which species come from away to spend winter in Acadia.
Bring your binoculars and curiosity, and please remember dress for the weather! If you don’t have binoculars, a loaner pair will be available from the museum with advanced notice.
Registration is required for this event. Please register online here: https://www.wendellgilleymuseum.org/events/241109-AcadiasWinterBirds-SB

2025 Acadia Amphibian Monitoring Training
2025-03-06 17:30 - 19:30, 2025-03-08 11:00 - 13:00
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

ServSafe Food Safety Certification Class at Schoodic Institute
2025-04-30 08:30 - 15:30
DFS Services proudly provides ServSafe Food Safety Certification classes across Maine, and this spring they are coming to Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park! Register now to join us on April 30, 2025 from 8:30am – 3:30pm and gain your food safety certification.

Successful completion of this class earns each attendee a valid recognized certification in food safety for 5 years.
Space is limited, so register today! The cost of this course is $199 and includes the book, exam certification, and lunch.
Meet David Suhr (DFS Services Owner/Instructor): For more than 25 years, DFS Services owner David Suhr has been a certified national ServSafe® instructor (CFSP, ANSI), teaching for the Maine Restaurant Association and prior to that, working in the food industry in many different capacities for more than 30 years. More than a decade ago, Dave became certified as a food safety instructor CFSP and affiliated with NEHA (National Environmental Health Association). They are recognized by the Conference for Food Protection which is a national benchmark for the food service industry and well known nationally for their comprehensive and updated food safety training materials. Dave has also created a BASIC Food Safety program designed as a refresher for experienced food handlers or initial training for new food handlers.
Meet Dan Caron (Instructor): Bringing a wealth of experience in culinary arts spanning over 25 years. As a former culinary arts instructor, Dan has honed a distinct approach to teaching that prioritizes student understanding and engagement. Known for his innovative methods, Dan creates an inclusive learning environment by avoiding traditional practices like reading aloud in class, instead leveraging his extensive knowledge and expertise to ensure that students gain a comprehensive and practical understanding of the material.

Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance Black Fly Writers Retreat
2025-05-02 - 2025-05-05
The Black Fly Writers Retreat is an inspiring four-day, three-night weekend of workshops, readings, and writing.

Join us for the 2025 Black Fly Writers Retreat, which will be held from Friday, May 2 through Monday, May 5 at Schoodic Institute.
Black Fly Writers Retreat attendees will spend Saturday, Sunday, and Monday mornings (8:30am to 12pm) in workshops of no more than ten participants working with one instructor. Afternoons will be open for writing and an optional individual meetings with the instructor. There will be Friday and Saturday evening faculty readings and an optional Saturday evening open reading, giving attendees a chance to share their work with each other.
This year’s critically-acclaimed faculty include Kathryn Miles (creative nonfiction), Elizabeth Peavey (advanced memoir), and Lewis Robinson (fiction).
To find more information on this year’s workshop and to register, please visit https://www.mainewriters.org/black-fly-retreat.
Registration for Black Fly will close on April 18th.

(From left to right): Kathryn Miles, Elizabeth Peavey, and Lewis Robinson. Photos courtesy of Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance
