2022 GivingTuesday Concert to Support Schoodic Institute
2022-11-29 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Join us on November 29th from 5:30pm – 7:00pm for a special happy hour concert and conversation between Maine-based singer-songwriter Gordon Thomas Ward and Schoodic Institute as part of GivingTuesday, a global generosity movement aimed at unleashing the power of radical generosity. Gordon’s music spans several genres including Singer-Songwriter, Americana, and Contemporary Folk Rock.
During the concert, you’ll meet our Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellows Maya, Mikayla, and Olivia and learn about how they are helping us achieve our mission of inspiring science, learning, and community for a changing world. Attend in-person at Moore Auditorium on the Schoodic Institute campus or remotely via Zoom. Beer, wine, and light refreshments will be provided.
About Gordon
A resident of Winter Harbor, Gordon is, at heart, a storyteller who paints musical portraits that plumb the depths of our emotions and bring the past to life while pointing to a hope-filled future. His listeners travel mystical and historical roads, winding through lush, sonic landscapes. While performing, Gordon utilizes a variety of instruments including six-, eight-, and twelve-string guitars and an eight-string Walkabout dulcimer, resulting in a varied spectrum of tonal colors. His songs have led him to work with notable musicians such as Eric Troyer and Mik Kaminski (Electric Light Orchestra, ELO II, and The Orchestra), William J. Hall, Caroline Cotter, share the stage and billing with Natalie Merchant and Christine Lavin, and open for noted singer-songwriter Bill Staines. Gordon’s first album Welcome to the Past was released in 2013. His celebrated, GRAMMY-balloted record Providence was released on August 30, 2018. Gordon followed that up with the release of his new, much-anticipated, and critically acclaimed double album titled Eiderdown on May 1, 2020, which has charted as the #1 folk record, both nationally and in Maine, and as the #3 alternative folk record in the nation. Gordon’s new album Whispers from the Woods was released on September 1, 2022, and is currently the #4 alternative folk album in the nation. Visit his website here.
Thank you to our sponsor, Machias Savings Bank.

Join remotely via Zoom:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88593398137?pwd=[REDACTED]

Please Consider a Gift to Support Schoodic Institute
We need your help to fulfill our mission and achieve our vision. Help us conduct critical research about how national parks, communities, and society can adapt to environmental change. Help us integrate research with hands-on education programs for people of all ages. And help us build partnerships of discovery and learning across natural and social science disciplines. Donate during registration or online at SchoodicInstitute.org/donations. You may also mail a check to Schoodic Institute at P.O. Box 277 Winter Harbor, Maine 04693. Thank you for your generosity!

Landscape of Change with Catherine Schmitt
2023-01-24 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Program on Zoom
Join the Belfast Free Library, Belfast Garden Club, and Catherine Schmitt (Science Communication Specialist at Schoodic Institute) on January 24th for a virtual presentation on Landscape of Change.
Launched on April 19, 2021, Landscape of Change is a collaborative project with Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Acadia National Park, College of the Atlantic, MDI Biological Laboratory, and A Climate to Thrive with the goal of publishing and compiling historical records on the Mount Desert Island environment, and comparing these with contemporary data to document change over time.
During the presentation, Catherine will share what’s been learned about MDI’s changing landscape, the value of collaboration for monitoring the climate crisis, and the ways everyone can participate in understanding landscapes of change.
This program is part of the 2023 Belfast Garden Club Evening Lecture Series presented in collaboration with All of Belfast Climate Dialogues, a project of the Belfast Free Library.
To register for the Zoom link, click here.

Science, Ahoy! Dive Into Marine Science at the Dorcas Library
2023-01-28 10:30 - 12:30 | Dorcas Library, 28 Main St, Gouldsboro, ME, 04669, United States
Join us for a morning of marine-themed crafts, read-alouds, and more at the Dorcas Library. Bring your sense of adventure and be ready to explore the ocean through art and science! Complimentary snacks and hot cocoa will be provided.
Science, Ahoy! is a free, collaborative event between Schoodic Institute and the Dorcas Library. We invite you to drop-in or stay for the full two-hour event, which will include a brief opening introduction, a round of crafts and fun activities, marine-themed story time, then more crafts and read-alouds! Activities for kids ages 5-10, but all are welcome.

