HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES
Where did March go?! It has been a busy month for schools creating/finalizing solutions and working on action plans!
Schenck is pivoting slightly with their first video as mother nature decided to warm up and prevent them from having enough snow for a real snowshoe trip when it had been scheduled. They are getting ready for a hike field trip for their first filming day. They also met with Mike Wilson and Amy Scott from the Northern Forest Center a few weeks ago where they learned about the Katahdin Regional Investment Strategy and some potential ways that they could help with larger efforts in the area.
TCTC has been busy learning how to tap maple trees and is getting ready for trail work in April and May and are pulling pieces together to ensure they are ready to move forward. They also took a amazing trip where they travelled 20+ miles on a lodge-to-lodge ski trip with the Appalachian Mountain Club!
Telstar recently met with Jim Chandler, Retired Aquatic Invasive Species Biologist to help them determine what kind of aquatic invasive they should focus their project on this semester, fish or plant. After some research and discussion they have decided on fish and are in the process of finalizing what their solution and action steps. Looking forward to seeing them tomorrow!
Piscataquis students have visited the land on their neighbors 400 acres. Our big pivot here is that students are not able to do any physical work on the land until the lease is signed, so students are focusing on preparing the trails leading up to the neighbor's site, building a campsite and fire pits on school land, and creating a map of the whole trail. Students will also be drafting up a vision letter for the landowners with proposed ideas of ways to utilize the land.
MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES
Mrs. Prentice's 7th and 8th grade classes are finalizing the design of their experiments. We have ordered 1,000 native salt marsh grass plugs of two different varieties. A portion of plants will be used to measure how well each species grows with different growing conditions leading up to planting, and the remainder will be planted in May in a local marsh with help of Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Tatia Bauer.
Ms. Tardif's students have their groups, their plans, and a vision for their forest health project which will pick up in the next month as the weather warms and the ground thaws and students are able to get back outside. The project will include FERN plot work, invasives species management, and spreading awareness about forest health and management.
In the News
Finsulate USA: Pioneering eco-friendly solutions for marine protection
Unlike conventional bottom paints that release harmful biocides into the water, Finsulate uses a biomimetic solution inspired by sea urchins—creating a microscopic fiber structure that naturally prevents marine growth without chemicals.
It's wood pulp: The secret recipe to 3D print stronger concrete
A new type of cellulose is playing a major role in driving cement decarbonisation.
World First: 50m All timber blade to be tested in wind turbine
Wind power could become Europe's largest consumer of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), with developers turning to wood over steel and fibreglass to build the next generation of turbine bases and blades.->>> Full article
Engagement Opportunity
MIDDLE SCHOOL - Life Happens Outside Challenge
Registration is now open for the Life Happens Outside® Challenge, which encourages entire middle schools to spend as much time outdoors as possible for one week, May 9-16.Every minute outside counts, whether it's sports practice, dog walking, camping in the yard, or doing homework in the park.
Thanks to the generous support of our lead sponsor, Unum, and our legacy sponsor, First National Bank, the Challenge offers kids a chance to unplug and discover that Life Happens Outside®. Three schools will each win $1,000! Register your school here!
Not part of a middle school community? You can still participate! We encourage everyone to spend as much time as possible outdoors during May 9–16 and embrace the spirit of the Challenge.
Maine State Wildlife Action Plan
Maine’s State Wildlife Action Plan, SWAP, serves as our blueprints for proactively conserving fish, wildlife, and plants to prevent species from becoming Endangered. The plan outlines hundreds of Species of Greatest Conservation Need, SGCN, describes their habitats, identifies key threats to SGCN and habitats, and recommends actions to keep common species common and prevent at-risk species from becoming Endangered., The plan is revised every ten years to evaluate the health of wildlife populations and identify opportunities to conserve species and vital habitats before they become rarer and more costly to protect. Last updated in 2015, we are now actively working on a 2025 update.
