Schoodic Institute

MDI Science Café presents Coast Lines: Sea Level Rise and Collaboration on MDI
2024-05-13 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Program on Zoom
Part of the on-going “Landscape of Change” collaboration, join speakers Raney Bench, Catherine Schmitt, and others to share your observations of sea level rise and its impacts, and learn how to get involved.

A collaborative effort to document and understand sea level rise on MDI continues with new partners and new initiatives, as the island contends with the significant damage to coastal ecosystems and properties seen this winter.
This work inspired a series of art installations indicating where future sea levels will be and how they will impact the landscape and infrastructure. The Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Gulf of Maine Research Institute are new partners this year, bringing together new resources in a new effort to engage island communities in documenting and planning for sea level rise.
Mount Desert Island Historical Society 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.
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.
To learn more and register, please visit https://mdibl.org/event/coast-lines-mdi/.

Thinking in Place: Maps, Layered Landscapes, and Historical Time in the Schoodic Region with Dr. Libby Bischof
2024-05-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest! This event has reached capacity for in-person attendance, but we encourage you to join us remotely via Zoom.

Join us in person at Schoodic Institute or online via Zoom on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 7:00pm for Thinking in Place: Maps, Layered Landscapes, and Historical Time in the Schoodic Region, a special evening lecture with Dr. Libby Bischof.
Coast of Maine- From Frenchman’s Bay to Musketo Island including Mount Desart and Deer Islands, and Penobscot Bay, 1777.
How do we come to know a place? How do we come to call places by particular names? How do we come to know and understand those who have called a particular place, “home?” Join visual historian and Executive Director of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, Dr. Libby Bischof, for an evening of close looking in community. In her richly illustrated lecture, Bischof will work with the audience to read maps, charts, photographs, postcards, and other visualizations of Downeast Maine and the Schoodic Region. Together we will unpack layers of historical time as we work towards acknowledging and understanding the complex pasts that inform our present.
Dr. Libby Bischof is Executive Director of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education and Professor of History and University Historian at the University of Southern Maine. A visual and cultural historian of the 19th and 20th centuries, Bischof is interested in the ways in which friendship informs cultural production, especially in relation to landscape and place. A public historian, Bischof believes deeply in site-based, hands-on education, and the ways in which teaching local and regional history can lead to deeper civic engagement. She frequently lectures to public audiences throughout New England, and serves on the board of the New England Historical Association and as President of the New England Regional Fellowship Consortium. She lives with her husband and children in Gorham, Maine, and when she’s not working, she’s either swimming, reading, or sending postcards.
Image courtesy of the Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine

Schoodic Institute’s 2024 Summer Lecture Series is made possible by our generous sponsor, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.

2024 Finding Acadia’s Early Birds: A Special Maine Birding Excursion
2024-05-16 - 2024-05-19 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
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 $1,250.00 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 $1,250.00 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 $35.

2024 Spring Birds of Acadia with Puffin Cruise (FULL)
2024-05-21 - 2024-05-24 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest. We are currently at capacity for this event, but good news – we have more birding excursions available!
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.

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 $1,250.00 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly!
Day 1: Check-in is at 3pm. “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 6:00pm 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 7:00am 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 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 (6:00pm – 7:00pm).
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 5:00pm 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 10:00am.
Price of $1,250.00 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 (coming soon!).
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 $35.
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here.

Schoodic Institute Bird Monitor Volunteer Training
2024-05-28 08:00 - 09:30 | Wright Hall at Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Do you have an interest in the birds of Acadia National Park? Do you want to take your interest to the next level? Join us on Tuesday, May 28 at Schoodic Institute’s Wright Hall from 8:00am – 9:30am for a bird monitoring training session! This will be a great opportunity to join our team of bird monitors. Bring a sense of curiosity and binoculars (if you have them). We’ll cover the history of bird observation in Acadia and our current monitoring methods, including the use of Merlin (a bird identification app), as well as trails and hotspots to be monitored. Beginners are welcome!
Can’t make it to this session? Don’t worry – you can join us in the next session, taking place on June 11th. Find more details here.
Questions? Please email Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.