Unable to make it in-person to this event? Here are links to some marine-themed crafts and activities you can do at home!
Monterey Bay Aquarium Crafts & Printables (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Shoreline Scavenger Hunt
Egg Carton Turtles (PBS Kids)
Upcycled Fish (PBS Kids)

Here and Now: The Great Backyard Bird Count
2023-02-17 09:00 - 11:00 | Wendell Gilley Museum, 4 Herrick Road, Southwest Harbor, Maine, 04679
Schoodic Institute’s Bird Ecology Director Seth Benz teams up with the Wendell Gilley Museum to kick off the annual global bird count!
The world comes together to observe birds and you can be part of the effort. Join us on Friday, February 17th from 9:00am – 11:00am at the Wendell Gilley Museum (4 Herrick Road in Southwest Harbor). We’ll cover how to participate in this global event, watch observations roll in from around the world, and we’ll contribute our own observations from Southwest Harbor. This event will combine indoor and outdoor components – please dress accordingly.
This event is free, but registration is required. Click here to register today.
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds, and to display results in near real time. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. Birds Canada joined the project in 2009. In 2013, participants began entering data into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project.

Science, Ahoy! Dive Into Marine Science at the Ellsworth Public Library (FULL)
2023-02-18 09:00 - 11:00 | Ellsworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Ellsworth, ME, 04605, United States
We are currently at capacity for this event. Thank you for your interest.
Join us for a morning of marine-themed crafts, experiments, read-alouds, and more at the Ellsworth Public Library. Bring your sense of adventure and be ready to explore the ocean through art and science! Complimentary snacks and hot cocoa will be provided.
Science, Ahoy! is a free, collaborative event between Schoodic Institute and the Ellsworth Public Library. We invite you to drop-in or stay for the full two-hour event, which will include a brief opening introduction, a round of crafts and fun activities, marine-themed story time, then more crafts and read-alouds! Activities for kids ages 5-10, but all are welcome.
Unable to make it in-person to this event? Here are links to some marine-themed crafts and activities you can do at home!
Monterey Bay Aquarium Crafts & Printables (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
Shoreline Scavenger Hunt
Egg Carton Turtles (PBS Kids)
Upcycled Fish (PBS Kids)

Schoodic Forest Meet & Greet
2023-03-01 18:00 - 19:30
Join us on Wednesday, March 1st from 6:00pm – 7:30pm at Hammond Hall (427 Main Street in Winter Harbor) to learn about the new Schoodic Forest Preserve and join in the discussion of management opportunities!
Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Schoodic Institute are partnering to manage a new preserve on Curtis Road called Schoodic Forest. It will have public access and support ongoing ecological research. As we develop the management plan to guide our actions moving forward, we would like your input! Come meet our staff and discuss how you can use this property or what you’d like to see here.
During this in-person meet and greet, there will be a brief presentation about the property and the two organizations involved, followed by an open discussion about topics like trail development, allowable uses, parking, and other important points that you might like to bring up.
Unable to attend this meeting in-person? There will be a Zoom option on Wednesday, March 8th, from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Here is the Zoom meeting information: Meeting ID: 812 1789 0399 Passcode: [REDACTED]
If you have any questions, please reach out to the steward of this property, Tatia Bauer, by calling 207-801-4054 or emailing tbauer@mcht.org.

Schoodic Forest Meet & Greet (Zoom Meeting)
2023-03-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Online via Zoom
Join us virtually on Wednesday, March 8th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm to learn about the new Schoodic Forest Preserve and join in the discussion of management opportunities!
Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Schoodic Institute are partnering to manage a new preserve on Curtis Road called Schoodic Forest. It will have public access and support ongoing ecological research. As we develop the management plan to guide our actions moving forward, we would like your input! Join us on Zoom to meet the staff and discuss how you can use this property and what you’d like to see here.
Here is the Zoom meeting information: Meeting ID: 812 1789 0399 Passcode: [REDACTED]
If you have any questions, please reach out to the steward of this property, Tatia Bauer, by calling 207-801-4054 or emailing tbauer@mcht.org.

