2023 Signs of the Seasons Trainings
NOTE: We are still scheduling trainings for this season, so please check back for updates as we add more dates to the calendar!
March 27, 2023: In-Person Training
Monday, March 27, 10:30 –12:30 p.m., Wells, Maine
Co-hosted with the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve and Maine Sea Grant staff will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at Wells NERR. 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 Wells NERR, 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. (Google Maps)
Registration is required for this free educational program.
March 30, 2023: In-Person Training
Thursday, March 30, 10:30 –12:30 p.m., Falmouth, Maine
Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 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. (Google Maps)
Registration is required for this free educational program.
April 6, 2023: In-Person Training
Thursday, April 6, 4:00 –6:00 p.m., Camden, Maine
Maine Sea Grant and UMaine Extension will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program in Camden, ME co-hosted by Merryspring Nature Center. 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 Merryspring, 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 and Esperanza Standoff, esp@maine.edu.
Training Location: Merryspring Nature Center, 30 Conway Road, Camden, Maine. (Google Maps)
Registration is required for this free educational program.
April 12, 2023: In-Person Training
Wednesday, April 12, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Boothbay, Maine
Co-hosted with the 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. 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 Botancial 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, 132 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME 04537. (Google Maps)
Registration is required for this free educational program.
May 9, 2023: In-Person Training
Tuesday, May 9, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Holden, Maine
Co-hosted with Maine Audubon at the Fields Pond Audubon Center
Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons program with Maine Audubon at the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, Maine. 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 Center 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, or David Lamon, at dlamon@maineaudubon.org.
Training Location: Fields Pond Audubon Center, 216 Fields Pond Road, Holden, ME 04429. (Google Maps)
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.
- Session I: Introduction and Program Overview
- Session II: Instructions for Making Scientific Observations of Phenology
- Session III: Entering Data to the Nature’s Notebook Online Database
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact Beth Bisson at 207.832.0343 or beth.bisson@maine.edu.