2024 Katahdin Splendor: Birds and Wildlife in the Shadow of Maine’s Highest Peak
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-07
Registration is open! Please scroll down to register.
The combined scenic expanse of Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is the stage for this extraordinary tour. Here, the history of nature exploration and birding is as rich and captivating as the landscape itself. We’ll search for boreal birds – Spruce Grouse, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee and Gray Jay – as well as a variety of warblers, and moose! Lodging and dining will be at Big Moose Inn, a charming oasis featuring Fredericka’s restaurant and the Loose Moose Bar Camp & Grille.
This 4-day, 3-night tour begins in Bangor and travels by van immediately to the Maine Highlands in and around Baxter State Park, where we will search for the elusive boreal birds, and witness Fox and Lincoln’s sparrows singing on their territories. We’ll have a great chance for the tougher-to-find warblers, such as Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Mourning, and northern forest flycatchers such as Alder, Least, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided.
Sample itinerary:
Day One: The tour starts at 8am in the morning in Bangor. We’ll pick you up at your place of lodging if you come in the day before or at the Odlin Road Parking Lot (free parking) and head directly north to one of the best boreal birding spots deep in the Maine forest. Each night will be spent at the Big Moose Inn, between two quiet lakes.
Day Two: We’ll rise with the sun and head up the west side of Baxter State Park, enjoying the abundance of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, and finches that breed in the northern forest. This will also be a chance to locate any rare woodpeckers or grouse that might be missed on the first day.
Day Three: We will start the day with an early breakfast before heading east to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, where we’ll investigate a trail or two leading off the primary Park Tote Road.
Day Four: Starting early in the morning, we will head up the east side of the Baxter State Park to Roaring Brook. At Sandy Stream Pond, we’ll enjoy close-ups of moose, listen for Philadelphia Vireos, and search out a few other elusive species. By lunch time, we’ll have finished up with the mountains and will make our way back to Bangor for the tour’s end by 2pm.
Price of $1,280.00 is based upon double occupancy. To register, please fill out the form below or contact Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.org.
2024 Katahdin Splendor Bird Tour

Dispatches from the Intertidal Ribbon of Rockweed
2024-06-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Lamoine Consolidated School
Join the Lamoine Conservation Commission at 7:00pm on Wednesday, June 5th at the Lamoine Consolidated School (view on Google Maps below) for Dispatches from the Intertidal Ribbon of Rockweed, featuring Schoodic Institute’s Marine Ecology Director Dr. Hannah Webber.
Hannah will discuss her research on rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum, or “Asco”), which 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. Hannah will also discuss Project ASCO, a participatory science initiative through which participants help answer the question, ”how much rockweed is there?” The data collected by Project ASCO participants is analyzed and shared by scientists to inform resource management. Along with rockweed, this project allows for learning more about other seaweeds, periwinkles, mussels, crabs, birds, and the occasional seal or whale. During her presentation, Hannah will also discuss her experience working with partners and other scientists to use remote sensing tools to measure rockweed using drone technology.

All are welcome to this event, and there is no fee to attend the presentation.

2024 Coastal Splendor: Puffins, Warblers, Lobster and Lodging by the Edge of the Sea (FULL)
2024-06-08 - 2024-06-10 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest. We are currently at capacity for this event, but good news – we have more birding excursions available!
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.
Petit Manan Island is home to an active seabird breeding colony. Schoodic Institute staff will take you there on a boat trip to observe nesting Atlantic Puffin, Common Eider, Razorbill, and Arctic and Common terns. We will also search coastal waters and ledges for Gray and Harbor seals, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. Back at Schoodic Institute, we will enjoy locally-sourced foods, including fresh-caught lobster. Birding highlights include nesting warblers, bobolinks, and a field trip to nearby Blueberry Barrens in search of Upland Sandpiper. Participant lodging is nestled within earshot of pulsing ocean waves on the campus of Schoodic Institute. This promises to be an exciting 3-day experience!
Acadia National Park and the Downeast Maine region feature world class glacially-sculpted volcanic mountain-top balds, as well as nearshore ledges bathed by impressive tidal fluctuations. Treeless offshore islands are home to iconic breeding birds as are the spruce-dominated peninsulas that reach out into the cold coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine. Join us for a brief and exciting journey through this scenic landscape in search of its fascinating birdlife.
Day 1: Begins on the campus of Schoodic Institute with check-in at 3:00pm. We’ll gather at 4:00pm for introductions and an introduction to the ecology of the Gulf of Maine from the vantage of Schoodic Point. We’ll enjoy an opening reception prior to dinner, and evening presentation on puffin restoration efforts and preparation for the upcoming puffin cruise.
Day 2: An optional morning bird walk on campus – think warblers – before breakfast! Breakfast is served from 7:00am 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 a scrumptious lobster dinner (6:00pm – 7:00pm).
Day 3: Optional before-breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00am.
Price of $785.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, please fill out the form below or contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356.
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here.