Winter Birds of Acadia Outing with Acadia Senior College (FULL)
2023-03-16 10:00 - 12:00
This event is currently at capacity. Thank you for your interest. To be added to the list for a potential second outing, please contact Acadia Senior College at 207-288-9500 or learn@acadiaseniorcollege.org.
Calling Acadia Senior College members! Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute, will be leading a winter bird outing on March 16, 2023 from 10am – 12:00pm on Mount Desert Island for Acadia Senior College members. Explore the area and learn about the winter birds on Mount Desert Island. Watch for common eiders, black-capped chickadees, buffleheads, eagles, downy woodpeckers, harlequin ducks, and more while learning about their habitats, migration patterns, and bird phenology.
The cost for this outing is $12 per person. Grab a friend and sign up now – space is limited. To register, please call 207-288-9500 or click here for more information.

Lunch & Learn Webinar: Outdoor School for All Maine Students
2023-03-24 12:00 - 13:30 | Virtual Program on Zoom
Join Maine Conservation Voters on Friday, March 24th from 12pm – 1:30pm for a virtual Lunch & Learn on Maine’s outdoor learning centers!
A few days at one of Maine’s outdoor learning centers can be transformative for middle school students, and legislation being introduced this year aims to make sure that all students get that life-changing opportunity. An Act to Support Outdoor School for All Maine Students would support all students in 4th through 8th grades to spend two nights and three days at an outdoor learning center and ensure that the experience would be integrated with school curriculum and aligned with state learning standards so we can get children outside connecting with Maine’s outdoor heritage. Learn more from Drew Dumsch, President and CEO, The Ecology School; Nicholas Fisichelli, President and CEO, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park; and Anne Sedlack, Attorney at Preti Flaherty and Member of the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Centers at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Board of Directors.
Click here to sign up and receive your webinar access link in a confirmation email.
This program is free – registration required.

MDI Science Café: Landscape of Change - Imagining the Future Shore
2023-05-08 17:00 - 18:00 | Online via Zoom
How will rising seas affect the places we care about? During MDI Biological Laboratory’s Science Café, join Mount Desert Island Historical Society Executive Director Raney Bench, artist Jennifer Booher, and Schoodic Institute Science Communication Specialist Catherine Schmitt as they discuss an ongoing project to document sea level rise around Mount Desert Island.

Historical images and records, combined with the latest information on current and future sea level rise, informed a project with Mount Desert Island High School to explore the future shoreline. The team will share perspectives from the students and community members, lessons learned so far and what happens next. Schoodic Institute’s continued collaboration on Landscape of Change won an Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History in 2022.
Mount Desert Historical Executive Director Raney Bench is passionate about the power of the past and how history impacts our daily lives. She has built a career in small museum work and loves to see people light up when they encounter an interesting or surprising object or artifact. Raney has worked in several small New England museums in education, exhibits, collections management, and as an Executive Director.
Jennifer Steen Booher is an artist and conceptual photographer living on Mount Desert Island, where she has been exploring and studying the intertidal zone for over 20 years. She’s fascinated by the way science and history intersect within issues like ecosystem dynamics, climate change and marine debris.
As Science Communication Specialist, Catherine Schmitt works with Schoodic Institute and National Park Service staff to write and share stories of science past and present, manage communications for Second Century Stewardship, and provide science communication training for researchers working in our national parks.
This event is free. Please register online here.

