Self-guided Interpretive Walk: Tracking Mammal Activity in Winter
2025-03-15 - 2025-03-31 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
From March 15th-31st, interpretive panels will temporarily be on display along the Homestead Trail. As you walk along the trail, you’ll see 20 different signs about learning to distinguish mammal tracks in late winter and early spring — which can be in snow, mud, or sand! Information about other signs of mammal activity is included as well. The interpretive trail begins at the kiosk just beyond the island gate, and extends along the Homestead Trail to the field next to the old homestead foundation, covering approximately half a mile. This time of year the trail may be snowy, icy, or wet and muddy, so please remember appropriate footwear and take it easy as you leave your own tracks along the trail!
The majority of the text and many of the photos used in this self-guided interpretive nature walk were borrowed from a slideshow presentation Sandra Mitchell gave for FOSI several years ago about learning to read animal tracks. While we have supplemented some information and stock photography, we deeply appreciate Sandra giving us permission to recycle her material and sharing her knowledge and photos with us! Sandra Mitchell is a naturalist and nature photographer who has led many programs for FOSI over the years. To learn more about her and see her work, visit https://sandra-mitchell.com/.

Marine Mammal Stranding Response Workshop
2025-03-29 10:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Carver Library, 12 Union St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
On Saturday, March 29th, 10am-1pm, Allied Whale, the marine mammal research program of the College of the Atlantic will present a morning of talks centered around marine mammal stranding response at Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. The speakers will include, Rosemary Seton, M.Sc., the Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator for Allied Whale, and Dr. Carissa Bielamowicz Miller, D.M.V., Allied Whale’s consulting veterinarian and a stranding volunteer.
Rosemary will give an introduction to strandings, the whys and wherefores of response, the stranding network, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the differences in seal vs whale strandings, performing necropsies, and much more. She will also introduce attendees to the marine mammal species we find here in the Gulf of Maine. Dr. Bielamowicz Miller will speak on seal health assessment, zoonotic diseases, and safety working around marine mammals. By the end of this mini-workshop, you will have a good understanding of stranding response, the legalities surrounding these federally protected animals, and know what to do if you spot a marine mammal on shore.
This workshop is cosponsored by Friends of Sears Island and Carver Memorial Library. Pre-registration for the event is required, as space is limited. Please email Ashley at outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org to register.
Photo caption: Harbor seal pup that was rescued by Allied Whale. Photo courtesy of Allied Whale.

Earth Explorers Spring Activity Kits
2025-04-15 - 2025-04-30 | Activity Kit
Friends of Sears Island is currently taking registrations for free Earth Explorers grab-and-go activity kits for children. In honor of Earth Day, this kit will include materials to inspire kids to get outside and connect with nature in meaningful ways. This kit will come in a small reusable drawstring backpack, meant to be the beginnings of a nature exploration bag for your child. Inside the bag, you’ll find a nature journal, a miniature watercolor set, and collection vials. Also included: instructions for decorating the backpack with a nature print, a list of other items your child might consider adding to their exploration pack, and handouts detailing a variety of outdoor sensory games and mindful activities to try this spring.
The kits are free and intended for children ages 5-12. Donations to Friends of Sears Island are always gratefully accepted to allow the organization to continue to offer programming to all at no cost. Activity kit 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 at the Carver Memorial Library in Searsport between April 15 – 30.
Friends of Sears Island’s children’s programs and activity kits are sponsored by First National Bank.

Marine Mammal Stranding Response Workshop
2025-04-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Carver Library, 12 Union St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
On Saturday, April 19, from 10am-1pm, Allied Whale, College of the Atlantic, the marine mammal research program of the College of the Atlantic will present a morning of talks centered around marine mammal stranding response at Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. The speakers will include, Rosemary Seton, M.Sc., the Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator for Allied Whale, and Dr. Carissa Bielamowicz Miller, D.M.V., Allied Whale’s consulting veterinarian and a stranding volunteer.
Rosemary will give an introduction to strandings, the whys and wherefores of response, the stranding network, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the differences in seal vs whale strandings, performing necropsies, and much more. She will also introduce attendees to the marine mammal species we find here in the Gulf of Maine. Dr. Bielamowicz Miller will speak on seal health assessment, zoonotic diseases, and safety working around marine mammals. By the end of this mini workshop, you will have a good understanding of stranding response, the legalities surrounding these federally protected animals, and know what to do if you spot a marine mammal on shore.
This workshop is cosponsored by Friends of Sears Island and Carver Memorial Library. Pre-registration for the event is required, as space is limited. Please email Ashley at outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org to register.