Schoodic Institute Bird Monitor Volunteer Training II
2024-06-11 07:00 - 09:30 | Frazer Point Picnic Area, Moore Rd., Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Do you have an interest in the birds of Acadia National Park? Do you want to take your interest to the next level? Join us on Tuesday, June 11 at the Frazer Point Picnic Area (in Winter Harbor) from 7:00am – 9:30am for a bird monitoring training session! This will be a great opportunity to join our team of bird monitors. Bring a sense of curiosity and binoculars (if you have them). We’ll cover the history of bird observation in Acadia and our current monitoring methods, including the use of Merlin (a bird identification app), as well as trails and hotspots to be monitored. Beginners are welcome!
Questions? Please email Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.

Inspiring - and Surprising - Schoodic Science for a Changing World
2024-06-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Schoodic Institute scientists measure, map, and monitor environmental change at Schoodic Point, throughout Acadia, and beyond. On Tuesday, June 11, at 7:00pm, join us for an evening of short stories about how we study the rapidly changing world around us, what we are learning, and the chances we all have to contribute. There will be a few surprises along the way, and opportunities to test your own knowledge of local ecology.
The evening’s itinerary includes:

“The community of research in Acadia National Park,” Science Information Specialist Emma Albee

“An experimental approach to the future,” Climate Change Adaptation Scientist Chris Nadeau

“A coastwide perspective of the changing intertidal zone,” Marine Ecology Director Hannah Webber

“A bird’s eye view of Schoodic Point,” Bird Ecology Director Seth Benz

“Preparing the next generation of ecologists,” Science Engagement Coordinator Shannon O’Brien

“The community of scientists in Acadia – including you,” Data Analyst Kyle Lima

Attend in person at Schoodic Institute’s Moore Auditorium (in Winter Harbor, ME) or online via Zoom. Registration is required – please sign up below.

Schoodic Institute’s 2024 Summer Lecture Series is made possible by our generous sponsor, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.

Meet the Artist: Emilio Sweet-Coll
2024-06-15 14:00 - 17:00
Emilio Sweet-Coll, an animator and musician based in Los Angeles who uses drawings and animation to interpret birdsong, is visiting Acadia National Park this week as an artist-in-residence. You have two chances this week to meet them, see their work, and contribute to their work in progress.
The first is a talk at 10am Thursday at the Sieur de Monts Nature Center. The artist will be joined by Laura Sebastianelli, a sound recordist specializing in bird vocalization. Together, they will share examples of creative and scientific visualization of bird sounds and then lead a workshop for visitors on surrounding trails. Bring a camp chair or blanket for seating.
The second event – a pop-up activity from 2pm to 5pm Saturday at Frazer Point on Schoodic Peninsula – offers visitors the opportunity to contribute to an animation in progress by drawing and painting a sequence of images of a Great Blue Heron.
Both events are free and family friendly for ages 8 and above.
More at https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/acadia-air_sweet-coll.htm
go.nps.gov/AcadiaArt

The Unforeseen Wilderness: Nature, Bookbinding, and Photography with Eliot Dudik (Registration CLOSED)
2024-06-23 - 2024-06-30 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Registration has closed for this workshop.
Join a small group of folks for a seven-day intensive workshop exploring an unusual confluence of interests: bookbinding, photography, and nature walks in one of the most profound places on Earth, Acadia National Park. Tranquility and focus will be our guide as we lodge and work on the Schoodic Peninsula, often referred to as the “quiet side” of Acadia, dividing our time between classroom bookbinding sessions and stepping out into a wonderland of spruce, granite, and sea.
The workshop is directed by bookmaker, photographer, and educator Eliot Dudik, who directs the photography program at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He has spent every summer and winter in Maine for the past nine years working on his own long-form photography projects, teaching photography and bookbinding workshops, and exploring the coast of Maine, especially the dreamscape of Acadia National Park. He has been visualizing this unique workshop for years and is excited to offer it for the first time this summer!
The structure of the course: Throughout our week together, we will meet in our workspace to explore bookbinding basics including methods, materials, and book structures. All bookbinding tools and materials will be provided. We will practice four different bindings over the course of the week, each building on skills learned in the previous lesson. These books will be blank and can be used as journals or sketchbooks.
Throughout the week, we will leave the classroom to explore the surrounding national park. Excursions will include morning or afternoon walks, as well as full day trips to the busier and more popular/populated parts of Acadia on Mount Desert Island. On these nature walks, we will attempt to take in the famously breathtaking beauty while using cameras and Wendel Berry’s essay: The Unforeseen Wildness to inspire individualized experience.

