Friends of Sears Island, Maine

Forest Therapy/Forest Bathing Walk
2023-04-08 09:30 - 12:00 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island invites you to join us for a forest therapy walk on Sears Island on Saturday, April 8, from 9:45 am – noon, led by Joanne Moesswilde. Immerse yourself in nature through the practice of forest therapy, also known as forest bathing. This is not a psychology session, nor is it a time when you need your swimsuit. Forest therapy is a practice that supports health and wellness through guided immersion in the forest to promote well-being of both the land and people. In this guided outdoor experience, invitations are offered that invite us to slow down and notice the natural world all around us, enhancing our relationship with the more-than-human-world and ourselves.
Registration for this program is required, as space is limited. To sign up, email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org.
Upon receiving a confirmation email, participants joining us should bring clothing appropriate for the weather: coat, hat, gloves, rain gear, plus another layer in a small day pack to access as needed. This is to ensure you won’t get cold while we are sitting. Also please pack a water bottle, and a “crazy creek” style chair or an insulated pad to sit on if you have one. There will be a few pads to share as well. The distance walked will be approximately 1-2 miles, sometimes on uneven ground. Walking will be slow and interspersed with time sitting on the ground.
Joanne Moesswilde, a Registered Maine Guide and ANFT Forest Therapy Guide, leads forest therapy and outdoor adventures in the midcoast area. Through forest therapy walks and other outdoor experiences, Joanne integrates her experience, love and knowledge of the outdoors to offer participants nature immersion opportunities that nurture our healthful re-connection to the land and ourselves and a time to re-wild the self. To find out more about Joanne’s offerings, contact her at jmoesswilde@gmail.com or 207-323-9995.
Photo credit: Joanne Moesswilde

Tide Pools Zoom Presentation
2023-03-29 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Friends of Sears Island and the Carver Memorial Library will co-sponsor a live Zoom presentation titled “Life in Tide Pools,” on Wednesday, March 29, at 6:30 pm. Naturalist Sandra Mitchell will give a slideshow presentation highlighting the organisms you might find in coastal Maine tide pools. Sandra’s photos will allow you to learn to identify life forms up close so that once the weather warms up, you’ll know what you’re looking at when exploring tide pools in nature!
Sandra Mitchell is a Registered Maine Guide and an avid amateur naturalist. She enjoys investigating natural mysteries. Her website is https://ww.sandra-mitchell.com/home. No pre-registration is required. To join this free Zoom presentation, simply visit https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/81172898868 on March 29 at 6:30pm. To learn more about Friends of Sears Island visit www.friendsofsearsisland.org, and for more information about Carver Memorial Library, check out www.carverlibrary.org.
Photo by Ashley Megquier: Crabs found while exploring on Sears Island.

“Seeds, Soil, Spring!” Activity Kits
2023-03-20 08:00 - 2023-03-31 17:00 UTC | Carver Library, 12 Union St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island will offer free grab-and-go spring-themed activity kits for children this month. The kits are designed to help families celebrate the beginning of spring and learn about starting seeds, garden planning, and how to track important seasonal changes in nature! This activity kit will include a packet of flower seeds generously donated by the Troy Howard Middle School gardening program, small peat pots and soil discs, and popsicle stick plant markers to start seedlings indoors. A phenology wheel (for journaling about seasonal changes) and a garden planning worksheet will be included as well as project instructions.
The kits are free and intended for children ages 5-12. Donations to Friends of Sears Island are always greatly appreciated to allow the organization to continue to offer programming to all at no cost. Quantities are limited and will be distributed to families on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a kit for your child, please email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org. After receiving a confirmation email, families can pick up their kits from March 20 – March 31 at the Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. We cannot accommodate requests for kits for classrooms, but teachers are welcome to request free PDFs of handouts via email, or you can check the “Resources” section of our website to find activity kit handouts.
Friends of Sears Island’s Science Squad program and Family Activity Kits are sponsored by First National Bank and First National Wealth Management.