Earth Day Hike on Sears Island with Cloe Chunn
2025-04-20 09:00 - 12:00 | ME
On Sunday, April 20, from 9:00am – 12:00pm, Cloe Chunn will lead an Earth Day hike on Sears Island, sponsored by Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition. Bring water, a snack, and protection from rain and ticks. Binoculars are helpful. Meet at the gate at 9:00am. For more information, call 207-338-1147.

Sierra Club Maine Hike on Sears Island
2025-04-26 10:00 - 13:00 | ME
On Saturday, April 26, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Sierra Club Maine is hosting an Earth Day hike on Sears Island in Searsport. We’ll hike to a bench dedicated to a man particularly memorable for his resolve to protect this special place, and veterans of these campaigns will tell a few stories when we stop at his bench for a light lunch. Terrain is easy to moderate, no more than a 150 foot elevation gain. Distance to bench and back: 3 miles. Dress appropriately for late April weather and wear sturdy hiking shoes that you don’t mind getting slightly muddy. Please bring water and lunch. Heavy, steady rain will cancel, but light rain will not.
This event is co-sponsored by the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition as part of the Coalition’s Earth Month activities.

Dine-to-Donate Fundraiser at Anglers
2025-04-29 11:00 - 20:00 | ME
You are cordially invited to join us for a dine-to-donate meal at Anglers Restaurant in Searsport, Tuesday, April 29. Eat out at Anglers for dinner or place a takeout order, and they will graciously donate 10% of the evening’s sales to Friends of Sears Island to support conservation and education programs. To place a takeout order or make a reservation for a party of 7 or more, call 207-548-2405. This is a great opportunity to support a local business and a local nonprofit!
The Anglers is located at 215 East Main Street in Searsport. A menu and more information about the restaurant can be found at www.anglersseafoodrestaurant.com.

International Migratory Bird Day
2025-05-10 07:00 - 09:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day! Birds love Sears Island, a national eBird hotspot. Meet Maine Master Naturalist Cloe Chunn and Todd Miller at the Sears Island gate and see the birds that flock to the island. Be ready for warblers in the trees and waders along the shore – and maybe an osprey or two. This walk is ADA-accessible, parking is easy and there are rustic facilities.

May 10-17: Cathy Morgan Bird Week
2025-05-10 08:00 - 2025-05-17 17:00 | ME
Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition will be hosting their annual week of bird themed activities in May, called Cathy Morgan Bird Week (named for an avid BBWC birder and late BBWC board member). The lineup includes a series of bird walks at local preserves with expert birders, a paddle on Marsh River and a lively and entertaining talk by Nick Lund of the Maine Audubon Society. All activities are free, and the two listed below are taking place on Sears Island. For the full list of BBWC’s Cathy Morgan Bird Week events, click here.

Bird Walk on Sears Island
2025-05-13 07:00 - 09:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Come to Sears Island and join Erik Klausmayer at Sears Island gate. People come from all over the country to watch birds on this island and it’s well worth the trip. This walk is ADA-accessible.
Bring binoculars, dress for the weather, and bring protection from sun, bugs and rain. For more information, call Cloe at (207) 338-1147. Phone calls only, please.