At the conclusion of our week together, we will each create a short edit and sequence of photographs made in Acadia and produce small books of the work. These books might also incorporate additional media, including drawings, collage, writing, etc. The photographs can be made with cell phones or more sophisticated digital cameras. Participants will bring their own cameras and ideally a laptop with Adobe Photoshop installed.
The lodging and meal plan complete this unique and immersive experience, allowing us to disconnect from our everyday lives and truly experience something special. This workshop is intentionally limited to a small group of participants to enhance the individualized experience; don’t delay signing up as this workshop will fill quickly!
For any questions regarding the workshop, please contact Eliot directly at eliot@eliotdudik.com.

Path to Pen: Nature Journaling
2024-06-23 09:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-30 09:00 - 11:00, 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.

Fire and Ice: Geology Walk
2024-06-25 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-07-03 11:00 - 12:30
Enjoy a guided hike on the Sundew Trail in the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park. Travel through a trail of time, witnessing evidence of the geologic processes that shaped Acadia’s landscape. Learn how this land has indeed been formed by fire and shaped by ice.
Our meeting location will be the Sundew Trailhead near the water tower at the South Parking (near Elliot Hall) on Schoodic Intitute’s campus (view campus map here). We will end at the Picnic Pavilion on Jacobson Drive. The total distance of the walk will be one mile with slight elevation changes on uneven terrain.
We recommend bringing sunblock, insect spray, and a water bottle. We suggest wearing comfortable, sturdy shoes and dressing in layers to accommodate changes in temperate.
This event is free and family friendly for ages 10 and above.

Project ASCO at Frazer Point
2024-07-01 11:30 - 13:30 | Frazer Point, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 1, 2024 from 11:30am – 1:30pm at Frazer Point (Winter Harbor, Maine) 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.

Downeast Maine Puffins and Seabirds with Caretta Inspired Journeys
2024-07-03 - 2024-07-08
Join Caretta Inspired Journeys for a taste of summer in Downeast Maine and experience the unique coastal islands of the North Atlantic!
This five-day excursion starts at the Bangor Maine Airport. From there we will travel to Rockland, Maine for early afternoon briefings about about the Atlantic Puffins recovery at the Audubon Society’s Project Puffin. We will also learn about the protection and management of all the breeding seabirds on remote islands via an interactive zoom discussion with island researchers at the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (MCINWR). Accommodations for all five nights are provided at Schoodic Institute. We are fortunate to be able to provide private room accommodations in 2 and 4 bedroom apartments at Schoodic Institute. Each apartment is equipped with a full kitchen and we will stop for grocery shopping on the way to Schoodic Institute that evening.
The trip includes a guided kayaking tour of Frenchman’s Bay on the 4th of July (weather-permitting, fireworks from Bar Harbor and other coastal communities should be visible in the evening from where we’re staying). A MCINWR representative will guide a nature walk and beach clean-up activities on Petit Manan Point that is adjacent to a Puffin nesting colony. You’ll also have some time to make your own plans to take a group tour of Acadia National Park, dine/shop in Bar Harbor, or rent bikes/hike on the Schoodic Peninsula. Information on these DIY options will be sent when you register online. On Sunday, July 7, we will go on a two-hour Puffin Cruise out of Bar Harbor to benefit MCINWR through their Friends group. There will be staff on board who can communicate with island researchers to answer your questions.
To register, click here.

Be a #SoilHero! Recurring Save Our Summits Volunteer Program
2024-07-03 08:15 - 12:15, 2024-07-10 08:15 - 12:15
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

Project ASCO at Holbrook Island Santuary
2024-07-05 15:30 - 17:15
Please join Schoodic Institute’s Project ASCO research team on July 5, 2024 from 3:30pm – 5:15pm at Holbrook Island Sanctuary (Harborside/Brooksville) 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 Harriman Point
2024-07-08 06:30 - 07:30
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.

