2026 Signs of the Seasons Trainings

In-Person Trainings:

Additional Opportunities for Educators:

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 – Wells, Maine
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
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 Maps)

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

In-Person Training – Falmouth, Maine
Monday, May 4, 2026
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Maine Audubon

Co-hosted with 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 – Topsham, Maine
Monday, June 15, 2026
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Cathance River Nature Preserve

Co-hosted with The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust at the Cathance River Nature Preserve

Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at the Ecology Center in the Cathance River Nature Preserve, in Topsham, Maine, co-hosted by Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust. 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 outdoors at the preserve, 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: Cathance River Nature Preserve Ecology Center, at the Highland Green development in Topsham, Maine (Directions)

Register Online. Registration is required for this free educational program, and will be limited to the first 8 registrants, due to the parking capacity at the site (carpools will allow for additional registrants).

In-Person Training – Boothbay, Maine
Date and Time TBA
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)

Registration coming soon. Registration is required for this free educational program.

2026 Training Opportunities for Educators

Friday, May 1, 2026
Signs of the Season Educator Workshop – Holden, Maine
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

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

Nature’s Wheel – Investigating Phenology with Youth

In collaboration with Maine Audubon, please join us for an Educators’ Workshop exploring hands-on indoor and outdoor learning experiences that build deeper connections to the local environment. Phenology—the study of the timing of recurring life cycle events—documents nature’s calendar, from birds building nests to tree buds bursting and foliage changing color. Activities are appropriate for classrooms, school campuses, community parks, and just about any accessible location. Educators will practice making phenology observations and leave with tools and knowledge to implement these fun STEAM experiences for all ages in their schools and communities.

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

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

Educators’ Phenology Summit: Being with the Seasons – Falmouth, Maine
Saturday, May 30, 2026
8:30 AM – 2:30 PM

Hosted by PATHS and Maine Audubon at the Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

This is a joyful day-long professional development opportunity for K-12 educators interested in teaching and learning about phenology as a way to connect and build relationships with the changing seasons and the earth through hands-on field experience.

Attendees will gain practical tools and curriculum for experiencing the seasons with their students, and learn how teaching phenology is an essential part of climate education.

Presenters include: PATHS outdoor education & leadership staff and students, Maine Audubon naturalists, Portland Schools environmental literacy teachers, Wolastoqiyk educator and artist Mihku Paul, and Keri Kaczor from the University of Maine Signs of the Seasons program.

Morning sessions include:

  • Nature journaling and how to keep a year-round phenology calendar
  • Nature’s Wheel – tracking phenology with field and classroom activities (double session)
  • Incorporating Indigenous knowledge
  • Environmental literacy practices for teaching outside

In the afternoon, participants will have an opportunity to become students, and be led by naturalists to learn more about our local flora and fauna.

Lunch, cool teaching swag, and $125 stipends provided!

This professional development is funded by a climate education grant from the Department of Education.

Register Online.

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