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President's Message
Hello friends,
This is a season for thankfulness. Although our media is daily filled with discouraging stories and spectacles, we also have a lot to be thankful for. Those of us engaged in work we are passionate about recognize our good fortune and greatly appreciate each of you that is supporting Schoodic Institute.
Together with our many partners, we're contributing to changing the future by connecting learners of all ages to the natural world and inspirational experiences of science. Down East magazine recently featured my suggestion that outdoor learning should be as central to education as math and reading in an article they called "8 Crazy Maine Ideas!". In truth, there is nothing crazy about it. The evidence is solid that outdoor learning is powerful. It is an idea that we share with our education and conservation partners across the state.
This month is an important point in Acadia's process of developing a new transportation plan to meet the challenges of managing increasing visitation, protecting the park's resources, and continuing to provide great experiences for visitors. The Park is seeking your input on some initial ideas, and the comment period is open until Nov. 30.
I hope each of you is finding time to enjoy the outdoors, wherever you are this November. Here in Acadia National Park this morning, I saw a reminder that winter is on its way as a weasel bounded past me, already in its white winter coat. It also left me wondering if its white coat is a sign that wildlife here are adapted to earlier snowfall than we typically receive now.
Sincerely,
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Acadia National Park Science Symposium
Shares Research
The 2016 Acadia National Park Science Symposium was held at Schoodic Institute on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. This year’s symposium was attended by over 100 researchers, students, and park staff, and offered opportunities to discuss science and the latest research taking place in and beyond park boundaries. The symposium featured five invited speakers, and 45 posters were displayed describing results and plans for research in a range of disciplines, including natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Proceedings of the 2016 Acadia National Park Science Symposium are now available. To view posters, click HERE.
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Eek! of Ecology Celebrates our National Parks
Schoodic Institute and Acadia National Park rangers, staff, and volunteers, hosted children ages 12 and under at the Eek of Ecology Halloween event on Saturday, October 29. This year's festival offered fun environmental education, with a special focus on our national parks. In celebration of the National Park Service and Acadia National Park's 100th birthdays, children explored the Eeek!-y creatures and ghouls of National Park sites across the United States!
A special thank you to Eek! of Ecology sponsors Bar Harbor Bank and Trust, and the National Park Service.
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Acadia Winter Festival 2017 Poster Design Contest
The dates have been set for the Acadia Winter Festival! We hope you will join us February 10 -12, 2017 on the Schoodic Institute campus in Acadia National Park for educational and outdoor winter activities. Schoodic Institute invites the public to submit entries for the 2017 festival poster, program art and promotional materials. The theme of the design must represent the outdoors and winter in Maine. We encourage participants to submit graphic drawings, paintings or other mediums, rather than photographic entries. Click HERE to learn how you can participate.
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New Schoodic Institute Newsletter!
If you're a current supporter of Schoodic Institute, you should have received the first issue of Findings, our new print newsletter. If you're not yet supporting us - we thank you for your interest, and encourage you to consider becoming a member now!
If you know someone you'd like to know more about the Institute, consider a gift membership in their name, or ask us to send them information. Thank you!
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SeaWatch Migration Monitoring
SeaWatch at Schoodic Point recently surpassed 50,000 waterbirds, with almost a month of migration remaining!
As the calendar turns to November, peak days of Double-crested Cormorant (16,265 thus far) and Common Eider (12,071) are behind us. However, each day of observation reveals new species information regarding presence, abundance, and migratory timing. October 24 marked the single season high for Northern Gannet when the count reached 1,357 individuals in just 5 hours! No matter your species interest, the first few hours after sunrise are the most productive with over 250 birds per hour. Migration monitoring ends late November.
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Thank You Business Supporter
With appreciation, Schoodic Institute welcomes Hannaford Helps Reusable Bag Program as our newest 2016 business sponsor. Schoodic Institute is extremely grateful to these businesses for their support! Please learn more about our business membership program HERE.
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