A Natural History Week at Bearnstow 2018

Held June 18–22, and July 2

Lecture Presentations and Nature Walks by Visiting Naturalists
Morning Lectures (10:30 a.m.) / Afternoon Nature Walks (1:30 p.m.)
Download 2018 PDF Flier

Monday, June 18: Nicole Rogers, Rubenstein School of the Environment and Natural Resources University of Vermont, Burlington      “Maine Forests: Past, Present and Future” — Download PDF Flier Nicole Rogers identifies unique arrange­ment of leaves to identify tree species. Photo by Daniel Ramírez Tuesday, June 19: Eric Jones, Assistant Professor of Plant Biology, University of Maine, Machias      “Plant Mating Systems and Strategies” — Download PDF Flier Eric Jones (right) brought an array of wide-field microsopes to examine plant reproductive systems of specimens collected in the forest. Photo by Ocoee Chapelle Wednesday, June 20: Kalyn Bickerman-Martens, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine, Orino      “Maine's Native Bumble Bees” — Download PDF Flier Kalyn (left) and camp participants hunt for bees in the grass alongside the Bearntow parking lot. Photo by Ocoee Chapelle Thursday, June 21: Dan Miller, Northeast Climate Science Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst      “Climate Change in New England: A Long-term Perspective from Lakes”— Download PDF Flier Dan (left) discusses the implications of climate change on the wood walk through Bearnstow’s forest. Photo by Ocoee Chapelle Friday, June 22: Kevin Doran, Natural Science Educator, Maine Forest Service      “Maine Woods: Finding the Right Balance” — Download PDF Flier Kevin Doran (left) with three of our Artist Residents helps identify tree species. Photo by Ocoee Chapelle Monday, July 2 Alene Onion, Invertebrate Biologist, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation      “Parker Pond’s Animals Without Backbones” — Download PDF Flier Each year Alene Onion (right) begins her presentation with a game in the clearing for the children. The game demonstrates differences in tolerance of various inver­tebrate species to polution in the water. Photo by Peter Kyle Bearnstow lies on 65 acres of nearly pris­tine woodland alongside 2,400 feet of Parker Pond’s rocky shoreline. In a walk along the trails beside the lake and the brook, we can see a vast variety of vege­tation—according to one state for­ester, “more than any other site I’ve visited.” Since 1922 the property’s natu­ral envi­ronment has been carefully pro­tected, first by Colby College biology professor Web­ster Chester, and then by Bearnstow. We have a registered State of Maine “Big Tree” (an Alle­ghany service berry), trail­ing arbutus, five kinds of native ever­greens visi­ble from one vista, rein­deer moss, and lichen once used to make lav­ender dye. Parker Pond’s pure water is phenome­nal: over the years it has never failed to test safe for drinking.