Finding Acadia’s Early Birds: A Special Maine Birding Excursion (FULL)
2023-05-17 - 2023-05-20 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
We are currently at capacity for this event. Thank you for your interest. If you would like to register for another 2023 Bird Tour, please click here for information and availability.
Schoodic Institute’s bird ecology director Seth Benz will lead this special tour designed to enhance your enjoyment of all birds, especially those that frequent Acadia National Park and its immediate surroundings.
Be among the first to see and hear colorful wood warblers returning to Acadia National Park, and enjoy a chartered boat trip to Petit Manan Island to see an active Atlantic puffin colony. We’ll visit area hotspots at a leisurely pace while learning about bird song and sight identification, bird habitats and behavior, and we’ll pay extra attention to enhancing your field birding skills and enjoyment of nature. The entire tour will be based out of Schoodic Institute which is ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Schoodic Point, a migration checkpoint that tallies tens of thousands of migratory birds annually. Lodging is in cozy cabins where you are often awakened by birdsong – Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, and Magnolia Warbler. Blue-headed vireos and Northern Parula warblers often serenade you as you walk to Schooner Commons, the Institute’s dining hall. Maine has a way of spoiling birders – and this spring tour is designed to do just that!
Registration is required. The program cost is $985.00 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly!
Day 1: Check-in is at 3pm. “Early Birds” begins on the Schoodic Institute campus at 4pm with introductions and a tour of the Institute campus. The late afternoon will feature the start of field birding with an excursion to a local hotspot or two. We’ll return to campus for an hour of relaxation before dinner. Dinner is from 6:00 to 7:00pm. An evening presentation on puffin restoration efforts will follow dinner in preparation for tomorrow’s special boat trip to an active seabird colony.
Day 2: An optional morning bird walk on campus – think warblers – before breakfast! Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 8:00am in Schooner Commons. We’ll then pack for a day afield and travel 40 minutes or so to the boat launch in Steuben for a 2-hour cruise to Petit Manan Island.
This is our best chance to see Atlantic puffin, razorbill, common murre, and several tern species as we circumnavigate the island, one of just 5 islands in Maine inhabited by Atlantic puffin, thanks to restoration efforts. Seals and other wildlife are also possible. After lunch, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some nearby blueberry barrens to look for an assortment of birds, including upland sandpiper, vesper sparrow, and American kestrel. Of course, there will be other birds to see along the way. An evening discussion on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow dinner (6-7pm).
Day 3: Optional campus bird walk before breakfast. We’ll then spend the day investigating hotspots in Acadia National Park as well as the nearby villages of Prospect Harbor and Corea with good prospects for finding spruce grouse. Lunch will be in the field (carefully packed in a cooler along with water). We’ll return to campus by 5:00pm for leisure time before the 6:00pm dinner. Dinner this last night together is your choice of lobster or a delicious alternative. Afterward, we’ll sum up the day and complete a checklist review.
Day 4: Optional before breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Price of $985.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or fill out the form below.
Price includes lodging and meals, van travel, boat fare, and guiding fees. Not included in price: airfare, trip insurance, alcohol beverages not offered by the host, gas stop snacks, and gratuities. An Acadia National Park pass may be necessary if you will be traveling in the park while not on this tour. These will be available to purchase at check-in or while on campus for $30.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Plummer Point
2023-05-17 14:00 - 17:30 | Plummer Point, South Bristol, Maine, 04568
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team in collaboration with Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust on May 17, 2023 from 2:00pm – 5:00pm at Plummer Point (South Bristol, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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!
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.

Thank you for your interest. Registration has now closed for this volunteer training event.