Winter Hiking in Midcoast Maine
2023-03-08 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Friends of Sears Island and Carver Memorial Library will co-sponsor a live Zoom presentation titled “Winter Hiking in Midcoast Maine,” on Wednesday, March 8, at 6:30 pm. Mish Sommers of Happier Outside will share photos and recommendations of local hiking trails while also discussing winter safety precautions and the benefits of spending time outside, even during the coldest months of the year. To join this free Zoom presentation, simply visit https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/82698298013 on March 8 at 6:30pm.
Mish Sommers’ travels led her to settle in Maine in 1999, from her homeland of Australia. She lives in Lincolnville with her husband and teenage kids, and is happiest spending time outdoors – climbing a hill, paddling a shoreline, or sitting around a campfire with friends. She founded Happier Outside in 2011 as a way to inspire people of all ages to spend more time outside. Happier Outside offers three Women’s Wellness Walk series each year, a mindfulness meditation program, individualized strategy sessions, and inspirational personal and household products with a Happier Outside theme. To learn more, you can check out www.happieroutside.com. For more information on Friends of Sears Island and Carver Memorial Library, check out www.friendsofsearsisland.org, and www.carverlibrary.org.
Photo caption: Mish Sommers enjoying winter at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson.
Photo credit: Mish Sommers

“Freeze the Day” Activity Kits
2023-01-23 08:00 - 2023-02-03 17:00 UTC | ME
Friends of Sears Island will offer free grab-and-go snow science-themed activity kits for children this month. The kits will include materials and instructions to make paper snowflakes, beautiful frozen bubbles outdoors, ice lanterns, and a tracking identification card for looking for animal tracks in the snow. A small magnifying glass and dark paper will also be in the bag, for firsthand examination of the intricacy of snow crystals, as well as a handout on how snowflakes form, and ideas for family fun in the snow.
The kits are free and intended for children ages 5-12. Donations to Friends of Sears Island are always greatly appreciated to allow the organization to continue to offer programming to all at no cost. Quantities are limited and will be distributed to families on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a kit for your child, please email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org. After receiving a confirmation email, families can pick up their kits from January 23-February 3 at the Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. We cannot accommodate requests for kits for classrooms, but teachers are welcome to request free PDFs of handouts via email, or you can check the “Resources” section of our website to find activity kit handouts.

Annual Meeting - via Zoom
2023-01-18 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Our annual meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30pm via Zoom, and we’d love for you to join us! Learn about FOSI’s accomplishments over the past year and how we dealt with challenges as well. We’ll also share some photos and highlights from 2022.
Here is the Zoom link- no need to pre-register, simply use the link below to connect at 6:30 pm on January 18:
Click to Join Zoom Meeting https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/82852492070

Solstice by the Sea: A Celebration of Light
2022-12-21 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Community members are invited to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season by sharing in a winter solstice celebration of light on Sears Island. Friends of Sears Island (FOSI) will host the event on Wednesday, December 21, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Attendees will enjoy a self-guided walk along a path lit with hundreds of luminarias and a decorated tree. The Carver Memorial Library is collaborating with Friends of Sears Island on a special illuminated solstice StoryWalk of the book The Shortest Day, by Susan Cooper with illustrations by Carson Ellis. Pages of the book will be spaced out along the walking loop for all to enjoy. Free hot cocoa and cookies will be available, and recorded music will lend a festive air to this family friendly evening. This non-denominational event is free and open to all, with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family to support Friends of Sears Island’s education and conservation efforts. This year, in an effort to help our neighbors in need, FOSI is also encouraging participants to bring donations of non-perishable food items and toiletries to put under the tree, which will be collected at the event and given to the Congregational Methodist Food Cupboard in Searsport.
Sears Island is located at the end of Sears Island Road off Route 1, just east of Searsport. Participants can park along the causeway at the end of the road, and walk through the luminaria path anytime from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Dress warmly and wear footwear appropriate for the weather conditions, and bring a flashlight or homemade lantern that uses a battery-powered light. No flames or pets will be permitted. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. For updates, check back here or www.facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland.

Offshore Wind Port Public Zoom Meeting
2022-12-12 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual Event-ZOOM
The public is invited to attend the next virtual (Zoom) meeting of the Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group. This group serves “as an advisor to the Maine Department of Transportation, the Governor’s Energy Office, and other state officials regarding the development of a wind port…” One of the sites being considered as the site of this more than 100-acre wind port is Sears Island. This meeting is the public’s opportunity to learn more and also to express your opinions. Click the links below to register and see the agenda.
December 12th, 2022, 9:00am – 12:00pm
Click here to register for this meeting. You will receive a URL via email after registering.
Click here to view/download the Agenda (PDF)
Click here for the website for the Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group.
Click here to learn more about the Maine Offshore Wind Iniative.

