Schoodic Institute scientists are developing new restoration methods to protect Acadia National Park amidst rapid climate change. As Dr. Chris Nadeau shares below, this effort requires strong partnerships, community, and YOU!
It’s the most inspiring time of the year. As I pull into the Parkman Mountain trailhead parking lot, I’m filled with anticipation, knowing I’m about to meet a group of dedicated volunteers eager to contribute to the stewardship of Acadia National Park. The volunteers, from eight-year olds to octogenarians, sign in near a banner that reads Save Our Summits (SOS), and then together we hike to the summit of Sargent or Penobscot Mountain. We make one stop along the way, where the volunteers load bags of soil into their packs to carry to the top. Yes, you read that right – volunteers are hiking soil up Acadia’s mountains to help restore our summits.
2024 marks the second year of the SOS project, a partnership of the National Park Service, Friends of Acadia, and Schoodic Institute. As they hike, volunteers learn the importance of staying on rocky surfaces and off the fragile summit plants. The soil they carry – 8,000 pounds to date – is added to restoration plots (60+!) to bring new life to areas that have been trampled by visitors.
As a leader of the summit restoration project, I join with volunteers on the hike to share stories of summit science and do my part carrying soil. I always leave the hike with a bounce in my step and feel unbelievably fortunate to be part of a community of volunteers so willing and eager to help.
I also feel incredibly lucky to be part of a community of scientists and stewards who have been learning to restore the mountains in Acadia since 2015. Together, we are developing new restoration methods in response to rapid change. Indeed, plants on Acadia’s cool mountain summits are some of the most vulnerable to the rising temperatures and extreme rain events that are becoming more damaging each year.
Schoodic Institute’s mission is inspiring science, learning, and community for a changing world. I joined Schoodic Institute just two short years ago with a passion for science. But now I realize it truly takes community to save a summit, and I invite you to be a part of our community.
Sincerely,
Chris Nadeau, PhD
Climate Change Adaptation Scientist