2023 Spring Birds of Acadia, with Puffin Cruise (FULL)
2023-05-22 - 2023-05-25 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
We are currently at capacity for this event. Thank you for your interest. To be placed on a waitlist, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org. If you would instead like to register for Acadia’s Iconic Birds, Whales, and Scenic Views, click here for information and availability.
Schoodic Institute’s Seth Benz is joined by Holly Merker, author of Ornitherapy, to lead this leisurely tour designed to enhance your enjoyment of all birds, especially those that frequent or pass through Acadia National Park and its immediate surroundings.
Be among the first to see and hear colorful wood warblers returning to Maine’s Acadia National Park, and enjoy a chartered boat trip to Petit Manan Island to see an active Atlantic puffin colony. We’ll visit area hotspots at a leisurely pace while learning about bird song and sight identification, bird habitats and behavior, and we’ll pay extra attention to enhancing your field birding skills and enjoyment of nature. The entire tour will be based out of Schoodic Institute, a research and learning center, ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Schoodic Point, a migration checkpoint that tallies tens of thousands of passing birds annually. Lodging is in cozy cabins where you will be awakened by birdsong – Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, and Magnolia Warbler. Blue-headed vireos and Northern Parula warblers often serenade you as you walk to Schooner Commons, the Institute’s dining hall. Maine has a way of spoiling birders – and this spring tour is designed to do just that!
Registration is required. The program cost is $985.00 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly.
Day 1: Check-in is at 3 PM. “Spring Birds” begins on the Schoodic Institute campus at 4 PM with introductions and a tour of the Institute campus. The late afternoon will feature the start of field birding with an excursion to a local hotspot or two. We’ll return to campus for an hour of relaxation before dinner. Dinner is from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. An evening presentation on puffin restoration efforts will follow dinner in preparation for tomorrow’s special boat trip to an active seabird colony.
Day 2: An optional morning bird walk on campus – think warblers – before breakfast! Breakfast is served from 7:00 to 8:00 AM in Schooner Commons. We’ll then pack for a day afield and travel 40 minutes or so to the boat launch in Steuben for a 2-hour cruise to Petit Manan Island. This is our best chance to see Atlantic puffin, razorbill, common murre, and several tern species as we circumnavigate the island, one of just 5 islands in Maine inhabited by Atlantic puffin, thanks to restoration efforts. Seals and other wildlife are also possible. After lunch, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some nearby Blueberry barrens habitat to look for an assortment of birds, including upland sandpiper, vesper sparrow, and American kestrel. Of course, there will be other birds to see along the way. An evening discussion on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow dinner (6-7 PM).
Day 3: Optional campus bird walk before breakfast. We’ll then spend the day investigating hotspots on the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park as well as the nearby villages of Prospect Harbor and Corea with good prospects for finding spruce grouse. Lunch will be in the field (carefully packed in a cooler along with water). We’ll return to campus by 5:00 PM for leisure time before the 6:00 PM dinner. Dinner this last night together is your choice of lobster or a delicious alternative. Afterward, we’ll sum up the day and complete a checklist review.
Day 4: Optional before breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Price of $985.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356.
Price includes lodging and meals, van travel, boat fare, and guiding fees. Not included in price: airfare, trip insurance, alcohol beverages not offered by host, gas stop snacks, and gratuities. An Acadia National Park pass may be necessary if you will be traveling in the park while not on this tour. These will be available to purchase at check-in or while on campus for $30.

Landscape of Change: Historic Acadia National Park
2023-06-08 18:30 - 19:45 | Virtual Program on Zoom
Join Landscape of Change partners and Smithsonian Associates on Thursday, June 8, 2023 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. (via Zoom) to learn about how you can help document sea level rise.
For centuries, the coastal location and diverse landscape of Maine’s Acadia National Park – featuring mountain summits, rocky shores, and wooded valleys – have drawn Indigenous residents, explorers, settlers, and visitors in search of beauty and inspiration. The juxtaposition of landscape has created a unique region and a haven for scientists. Their centuries of written records, specimen collections, and oral histories have provided baselines for understanding environmental change on Mount Desert Island and beyond.
Schoodic Institute’s Science Communication Specialist Catherine Schmitt will share the story of science in Acadia, including how the records of university students helped inspire the conservation efforts which led to the formation of the national park, and how this legacy is helping scientists today document a rapidly changing world.
This presentation will take place online via Zoom. Registration required – click here to sign up today.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Ferry Landing
2023-06-09 08:00 - 11:30 | Ferry Landing, Brooksville, ME
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team in collaboration with Blue Hill Heritage Trust on June 9, 2023 from 8:00am – 11:30am at Ferry Landing(Brooksville, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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! Note: there are no bathroom facilities at this location. Please park at the lower lot at the end of Ferry Road in Brooksville. See Blue Hill Heritage Trust map for additional details.
If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Blue Hill Heritage Trust for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Thank you for your interest. Registration has now closed for this volunteer training event.

Maine Ocean Festival 2023 at The Oceanarium
2023-06-10 10:00 - 17:00 | The Oceanarium, 1351 ME 3, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609
Join the Oceanarium in Bar Harbor, Maine on June 10, 2023 from 10:00am – 5:00pm for a day-long event of live music, games, ocean-oriented vendors, and speakers and presenters discussing relevant ideas and issues affecting the Gulf of Maine today. High tide, low tide, or somewhere in between, you’ll love it. Bring the whole family and wear blue for the ocean!
During the festival, Catherine Schmitt (Schoodic Institute’s Science Communication Specialist) will join Mount Desert Island Historical Society and local artist Jennifer Steen Booher to discuss sea level rise.
To purchase tickets for this event, visit the Oceanarium website here.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Mahar Point
2023-06-23 08:00 - 11:30 | Mahar Point, Pembroke, ME, 04666
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team in collaboration with Downeast Coastal Conservancy on June 23, 2023 from 8:00am to 11:30am at Mahar Point (Pembroke, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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! Please note: there are no bathroom facilities at this location.