Maine Through the Seasons
2022-11-15 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Zoom Presentation with Sandra Mitchell
Friends of Sears Island and the Carver Memorial Library will co-sponsor a live Zoom presentation titled “Maine Through the Seasons,” on Tuesday, November 15, at 6:30 pm. Naturalist and photographer Sandra Mitchell will help us to visit the natural world through the lens of her camera, pausing to discuss the natural history of some of Maine’s most fascinating natural phenomena.
Sandra Mitchell is a Registered Maine Guide and an avid amateur naturalist. She enjoys investigating natural mysteries. Her website is https://www.sandra-mitchell.com/home. No pre-registration is required. To join this free Zoom presentation, simply visit https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/87883196188 on November 15 at 6:30pm. To learn more about Friends of Sears Island visit www.friendsofsearsisland.org, and for more information about Carver Memorial Library, check out www.carverlibrary.org.
Photo: Loon chicks, by Sandra Mitchell

“Share the Light” Activity Kits
2022-11-03 - 2022-11-30 | Activity Kit
Friends of Sears Island will be offering free “Share the Light” grab-and-go activity kits this month for children. With the solstice and the holidays approaching, now is a great time to reflect on winter, our relationship to the earth, and how we can share our light with others during the coldest and darkest months of the year. This kit will include materials to make natural homemade fire starters for staying warm on winter nights, gold paper to make star ornaments or a garland for the solstice, a kindness calendar, ideas for helping animals in winter, and suggestions for celebrating the solstice!
The kits are free and intended for children ages 5-12. Donations to Friends of Sears Island are always greatly appreciated to allow the organization to continue to offer programming to all at no cost. Quantities are limited and will be distributed to families on a first-come, first-served basis. Thanks to a generous donation this month from the Waldo County Retired Teachers Association, we are able to offer more kits than usual! We cannot accommodate requests for kits for classrooms, but teachers and others are welcome to download free PDFs of the handouts in the Resources section of this website. To request a kit for your child, please email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org. After receiving a confirmation email, families can pick up their kits from November 18 – December 2 at the Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. To learn more about Friends of Sears Island check out www.friendsofsearsisland.org or facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland.

Dinner at Rio's Spiked Café to support FOSI!
2022-10-26 17:00 - 21:00 UTC | Rio’s Spiked Cafe, 357 W Main St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island invites you to join us for a dine-to-donate meal at Rio’s Spiked Café in Searsport, Wednesday, October 26th, anytime from 5pm-9pm. Enjoy a meal out, and Rio’s will graciously donate 10% of your tab to Friends of Sears Island to support conservation and education programs. This is a great opportunity to support a local business and a local nonprofit!
Rio’s Spiked Café is located at 357 W Main Street in Searsport. A menu and more information about the restaurant can be found at riosspikedcafe.com, and reservations can be made by calling 207-548-4016.
Photo by Laura Zamfirescu.

Scone Goddess Fundraiser for FOSI!
2022-10-16 07:30 - 2022-10-29 12:00 UTC | Scone Goddess, 1390 Atlantic Hwy, Northport, ME, 04849, United States
From October 16-29, when you buy Scone Goddess Premium Scone Mixes online and enter the code “friends” at checkout, the Scone Goddess will donate $3.00 for each package to Friends of Sears Island! Gluten free options are also available. You can pay to have your items shipped directly to you, or pick up is available at 1390 Atlantic Hwy for locals. The Scone Goddess retail location is open Tues-Sat 7:30 am to noon.

These make wonderful gifts for friends, family, or business associates. The Scone Goddess creates premium scone mixes that taste bakery fresh right out of your oven! Just add cream for a deliciously simple breakfast or treat. They’re proudly Maine Made, too. This fundraiser is only valid for scone mixes purchased online, not in the retail store. Just remember to use code “friends” (all lower case) at the checkout!

What you need to know: The Proposed Wind Port & Protecting Sears Island
2022-10-12 18:30 - 20:00 UTC | Belfast Free Library, 106 High St, Belfast, ME, 04915, United States
Friends of Sears Island will hold a free public meeting on Wednesday, October 12, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the Abbott Room at Belfast Free Library, to give an update on the status of the proposal to develop a “wind port” in Searsport. Large floating wind turbines would be constructed and launched from the port for deployment in the Gulf of Maine. At this meeting we will review the process so far and provide analysis of new information that is expected to come during the September 29 meeting of the Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group in Augusta.
Sears Island and Mack Point are identified as feasible locations for this port, if such a port will be built in Penobscot Bay. If Sears Island is chosen for this development, it would destroy the island’s ecological, recreational, and economic value, while re-developing Mack Point, an industrial site for more than a century, into a renewable energy site offers a “greener” option.
To learn more about the state’s plan, click here for our resource page.

