2025 Signs of the Seasons Trainings

In-Person Training:

If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Beth Bisson, at beth.bisson@maine.edu or Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu. Receiving requests for accommodations at least 7 days before the program provides a reasonable amount of time to meet the request.

Recorded Training Series: Three-Part Webinar Series

In-Person Training – Falmouth, Maine

Friday, April 4, 2025
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Maine Audubon

Co-hosted with the Maine Audubon

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Falmouth, Maine, co-hosted by Maine Audubon. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of Gilsland Farm, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Beth Bisson, at beth.bisson@maine.edu or Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu

Training Location: Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, Maine 04105 (Directions: Google Maps)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program

In-Person Training – Waldoboro, Maine

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.
UMaine Extension – Knox-Lincoln County Office

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at the UMaine Cooperative Extension, Knox-Lincoln Counties Office. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu

Training Location: University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Knox-Lincoln County Office,377 Manktown, Rd. Waldoboro, Maine 04572

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program

In-Person Training – Holden, Maine

Friday, April 11, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Maine Audubon

Co-hosted with the Maine Audubon at the Fields Pond Audubon Center

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, Maine, co-hosted by Maine Audubon. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of Fields Pond, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu, or Melissa Gallager, at mgallagher@maineaudubon.org.

Training Location: Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden, Maine 04429 (Google Maps)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program

In-Person Training – Wells, Maine

Monday, April 14, 2025
12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

Co-hosted with the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program in Wells, Maine, co-hosted by the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of the Reserve, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Beth Bisson, at beth.bisson@maine.edu or Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu

Training Location: Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, Maine. Using GPS? Public entrance is near 55 Skinner Mill Road. (Directions:  Google Map)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program.

In-Person Training – Augusta, Maine

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
University of Maine Augusta

Co-hosted with the University of Maine Augusta

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program in Augusta, Maine, co-hosted by the UMA American Conservation Coalition. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of UMA, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu or Jennifer Long, at jennifer.long@maine.edu.

Training Location: University of Maine Augusta, Augusta, Maine. (Directions: + Google Map)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program.

In-Person Training – Boothbay, Maine

Thursday, May 8, 2025
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Co-hosted with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay, Maine, co-hosted by Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of the Botanical Gardens and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Beth Bisson, at beth.bisson@maine.edu or Keri Kaczor, at keri.kaczor@maine.edu

Training Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens,105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME 04537 (Directions: + Google Map)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program.

To Learn Virtually or Refresh Your Skills: Watch our Recorded Training Series Online!

This 3-part webinar series provides the information typically provided in our in-person or virtual training workshops, including the importance of studying phenology in a changing climate, the relevance of indicator species to New England, and instructions for how to set up a site and start observing. Each session is less than one hour, and the three sessions build upon one another, so we recommend watching all three in order.

View the recordings

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Beth Bisson at 207.832.0343 or beth.bisson@maine.edu.

Recorded Trainings

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

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