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Downeast Coastal Conservancy for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Thank you for your interest. Registration has now closed for this volunteer training event.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Carter's Beach
2023-06-26 09:30 - 13:00 | Carter’s Beach, Hancock, ME, 04640
We are currently at capacity for this event. Thank you for your interest. Please consider joining us for one of our other Project ASCO volunteer training events taking place this summer!

Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team in collaboration with Frenchman Bay Conservancy and Crabtree Neck Land Trust on June 26, 2023 from 9:30am to 1:00pm at Carter’s Beach(adjacent to Salt Pond Preserve in Hancock, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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!

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to Frenchman Bay Conservancy and Crabtree Neck Land Trust for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Winter Harbor Public Library Summer Lecture with Nick Fisichelli
2023-06-28 17:00 | Winter Harbor Public Library, 18 Chapel Ln, Winter Harbor, Maine, 04693
Join the Winter Harbor Public Library and Schoodic Institute President and CEO Nick Fisichelli on June 28, 2023 at 5:00pm to discuss the science, education, and partnerships happening here at the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula – with neighboring communities, along the Maine coast, and more broadly across the National Park System.
This event will take place in-person at the Winter Harbor Public Library (18 Chapel Lane, Winter Harbor, ME 04693).
For more information, please visit the Winter Harbor Public Library website.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Frazer Point
2023-07-07 07:00 - 10:30 | Frazer Point, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 7, 2023 from 7:00am to 10:30am at Frazer Point (Winter Harbor, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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! Note: a valid Acadia National Park Pass is required for this location. Project ASCO attendees are required to supply their own park pass. Bathroom facilities are available.

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you for your interest. Registration for this event has now closed.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Wolfe's Neck
2023-07-08 08:00 - 11:30 | Wolfe’s Neck, Freeport, Maine
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 8, 2023 from 8:00am to 11:30am at Wolfe’s Neck (Freeport, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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! Note, bathroom facilities are available at this location.

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2023-07-12 10:30 - 15:30 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Master carver Steve Valleau will be a special guest at Schoodic Institute on July 12, 2023 from 10:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm – 3:30pm, doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Rockefeller Welcome Center. Visit with Steve, 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.
Steve has been the carver-in-residence at the Museum for 38 years.

…….
Photos used with permission from Wendell Gilley Museum.

How to Be a Citizen Scientist: Tools for Field Identification of Maine's Flora and Fauna with Shannon O'Brien
2023-07-15 14:00 - 16:00 | The Naturalist’s Notebook, 16 Main Street, Seal Harbor, ME, 04675, United States
Have you ever been wandering down a trail and wished you could put a name to the trees towering above you, the wee invertebrates creeping below, or the birds singing nearby? Have you considered participating in a Citizen Science project, but not felt confident in your skills as a naturalist? Do you want to know how to use a dichotomous key? Are you wondering which of the overwhelming number of field guides is most useful and accurate? Do you struggle to adapt to the new wave of technological identification resources? If so, this workshop is for you!
On Saturday, July 15th, co-leaders Shannon O’Brien, Science Engagement Coordinator at Schoodic Institute, and Jordan Chalfant, Naturalist’s Notebook Manager and Maine Natural History Observatory board member, will be teaming up to make these topics accessible and fun.
Shannon oversees numerous Citizen Science projects and is a PRO at using iNaturalist. Jordan has been a contract field technician on dozens of studies in the realms of ornithology and botany, and is a dichotomous key connoisseur. These two nature nerds can’t wait to take you on a short walk from The Naturalist’s Notebook to Seal Harbor Beach. We will try out using iNaturalist and field guides to identify the biota we encounter along the way, and will bring back specimens to The Notebook to use some more advanced resources and to explore iNaturalist on the computer. We hope to leave you hooked on knowing your nature neighbors by name and feeling empowered to participate in the Citizen Science projects happening in your community. Bring a hand lens if you have one.
To sign up, please visit The Naturalists Notebook website here. Registration is $10.00. This event will take place at The Naturalist’s Notebook (16 Main Street Seal Harbor, ME 04675).
If you have any questions about this event, please reach out to info@thenaturalistsnotebook.com.