Geology of Sears Island-CANCELLED
2022-10-08 14:00 - 17:00 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
SORRY, DR. NORTON HAS COME DOWN WITH COVID, SO THIS IS EVENT IS CANCELLED.
Coastal Mountains Land Trust, in partnership with Friends of Sears Island, presents Geology of Sears Island on Saturday, October 8 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. at Sears Island in Searsport. The popular Coastal Mountains Nature Program is a series of monthly naturalist-led walks and talks exploring the natural history of Mid-Coast Maine. Dr. Steve Norton, Professor Emeritus of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine, will lead us on an exploration of the past 350 million years of Mid-Coast geological history by exploring the rocks and sediment of Sears Island. This walk is timed to take advantage of low tide, exposing the shoreline of the island. Meet at the entrance to Sears Island at the end of the causeway in Searsport.
DIRECTIONS
From downtown Searsport, drive 2 miles northeast on Route 1 to Sears Island Road (which will be on the right if driving from the town of Searsport). Continue on Sears Island Road across the causeway to the island. Park on the causeway.

Hunting is allowed on the island so participants are suggested to wear hunter orange.

Rally for Sears Island!
2022-10-08 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | Mermaid Plaza, 1 East Main St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island, along with our friends from Islesboro Islands Trust, Sierra Club Maine, and others, will present a rally for Sears Island on Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., in the parking lot of Mermaid Plaza, 1 East Main Street in Searsport (the building with the blue roof on the right as you enter town from Belfast). Come learn more about Maine Department of Transportation’s proposal to develop a “Wind Port” in Searsport. They are considering developing Sears Island, one of the largest undeveloped islands on the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S., into the hub for building and launching floating offshore wind turbines. This would significantly diminish the island’s ecological, recreational, and economic value, when re-developing Mack Point, an industrial site for more than a century, is a feasible and “greener” option in Penobscot Bay.
If you love Sears Island, make a sign, and show your love! If you have an interest in the future of Sears Island, come learn more and let your voice be heard!
Free hamburgers and hot dogs, starting at noon while they last!
Live traditional and Celtic music with Searsport’s own Sea Strings Community Orchestra, from noon until 2:00 p.m.

Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group
2022-09-29 | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group
The third meeting of the Offshore Wind Port Advisory Group (OSWPAG) will be held on Thursday, September 29, in Augusta. This 19-member group will advise Maine Department of Transportation and the Governor’s Energy Office regarding the development of a wind port where floating offshore wind turbines will be built and launched for deployment in the Gulf of Maine. Click the link to learn more.
The public is invited to attend via Zoom or in person. The meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. and last until 4:00 p.m. or later, depending on the number of public comments.
CLICK HERE for the agenda.
CLICK HERE to register to attend via Zoom

Nature Art Workshop for Kids
2022-09-28 16:00 - 17:30 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island will host a Nature Art Workshop for children on Sears Island after school on Wednesday, September 28 from 4:00-5:30pm. Participants will go on a short walk to collect natural items to be used in artmaking. These materials will then be incorporated into projects at several stations where kids will make prints of leaves and assemble a fall banner to hang up at home, paint and decorate a walking stick, and make nature mandala sculptures on the beach for other island visitors to find.
This program is for kids ages 6-12 with an accompanying adult. Participants must sign-up as space is limited. To register, please email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org. Registration is complete upon receiving a confirmation email. This event is part of Friends of Sears Island’s “Science Squad,” a place-based after-school program involving children as scientists, explorers, and stewards of their environment.
This program will be led by Friends of Sears Island’s Outreach Coordinator Ashley Megquier, and board member Sandi Cirillo. Ashley Megquier is an artist who enjoys printmaking, digital illustration, community art projects, and any opportunity to explore new creative techniques. Sandi Cirillo has been a fiber/mixed media artist for over 25 years and is a retired art educator who gives many different fiber workshops. Visit her website, www.especially-for-ewe.com to see examples of Sandi’s work and a list of available workshops.
Sears Island is located on Sears Island Road off Route 1 just east of Searsport. Registered participants should park along the causeway at the end of the road and meet at the island gate by 4:00pm. Please wear footwear and outdoor gear appropriate for walking along the beach and in the woods, and bring water and a snack. No pets are permitted at public programs. In the event of inclement weather, program participants will be notified that the program is cancelled.

