MFC is off to a great start! I visited with all of the fall and full year high schools to kick off the year. Check out the Map of Place Posters each school has come up with to share at the cohort day!
- Belfast
- Telstar
- Schenck
- TCTC
Belfast is already off to their first field trip to the local community park this week to learn about how the community had identified it is a place that needed work, and to learn how to assess biodiversity in ecosystem and impacts of invasive species.
TCTC is getting ready for their first field trip to Pleasant River Lumber this week as well and a logging site tour with the Londons, as well as a trip to Common Ground!
In the News
In Hancock a years long restoration project brings hope to a sinking marsh
Centuries of farming have altered the flow of water in Old Pond Marsh. Restoration experts are racing against time to save it.
Maine's warming lakes incubate damaging invasive plants
Beneath and between boats crammed against the shore milfoil spreads in thick mats. It's the most common, and problematic, aquatic invasive plant in Maine.
Timber! Portland Museum of Art to host conference on an innovative forest product
As the Portland Museum of Art embarks on a $100 million expansion that includes the use of mass timber, the museum is hosting a conference on the emerging industry this November.
Funding Opportunities
Maine Environmental Education Association Mini Grants
Who Can Apply? Maine Public, Pre-K-12, teachers and schools, preference will be given to schools with high need, determined using the most recent Maine DOE % Eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch data, and schools that have not received mini grant funding in the past.
Projects that demonstrate collaboration will also be prioritized. Some ideas for grant partners can be found here and here. Funding can be used for any project that advances outdoor learning in your classroom or school in the 2024-25 school year. Applications for the 2024-2025 grant cycle open on September 16th and close on Monday, October 14th.
(**This is a very basic application, I encourage you to have your kids submit one if their challenge/solution has to do with outdoor learning!)
GMRI Connected Learning Ecosystem Mini Grants Available
Belfast students successfully were awarded funding through this grant last year, up to $5,000 in funding with a rolling deadline. Check out the article about it here!
The Learning Ecosystems Northeast’s (LENE) project is offering members of Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLE) the opportunity to secure funds for projects that focus on climate and data literacy outcomes for learners achieved through connected learning experiences that incorporate NASA assets (which the project team will help you identify and find). Proposed projects should support learning in at least two different learning contexts, around a common topic, and with the same set of learners.
Rural School Collaborative Grants in Place Fellows
The Grants in Place Fellows program is offered in conjunction with our Regional Hub partners. Grants will be awarded to projects that will take place in the current school year.
Eligibility for this grant is extended to rural classroom teachers who teach in school districts that are located in one of the Rural Schools Collaborative's 17 regional Hub areas. (Maine qualifies)
Each Fellow will receive a total award of up to $2,500 for the Place-Based Education project. The Fellows cohort will conclude with a virtual Celebration of Learning, culminating a final presentation of all Place-Based Education projects.
The Fellows Celebration of Learning is a required aspect of the program, and will be held virtually for the next Fellows' class on June 6, 2025. All are welcome to attend! Check out the 2024 Fellows’ Celebration of Learning for more inspiration.Learn more and apply here!
Quadratec Mini Grant
Starting this year we are taking our love for all things environmental and asking you - or your organization - to tell us why you feel you'd make a great fit for our grant program. We are offering two $3,500 environmental grants per year – one each in the spring and fall – to an individual or group currently pursuing a program or initiative designed to benefit our environment.
Some examples of this would be:
Trail building or restoration projects
Park beautification events
Litter prevention initiatives
Earth Study missions
Sustainable Land Management activities
Community environmental educational projects
Youth educational engagement events
Interested individuals or groups should submit a 1000-1600 word essay to grants@quadratec.com that paints a picture of who you or your organization are, what drives and inspires you or your organization, what you or the organization are looking to accomplish, and how you plan to apply our grant to your project.
Please submit your essay as a PDF (preferred) or Microsoft Word document to be eligible for consideration.
Engagement Opportunities
Curtis Homestead Forestry Education Program
Students and teachers are invited to KLT’s October forestry education program in Turner. A professional logger, a forester, and community volunteers, join KLT staff for this annual program. Reservations are open for this half-day program in October. We are offering the following options: October 1, 3, 7, and 9. We are flexible if you have schedule or date constraints, or have specific activities or learning objectives you would like to achieve.
Please contact, Marie Ring, Director of Membership and Programming to register. 207-377-2848, mring@tklt.org First Come, First Served. Students will:
Observe a timber harvest
Learn about KLT’s forest management plan, including goals for,
habitat improvement, income, education, and recreation
Understand how loggers can protect soil, water, and wildlife
See a portable sawmill demonstration
Explore careers related to forestry and the forest products
businesses
Participate in hands-on forestry and Maine wildlife activities
Be active on our 360-acre Conservation Area
Hunter Safety Courses
Taking a hunter safety course is the first step to joining a wonderful community of conservationists! Hunters have a longstanding role as conservationists, helping keep wildlife populations at healthy levels and giving biologists valuable harvest data. Hunters also provide funding for wildlife management through the purchase of their license and a manufacturer-paid tax on firearms and ammunition. Without hunters, it would not be possible for the department to closely monitor and protect game and non-game species in our state.Courses are available online an in person. Learn more here!
Business of Maine's Forest Products Sector Course
Learn about opportunities across the industry, get access to industry professionals, and gain the knowledge to jumpstart your career. Options to receive free college credit, contact hours, and microcredentials. This course is FREE to all and can be joined live or via a recording. Begins October 1st, learn more here!
For Teachers
Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center - Seaweed Educator Workshop
Purpose: Explore the recently created and curated seaweed education activities that make up MAIC's kelp curriculum with Maine educators. All attendees will receive a copy of With a Little Kelp From Our Friends by Mathew Bate and a package of seaweed goodies!Priority will be given to current educators employed in K-12 schools (including classroom teachers, ed techs, and librarians), although other educators may sign up as well. We will make sure to alert you as to your acceptance to the workshop by 8 am on Monday, September 16th. Date: October 4th, 2024 Time: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM Location: The Boat House in Belfast, 34 Commercial St. Belfast, ME, 04915 Register here!
Katahdin Woods and Waters Educational Programs!
Curriculum-based National Park Service programs are offered as:
Ranger-Led Field Trips at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument: Our field trips provide interactive and informative experiences for students. The education rangers encourage active participation, asking students to observe, analyze, and draw connections between the concepts they learn in the classroom and real-world phenomena.
Classroom Visits: We bring the park to you! The ranger's visit will expand upon topics covered in your lessons using the park as a resource and as an example. They can adapt their presentations to introduce or reinforce concepts and vocabulary.
Distance Learning: These interactive programs are conducted live through your preferred meeting platform. Each program offers students the opportunity to engage with our rangers through live question-and-answer sessions, further enhancing their learning experience.
Some of our program topics include geology, animal adaptations, forest ecology, and the endangered Atlantic Salmon. We are always looking for new program ideas, so feel free to make suggestions! Visit the Education Page for more information or email Crystal Lewis at crystal_lewis@nps.gov for more information.
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