UFOs Over Schoodic Retreat With David Taylor
2023-07-16 - 2023-07-22 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
UFOs Over Schoodic welcomes David Taylor of David Taylor Designs! Join us July 16 – 22, 2023 at Schoodic Institute (Winter Harbor, Maine) and be prepared to laugh and have fun while creating a one-of-a-kind quilt of your own design.
During this retreat, you will make a quilt from a picture of your choosing, such as a beloved pet, or a stock photo. Detailed instructions and a supply list for David’s workshop will be sent once your registration and deposit are received. Additional information about the retreat will be sent then as well. In the meantime, check out David’s website here for more information, ideas, and inspiration!
We welcome everyone – whatever your skill level may be. Class size is limited so that we can maximize each student’s time with David. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The fee for this retreat is $2,100, and this include five full days of instruction with David, six nights of apartment lodging with private bedroom, full kitchen and bath, a welcome reception on Sunday, and lunch and dinner for five days (plus lots of snacks!). A nonrefundable deposit of $400 is due immediately upon registration, with the remainder due at the retreat.
To register, click the button below to download the registration form. Send completed registration form and deposit (with check made payable to Beverly Henion) to 1016 West Bay Road Gouldsboro, ME 04607.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Bev Henion at 207-963-4052 or rickandbev.henion@gmail.com.
Download Registration Form Here

2023 Schoodic By Sea, A Schoodic Institute Fundraiser (CANCELLED due to weather)
2023-07-16 16:00 - 19:00
*NOTICE* Unfortunately, due to weather this event has been cancelled. If you registered to attend and would like a refund, please check your email for more information.
Support the work of Schoodic Institute while enjoying unique views of Frenchman Bay and the Schoodic Peninsula aboard the 100-foot catamaran Acadia Explorer operated by Bar Harbor Whale Watch.
On July 16th from 4pm to 7pm, the Institute will hold a fundraiser to support ongoing research and education programs. On our voyage, you’ll hear from Schoodic Institute scientists about research efforts to understand changes along the coast including unique shoreline ecology, birds, trees, and plants in and around Acadia.
The event offers pick-ups in both Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and a cash bar will be available. Schoodic Institute is a nonprofit partner of Acadia National Park with a mission of inspiring science, learning, and community for a changing world.
Thank you for your interest. Registration for this event is closed.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Drift Inn Beach
2023-07-23 07:45 - 11:15 | Drift Inn Beach, St. George, ME, 04860
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 23, 2023 from 7:45am to 11:15am at Drift Inn Beach (St. George, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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!

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Herring Gut Coastal Science Center for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at Mitchell Field (FULL)
2023-07-24 08:15 - 11:45 | Mitchell Field, Harpswell, ME
We are currently at capacity for this event. Thank you for your interest. Please consider joining us for one of our other Project ASCO volunteer training events taking place this summer!
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 24, 2023 from 8:15am to 11:45am at Mitchell Field (Harpswell, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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!

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

Keeping Up With The Pace: How Are We Responding To Change?
2023-07-24 16:00 - 17:30 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
When it comes to our climate, too often our focus is on what has happened in the past or what might happen in the future; however, communities across the globe are experiencing dramatic changes right now. Here in Acadia, we are dealing with hotter temperatures, rising sea level, and increasing storm frequency and intensity.
On July 24th, 2023, join us for a special conversation with Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday on NPR. During the event, we will discuss how scientists are working to understand and respond to rapid change in Acadia and beyond. Ira will also share thoughts on the role science communicators can play in their communities and the importance of serving as an ambassador for science.
The Goldstein Lecture serves to convene and inspire on critical topics for parks, people, and the planet. The lecture is named in honor of Alan Goldstein, an accomplished businessman, philanthropist, sailor, and environmental advocate. Schoodic Institute serves as the nation’s largest Research Learning Center and is a nonprofit partner of Acadia National Park. Chairing Schoodic Institute’s Board of Directors from 2006 to 2018, Alan remains an active member of the Board.
About Ira Flatow