The Lucky Trees of Sears Island
2022-09-23 15:00 - 17:30 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Guided Walk with Jake Maier
Join Friends of Sears Island for an exploration of some of the large old trees on Sears Island on Friday, September 23, from 3:00-5:30pm. Forester Jake Maier will lead participants along the Homestead Trail, pointing out the large, “lucky” trees while talking about what combination of factors would allow them to survive and outcompete others over time. He will discuss the differences between legacy and lucky trees, the ecological consequences of different aspects of forest management, and demonstrate how to measure and compute the points for the big trees register.
Jake Maier is a state-licensed consulting forester. Maier is originally from Germany, where he earned his degree in forestry from the University of Freiburg. He moved to Maine in 1984 and got his degree in forestry management from the University of Maine.
This event is free and open to the public. Sears Island is on Sears Island Road off Route 1 just east of Searsport. Participants should park along the causeway at the end of the road and meet at the kiosk near the island gate by 3:00pm. Bring water, a snack, insect repellent, and come dressed for a walk in the woods. Pets are not permitted at this program. In the event of steady rain, the program will be cancelled. For more information and updates, visit friendsofsearsisland.org or facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland.
Photo credit: Alison Dibble
Photo caption: Jake Maier measures a large tree on Sears Island.

StoryWalk® for Children on Sears Island
2022-09-05 - 2022-09-30 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
The Squirrels’ Busy Year by Martin Jenkins and Illustrated by Richard Jones
Carver Memorial Library and Friends of Sears Island are collaborating on a fall StoryWalk® for families to enjoy along the Homestead Trail on Sears Island. As families walk along the woods path, they will find posts with laminated pages of the book The Squirrels’ Busy Year, by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Richard Jones. This book follows squirrels through the seasons to teach young readers about the ways these creatures adapt to a changing environment. While exploring the island, families are encouraged to look for signs of squirrel life! This book is ideal for kids ages 4-6.
The StoryWalk® will be available from September 5- 30, and directions to the start of the story can be found by the kiosk just beyond the island gate. From start to finish, the story will cover approximately a half mile of the trail. Sears Island is located off of Route 1 on Sears Island Road, just east of downtown Searsport. To learn more about Friends of Sears Island check out www.friendsofsearsisland.org or facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland. For more information on the Carver Memorial Library, visit www.carverlibrary.org. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
Photo caption: The Squirrels’ Busy Year by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones
Photo credit: Sue McClintock

Monarch Butterfly Tagging for Adults
2022-08-25 09:00 - 11:00 UTC | ME
Sorry, this event is now full, so no further reservations will be accepted! With rain expected on Tuesday, we have rescheduled to Thursday.
Friends of Sears Island will be hosting a monarch butterfly tagging workshop for adults with Serena Cole on August 23, from 9am-11am. Cole will teach program attendees about monarch life cycles, habitat, migration patterns, and will lead a hike to the milkweed field on Sears Island, a certified Monarch Waystation. At the field, participants will have the opportunity to look for butterflies and carefully net and assist with tagging them as part of the Monarch Watch program, which tracks the annual butterfly migration. Please note that seeing and catching monarchs cannot be guaranteed. Space is limited and advance registration will be required. To sign-up, please email Serena Cole at satnam23410@yahoo.com. Registration is complete upon receiving a confirmation email.
Serena Cole has been a biology and environmental educator for 30 years. She has led student science groups to Costa Rica and been involved with citizen science projects at Schoodic Point Educational Research Center. Registered participants should park along the causeway at the end of Sears Island Road and meet at the island gate. Bring water and a snack and dress for walking through woods and fields, but please leave your pets at home. In the event of inclement weather, a rain date of August 25th from 9am-11am will be offered.