We invite you to provide input on the draft Species of Greatest Conservation Need, SGCN, list as part of the collaborative 2025 SWAP Revision process., Please take the time to review the current SGCN draft list, as well as the criteria for listing and ranking of SGCN, then provide feedback using our online form by Sunday, April 20, 2025.
For Students
Early College Outdoor Leadership Program
Learn foundational knowledge and skills to deal with medical and traumatic emergencies in remote settings, and gain introductory knowledge in outdoor and adventure activities while completing two college courses.
Courses include KPE 207: Wilderness First Aid & KPE 265 Outdoor and Adventure Activities
Two opportunities: July 20th-Aug 1st at Tanglewood or Aug 4-15th at Greenland Point.
Scholarships available! Register and learn more here!
Youth Day of Action
Save the date! We’re excited to announce the sixth annual Youth Day of Action!
On April 17th Maine Youth for Climate Justice, Maine Youth Power, Community Organizing Alliance, JustME for JustUS, MEEA Changemakers, and Young People’s Caucus will be hosting our annual Youth Day of Action at the State House in Augusta!, This is a day for youth in Maine to mobilize and present our vision and demands for our future. The day will include a rally, press conference, lobbying, learning, and networking. Register here.
For Teachers
FREE Teach Maine PD
Connect with other educators, learn new skills and strategies, have lunch on us, and earn contact hours! We thank the campuses of the University of Maine System for hosting these workshops.
Experiential Learning
April 5, 2025, 9:30am-1pm
University of Maine Orono
This professional development session focuses on equipping educators with the knowledge, strategies, and tools to effectively implement experiential learning in their classrooms. Participants will explore how hands-on, real-world learning experiences enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and deeper understanding of content. Register here
Self-Care
May 3, 2025, 9:30am-1pm
University of Southern Maine
This session focuses on promoting the well-being and resilience of educators through self-care strategies. Participants will learn how to prioritize their physical, emotional, and mental health to sustain their passion for teaching, enhance their effectiveness in the classroom, and model healthy behaviors for students. Registration coming soon
Educator Info Session: Getting Youth Involved in Coastal Flood Monitoring
When: April 1st, 3:30-4:30p.m.
Where: ONLINE
Gather resources to support learning about coastal flooding in and out of the classroom and for leading youth through collecting and contributing data to the Coastal Flooding Community Science Project. Through this project, students will help communities prepare for the impacts of coastal flooding by collecting local data and making observations during extreme high tides and storms. Recordings will be shared after the session. REGISTER HERE.
Pre-Season Expert Q&A
When: April 17th, 12-1p.m.
Where: ONLINE
Prior to predicted high tides, join coastal scientist, Dr. Hannah Baranes in a conversation around gathering scientific data and how we can prepare our communities for the threat of sea level rise. Then become part of a growing network of youth, educators, civic leaders, and community members to monitor impacts of coastal flooding along the Gulf of Maine through the Coastal Flooding Community Science Project. REGISTER HERE.
After contributing data during the season, join again for a community discussion on June 3rd to share what you observed along the coastline. REGISTER HERE.
If you have any questions, or unsure where to start, please reach out to me at along@gmri.org
Science & History Intersect: Celebrating Rural Maine Professional Learning Series
Dates: April 12, May 17 Time: 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Zoom Theme: Geography of the Place We Now Call Maine
April 12 | Transitioning Landscapes – Expanding on the theme of shifting landscapes, Chris Sockalexis will discuss the Wabanaki transition from land-based to ocean-based resource use. Dr. Matt McCourt will examine the transformation of Maine’s landscape from the time of European settlement to the present. This session will provide a scientific perspective on environmental changes, landscape evolution, and resource utilization over time.
May 17 | Present Day – Examine contemporary climate change challenges and rural geographical explorations. This session highlights how Indigenous knowledge and modern environmental science intersect to inform sustainable land practices.
Why Participate?
Engage with interdisciplinary content that blends geography, environmental science, and cultural studies. Learn strategies for integrating primary sources into your teaching. Earn five contact hours per session.
Comments