Vernal Pools with Dr. Aram Calhoun
2025-05-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Dr. Aram Calhoun, University of Maine emerita professor of wetland ecology and conservation, will lead a Sears Island vernal pool walk Tuesday, May 13th, 9 AM – noon (rain date May 14th). She will discuss the ecological characteristics of vernal pools, how to identify them, the state’s requirements for signiﬁcant vernal pools, and pool importance at landscape scales. She will also share a new vernal pool special area management planning tool available to participating towns.
Dr. Calhoun taught wetland ecology and delineation in the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology at the University of Maine for 30 years. Since retiring, she has been involved in community-based conservation of vernal pools. In 2023, she co-edited the book, Our Maine: Exploring the State’s Natural Heritage and recently co-edited the Third Edition of Amphibians and Reptiles of Maine, in bookstores July 2025.
Space is limited! Please pre-register using this link: Vernal Pools You will receive conﬁrmation.
Sponsored by Alliance for Sears Island, Friends of Sears Island and Upstream Watch

Science Squad Family Event
2025-05-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Families are invited to join FOSI’s Outreach Coordinator, Ashley Megquier, for an afternoon adventure on Sears Island on Monday, May 19 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm. We’ll take a sensory walk along a beach, through the woods, and past a vernal pool to find a spot for a forest tea party. This springtime exploration will give families the opportunity to appreciate springtime on Sears Island, while participating in sensory activities to heighten our connection to nature along the way. Ashley will read aloud The Sun Egg by Elsa Beskow, and the group will share in some tea and fruit at the end of the program. This event is geared toward children ages 5-12, with an accompanying adult.
Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. To sign-up, email Ashley at 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. Science Squad is sponsored by First National Bank.

Dine-to-Donate at Delvino's
2025-05-28 16:00 - 20:00 | Delvino’s, 52 Main St, Belfast, 04915, United States
Friends of Sears Island invites you to join us for a dine-to-donate meal at Delvino’s Restaurant in Belfast, Wednesday, May 28, from 4:00 pm to closing. Eat out at Delvino’s, and they will graciously donate 10% of the evening’s sales to Friends of Sears Island to support conservation and education programs if you mention that you are there in support of Friends of Sears Island.
IMPORTANT: In order for FOSi to receive 10% of your tab, you need to show your server an email from FOSI, a Facebook post about the event on your phone, or print out one of these promotions and show it to your server.
This is a great opportunity to support a local business and a local nonprofit!
Delvino’s Grill & Pasta House is located at 52 Main Street in Belfast. A menu and more information about the restaurant can be found at https://www.delvinos.com/.

Giant Island StoryWalk® for Children
2025-06-01 08:00 - 2025-06-30 17:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Carver Memorial Library and Friends of Sears Island are collaborating on a StoryWalk® for children 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 Giant Island, written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Doug Keith. This whimsical story is about two children exploring an island with their grandfather, and their discovery that there’s more to the island than what appears at first glance. As they wander, the features of a giant are revealed in the island’s landforms. Giant Island is written to appeal to kids 5-8 years old, but is enjoyable for all ages, and is sure to inspire curiosity and imagination as you enjoy your own island exploration during the StoryWalk.
The StoryWalk® will be available from June 1 – 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. 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: Giant Island StoryWalk® on Sears Island

Wednesday Waldo Walk with Bindy Pendleton
2025-06-11 09:30 - 23:30 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island (FOSI) and Coastal Mountains Land Trust (CMLT) invite you to another Wednesday Waldo Walk! Each month, CMLT volunteer and Waldo County resident Bindy Pendleton leads hikes exploring a variety of intriguing and unique trail systems. This month’s hike will feature the magic of Sears Island in the town of Searsport on June 11 at 9:30 a.m. FOSI board members Janet Williams and Rolf Olsen will share the organization’s on-going, incredible work and answer any questions.
This hike will include an option of distances between 1 – 4 miles including forested trails, shoreline and the island’s road. The hike will conclude at approximately 11:30 or 12:00 pm, but please feel free to bring a picnic lunch and continue enjoying the island on your own. Bring water, tick and insect protection and binoculars, if you have them.
Please register at info@coastalmountains.org and if you are interested in a ride share, be in touch with Bindy at @ 207-323-0817.
Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 13,000 acres, offering 55 miles of trails for public recreation.
The mission of Friends of Sears Island (FOSI) is to support permanent protection of Sears Island’s environmental and cultural resources; preserve its marine, shoreland, and forest ecosystems; and encourage educational and low-impact recreational uses of the island.
Photo caption: Sears Island, courtesy of Coastal Mountains Land Trust