Award-winning science correspondent and TV journalist Ira Flatow is the host of Science Friday, heard on public radio stations across the country and distributed by WNYC Studios. He anchors the show each Friday, bringing radio and Internet listeners worldwide a lively, informative discussion on science, technology, health, space, and the environment.
Flatow’s interest in things scientific began in boyhood—he almost burned down his mother’s bathroom trying to recreate a biology class experiment. “I was the proverbial kid who spent hours in the basement experimenting with electronic gizmos, and then entering them in high school science fairs,” Flatow says. Mixing his passion for science with a tendency toward being a bit of a ham, Flatow describes his work as the challenge “to make science and technology a topic for discussion around the dinner table.”
He has shared that enthusiasm with public radio listeners for more than 35 years. As a reporter and then news director at WBFO-FM/Buffalo, New York, Flatow began reporting at the station while studying for his engineering degree at State University of New York in Buffalo. As NPR’s science correspondent from 1971 to 1986, Flatow found himself reporting from the Kennedy Space Center, Three Mile Island, Antarctica, and the South Pole. In one memorable NPR report, Flatow took former All Things Considered host Susan Stamberg into a closet to crunch Wint-O-Green Lifesavers, proving they spark in the dark.
On television, Flatow has discussed the latest cutting edge science stories on a variety of programs. He also hosted the four-part PBS series Big Ideas, produced by WNET in New York. His numerous TV credits include six years as host and writer for the Emmy award-winning Newton’s Apple on PBS, science reporter for CBS This Morning, and cable’s CNBC. He wrote, produced, and hosted Transistorized!, an hour-long documentary about the history of the transistor, which aired on PBS. He has talked science on many TV talk shows including Merv Griffin, Today, Charlie Rose, and Oprah. He has co-starred twice on the CBS hit series The Big Bang Theory.
On the Internet, Flatow has hosted numerous science-related web casts for Discovery Online, The Great Planet Debate, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
In print, Ira has authored articles for various magazines ranging from Woman’s Day to ESPN Magazine to American Lawyer. His commentary has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, and Current newspapers.
His recent honors include: the Isaac Asimov Award (2012,) the Nierenberg Prize (2010), Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering, membership (2008), National Science Teachers Association Faraday Science Communicator Award (2007), the National Science Board Public Service Award (2005), World Economic Forum Media Fellowship (2005), AAAS Journalism award (2000), Brady Washburn Award (2000), and the Carl Sagan Award (1999). Ira is member of the National Association of Science Writers, AFTRA, and Screen Actors Guild.
His hobbies include tennis, golf, gardening (especially orchids), and electronic gadgets. He loves the theater. A native of New York, Flatow now lives in Connecticut.
Join us in-person at Schoodic Institute or online via Zoom. This lecture is free and open to the public – registration is required. Please register below!
Schoodic Institute’s Summer Lecture Series is made possible by our generous sponsors, including Darling’s, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, and Wallace Events.

Project ASCO Volunteer Training at DeWick Farm
2023-07-25 09:00 - 12:30 | DeWick Farm, 201 Phipps Point Rd, Woolwich, ME, 04579, United States
Join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 25, 2023 from 9:00am to 12:30pm at DeWick Farm (Woolwich, Maine) to learn about and collect data on rockweed, a foundational seaweed in Maine’s rocky intertidal! Please register for this volunteer training event below.

Project ASCO is a citizen 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.
During this training, volunteers learn the Project ASCO research protocol in a hands-on setting by collecting data on rockweed in the rocky intertidal. At the end of the training, volunteers are provided with field gear to collect their own data on rockweed and will be able to contribute to the Project ASCO database on the public data hub anecdata.org.
Activities for this research training include 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!

If you have any questions about Project ASCO or this in-person volunteer training event, please email projectasco@schoodicinstitute.org.
Thank you to the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) for partnering with us to host this volunteer training.

2023 Summer Intern Talks
2023-08-02 11:30 - 13:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
They’ve been squelching across mudflats, tromping through the woods, thinking about the language we use for communicating science, and raising clams. So, how do they do it, and what does it all tell us?
Please join us Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 11:30am – 1:00pm (in-person at Schoodic Institute’s Rockefeller Hall or online via Zoom). Each intern will give a short talk on their work, and there will be time for Q+A after each talk.

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82655110540?pwd=[REDACTED]