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.

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.

All About Seaweed: Why It Matters
2024-07-11 18:00 - 20:00
Join Schoodic Institute’s Marine Ecology Director Hannah Webber, Kara Ibarguen of Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, and Friends of Taunton Bay for a cooking demonstration of, and lecture on, local seaweed! Learn about the nutritional value and ecological importance of local seaweed species, as well as the research being done on seaweed and how you can participate. Wine and appetizers will be available, followed by a brief Annual Meeting and door prizes. This event will take place at the Taunton Bay Education Center (located at 11 Wharf Road in Sullivan, ME) on Thursday, July 11 at 6pm.

The program is being sponsored by Friends of Taunton Bay. All are welcome.
For more information, call 565-2113 or email info@friendsoftauntonbay.org.

Acadia’s Iconic Birds, Whales, and Scenic Views
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-17 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Join Schoodic Institute and Hillstar Nature Tours, with guides Holly Merker and Seth Benz, on July 13 – July 17, 2024 to explore Acadia National Park! This exciting bird tour will feature an Atlantic puffin tour and a separate whalewatching tour in the nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine. Observe common loons, shearwaters and humpback whales, and learn about regional ecology at a comfortable pace. Plus, you’ll enjoy an exclusive tour to the iconic summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Register now to experience the thrill of discovery while being immersed in Acadia National Park’s history and outstanding beauty, her landscapes, and seascapes. Below are some details of what you can expect from this tour:

5 days in coastal Maine for puffins, whales, and more.

relaxed overall pace, with dining and overnight accommodations at Schoodic Institute (right at Schoodic Point in Acadia!)

many scenic visits to Acadia National Park

All that, plus two great guides!

To register and view a full daily itinerary, please visit Hillstar Nature Tours.

Meet the Author: Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs
2024-07-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Bring your family and friends to the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall (on the Schoodic Institute campus) on July 13th to meet Maine author Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs! Chat with Alexandra, purchase books, and get them signed!
Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs is the author of The Lobster Lady, I Am Made of Mountains, The Pocket Book, The Traveling Camera, and Thérèse Makes a Tapestry. Her books have won awards including Maine’s Lupine Award and Wisconsin’s Outstanding Achievement Award. They have also been featured on news outlets such as CBS News and The Washington Post. Before becoming a full-time author, Alex worked as a librarian in school, public, and academic libraries. She was also a historical researcher at American Girl. She lives in Bangor, Maine with her husband, three wild sons, and two tame cats.
Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs photo

A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds with Scott Weidensaul
2024-07-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Moore Auditorium, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, Acadia Drive, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest! This event has now reached maximum in-person capacity, but we welcome you to join us virtually. Please register below for the Zoom link.
Join us on Tuesday, July 16th at 7:00pm for a special evening lecture, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds, with bestselling author and ornithologist Scott Weidensaul.
Even as scientists make astounding discoveries about the navigational and physiological feats that enable migratory birds to cross immense oceans or fly above the highest mountains, go weeks without sleep or remain in unbroken flight for months at a stretch, humans have brought many migrants to the brink. Based on his bestselling new book “A World on the Wing,” author and researcher Scott Weidensaul takes you around the globe — with researchers in the lab probing the limits of what migrating birds can do, to the shores of the Yellow Sea in China, the remote mountains of northeastern India where tribal villages saved the greatest gathering of falcons on the planet, and the Mediterranean, where activists and police are battling bird poachers — to learn how people are fighting to understand and save the world’s great bird migrations.
Scott Weidensaul is the author of more than two dozen books on natural history, including the Pulitzer Prize finalist “Living on the Wind” and his latest, the New York Times bestseller “A World on the Wing.” Weidensaul is a contributing editor for Audubon and writes for a variety of other publications, including Bird Watcher’s Digest and Living Bird. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society and an active field researcher, studying saw-whet owl migration for more than 25 years, as well as winter hummingbirds in the East, bird migration in Alaska, and the winter movements of snowy owls through Project SNOWstorm, which he co-founded. A native of Pennsylvania, he and his wife now live in New Hampshire.

Schoodic Institute’s 2024 Summer Lecture Series is made possible by our generous sponsor, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust.