Reading the Landscape Plant Walk
2022-08-03 09:30 - 11:30 UTC | ME
THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED FOR TODAY! WE WILL TRY TO RESCHEDULE IN THE COMING WEEKS.
Join Friends of Sears Island for a plant identification walk on August 3rd, from 9:30am-11:30am on Sears Island. This hands-on class will be an interactive walk across the beaches, wetlands, and uplands of the island. With a keen eye and interest, you will begin to learn how to positively identify trees, shrubs, and flowering plants. As some plants only grow in certain ecosystems, we will use the ecosystem to support the identification process. This class welcomes all who want to sharpen their identification skills and deepen their relationship with the living ecosystems of Sears Island.
The class will be led by Steve Byers, a Clinical Herbalist based in Waldo, ME where he works with clients at his home office. He is the owner of Back Country Flora LLC, a business that offers a broad range of botanical services including educational plant walks, herbal wellness consultations, and herbalist apprenticeships. He teaches at the Earthwalk School of Herbal Traditions in Rockport, ME and works on wetland delineation projects around the state. You can learn more about Steve’s work at stevebyerswellness.com.
No pre-registration is required for this event. Participants should park along the causeway at the end of Sears Island Road and meet at the kiosk just beyond the island gate by 9:30am. Bring water, a snack, insect repellent, and come dressed for a walk in the woods. Pets are not permitted on guided walks. In the event of steady rain, the program will be cancelled.

Yoga on the Beach is back!
2022-07-19 09:30 - 11:00 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Join Friends of Sears Island for yoga on the beach with Missy Hatch on Wednesday, July 20th from 9:30am-10:30am. Using the beach environment, Missy will engage participants in a relaxing exploration of movement and stretching, taking advantage of all the natural world has to offer for support. This class is for anyone able to walk on the beach. It will be geared for adults but attentive children are also welcome. Missy Hatch has been teaching yoga since 1989 and enjoys hiking and being outside. No matter the surroundings, there are always stretches that can be done; being unconventional is the fun part.

No pre-registration is required this year, just park along the causeway at the end of Sears Island Road in Searsport, and meet at the kiosk just beyond the island gate. There is no charge for the class but a donation to Friends of Sears Island is always welcome. Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring a beach towel and water. Pets are not permitted at this program. In the event, of rain, class will be cancelled.

Storywalk®: "Between the Tides"
2022-07-15 - 2022-08-31 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Carver Memorial Library and Friends of Sears Island are collaborating on an ocean-themed StoryWalk® for families to enjoy along the Homestead Trail on Sears Island as part of the library’s summer reading theme “Oceans of Possibilities.” As families walk along the woods path, they will find posts with laminated pages of the book Between the Tides, by Fran Hodgkins and illustrated by Jim Sollers. Children will learn about life in the intertidal zone and how crabs, periwinkles, mussels, and a variety of other species have adapted to their ever-changing environment. After completing the StoryWalk®, families are encouraged to explore the beach to look for sea creatures. This book is ideal for kids ages 4-8.
The StoryWalk® will be available from July 15th through August 31st, and directions to the start of the story can be found by the kiosk just beyond the island gate. From start to finish, the story will cover approximately a half mile of the trail. Sears Island is located off of Route 1 on Sears Island Road, just east of downtown Searsport. To learn more about Friends of Sears Island check out www.friendsofsearsisland.org or facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland. For more information on the Carver Memorial Library, visit www.carverlibrary.org. The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

Living Sunlight StoryWalk
2022-06-15 08:00 - 2022-07-15 17:00 UTC | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
To celebrate the summer solstice, Carver Memorial Library and Friends of Sears Island are collaborating on a sun-themed StoryWalk® for families to enjoy along the Homestead Trail on Sears Island. As families walk along the woods path, they will find posts with laminated pages of the book Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life, by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm. This book is written to appeal to kids in grades 1-4, but will be enjoyed by all ages, particularly for its beautiful illustrations and the way that it explains how the sun’s light and energy becomes part of all life on earth, including humans. While reading this story along the trail, families will have ample opportunity to look around at examples of photosynthesis in action and discuss how the landscape would be different without the sun’s energy.
The StoryWalk® will be available from June 15th- July 15th, and directions to the start of the story can be found by the kiosk just beyond the island gate. Carver Memorial Library will have a table at Friends of Sears Island’s Summer Solstice by the Sea celebration on June 21, from 5-8pm, with a reading area set up with plenty of books about the sun and summertime. This would be a great time to check out the Living Sunlight StoryWalk®! From start to finish, the story will cover approximately a half mile of the trail
The StoryWalk® Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.