Solstice by the Sea, A Summer Celebration on Sears Island
2025-06-20 17:00 - 20:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island’s annual Summer Solstice by the Sea celebration will be held on Friday, June 20, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Sears Island. We are very pleased to announce that Sundog Solar of Searsport will be our exclusive sponsor again this year. Bring the whole family for an evening of merriment to celebrate the start of summer! We’ll have live traditional music by the fiddlers and other musicians of Sea Strings Orchestra, poetry readings, a craft station to make your own noisemakers, streamer wands, and crowns for the festive “sun parade” procession on the causeway, face painting, sidewalk chalk, giant bubbles, a “Rest and Read” area provided by the Carver Memorial Library, and a children’s activity with the Penobscot Marine Museum. A StoryWalkⓇ will also be installed along the Homestead Trail for viewing. Dress to celebrate summer with a flower crown or tropical shirt, or whatever means summer to you! Purchase dinner from Portable Pie Place food truck, ice cream from Stone Fox Farm Creamery, or bring your own picnic.
This event is free and open to all, but a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family will support Friends of Sears Island’s education and conservation programs.
Please bring blankets or lawn chairs for your comfort and be prepared to carry out what you carry in. No grills or open fires are permitted on Sears Island. Please leave your pets at home. Porta-potties are available near the island gate. Parking will be along the causeway; please park along the guardrail facing the island. In the event of poor weather, check our Facebook page (facebook/friendsofsearsisland) to learn if the event is canceled.
Photo caption: Solstice by the Sea parade on Sears Island, 2023

Yoga on the Beach with Garrett Vail
2025-08-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Join Friends of Sears Island for yoga on the beach with Garrett Vail on Tuesday, August 19, from 10:00am-11:00am. Using the beach environment, Garrett 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. Garrett has been practicing yoga daily for 24 years. He loves so much about yoga, but its ability to connect us to nature in an outdoor class is a wonderful thing to experience, especially on a beautiful place like Sears Island!
No pre-registration is required for this program, just park along the causeway at the end of Sears Island Road in Searsport, and meet at the kiosk just beyond the island gate by 10:00am. 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. For more information and updates, visit www.facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland.
Photo caption: Gentle yoga on the beach at Sears Island.
Photo credit: Ashley Megquier

StoryWalk: You Find a Leaf
2025-09-10 07:00 - 2025-10-10 17:00 | Sears Island, Sears Island Rd., Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Carver Memorial Library and Friends of Sears Island are collaborating on a fall StoryWalk® for children 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 If You Find a Leaf written and illustrated by Aimée Sicuro. This lovely book is written to appeal to kids ages 3-8, but will be enjoyed by all. In this story, the author blends photographs of real leaves with her delightful illustrations, imagining all the things you might be able to do with leaves of various sizes, shapes and colors. This story will capture the imagination of all who read it, and as you hike you can collect your own colorful fall leaves to incorporate into drawings at home!
The StoryWalk® will be available from September 10 – October 10, 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. 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: StoryWalk®Signs along the Homestead Trail on Sears Island.

Dance Party Benefit for FOSI @ Hey Sailor!
2025-10-04 16:00 - 21:30 | Hey Sailor!, 25-27 E. Main St. Searsport, Maine, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Get ready for an evening of live gypsy-soul rock and blues on Saturday, October 4, when the Starboard Lounge at Hey Sailor! presents a benefit for Friends of Sears Island featuring BookHead SweetTooth! Enjoy live music, delicious food & drink, and great company while supporting a good cause.
Bring your friends and family along for a night of entertainment and community spirit. Come early for drinks and dinner at Hey Sailor! Buy a few tickets for our 50/50 raffle and you might even go home a winner!
Tickets are $25 each and all proceeds go to Friends of Sears Island after the band is paid. Doors open at 4pm.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS!
https://bookheadsweettoothatheysailor.eventbrite.com
Buy your tickets in advance to be sure of seating! Tickets will be sold at the door if still available.
Help make a difference and show your love for Sears Island.

Sears Island Fungal Project: The Importance of Collection and Conservation
2025-11-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Event-ZOOM
Friends of Sears Island invites you to attend a Zoom presentation titled “Sears Island Fungal Project: The Importance of Collection and Conservation,” on Thursday, November 6, at 6:30 pm. Fungi are shockingly understudied – while an estimated 80-90% of all plant species have been described by science, of the estimated 2- 4 million fungal species, only about 5% have been named formally. Join mycologist Jula Moll-Rocek for a discussion of the importance of fungal conservation and collections and an overview of the fungi that they collected (along with collaborators Jae Echeverria and Pete Avis PhD) during the summer and fall of 2024 on Sears Island.
Jula Moll-Rocek has a BA in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University (’12), and has experience working in the fields of nature conservation and restoration in areas of Latin America and East Africa. Most recently they were working as a curatorial assistant at the Farlow Herbarium of Cryptogamic Botany at Harvard University in Prof. Don Pfister’s lab. They love to learn and teach about fungi, and are currently organizing a Community Mycology Collective in the Boston area.
To register and receive a link to this free Zoom presentation, email outreach@friendsofsearsisland.org.

Winter Solstice Lantern Making Workshop for Kids
2025-12-04 15:00 - 17:30 | Carver Library, 12 Union St, Searsport, ME, 04974, United States
Friends of Sears Island (FOSI) and Carver Memorial Library will host a free winter solstice-themed after school program for children on Thursday, December 4, from 3:30pm – 5:00pm at the Carver Memorial Library in Searsport. Attendees will learn about the science behind solstices as well as traditions observed around the world to mark these seasonal shifts. Carver Children’s and Outreach Librarian Ronda Nichols will share some solstice stories, and FOSI’s Outreach Coordinator, Ashley Megquier, will lead children in making beautiful paper silhouette lanterns to light their way on the longest night of the year. Each participant will receive a battery-operated tea light to illuminate their lantern, and a handout with ideas for celebrating the winter solstice as a family.
This program is intended for kids ages 5-12 and an accompanying adult. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. Sign-up by emailing 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.
Science Squad is sponsored by First National Bank.

Winter Solstice by the Sea!
2025-12-21 16:30 - 18:00 | Downtown Searsport, East Main St, Searsport, Maine, ME, 04974, United States
All are invited to share in a festive winter solstice celebration of light. This year Friends of Sears Island (FOSI) is trying something new and will host the event in downtown Searsport on Sunday, December 21st, from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. FOSI is excited to bring the event to town to support local businesses and highlight some of the wonderful things Searsport has to offer!
Walk along streets lit with hundreds of luminarias while recorded music lends a festive air to this family friendly evening. Pop into local businesses to get warm, grab a bite to eat, and do some last minute holiday shopping. Splendiferous Sweet Shoppe will be handing out free hot cocoa, cookies made by FOSI volunteers will be available at various locations, and Maineport Brewing Company will be hosting Moose’s Smokehouse inside the brewery with delicious food and drinks on offer. H & H Mercantile, Trove, Hey Sailor! and other businesses will remain open during the event, and FOSI will be collecting donations of non-perishable food and personal items for the community food pantry, in front of the Searsport Methodist Church.
At 5:00pm, FOSI members and Carver Librarian Ronda Nichols will present The Shortest Day shadow puppet theater downtown. Attendees will then gather to sing songs around an illuminated evergreen spiral with a “Charlie Brown” decorated tree in the center. A small fire pit will also be available weather permitting.
This 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. Solstice by the Sea will take place along Route 1 in downtown Searsport, between Church and Mosman Streets. Participants can enjoy the luminaries anytime from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Dress warmly and bring a flashlight or homemade lantern that uses a battery-powered light. For updates and more information, check www.facebook.com/friendsofsearsisland.
Many thanks to Sundog Solar for continued support.
