Northern Maine Course Page
Course Coordinators: Ellen Gellerstedt, Grace Bartlett, Bill Kolodnicki, and Cathy Lookabaugh
Location: Stearns Middle & Senior High School in Millinocket (Exact Location Here); Online/Zoom
Email: mmnpnorthernmaine2026@gmail.com
Student Resources
Course Dates
| SATURDAY (in-person) classes run from 9:30am-3:30pm. THURSDAY (zoom) classes run from 6:30-9pm. Zoom Meeting Details https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86839342875 Meeting ID: 868 3934 2875 |
| January | February | March | April | May |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 1/3: Taxonomy; Phenology & Delimited Site; Nature Journals ______ Thur 1/8: Ecological Principles ______ Thur 1/22: Mammal Tracks and Signs | Sat 2/7 (*snow 2/14): Mammal Tracks and Signs; Mammal Skulls and Scat ______ Thur 2/12: Volunteering ______ Thur 2/26: Winter Trees | Thur 3/12: Birds (Part 1) ______ Sat 3/14 (zoom): Winter Tree; Winter Botany ______ Thur 3/26: Birds (Part 2) | Thur 4/9: Vernal Pools ______ Sat 4/11: Birds; Herps; Winter Weeds ______ Thur 4/23: Wildflowers | Sat 5/2: Vernal Pools; Geology ______ Thur 5/14: Summer Trees ______ Thur 5/21: Ferns |
| June | July | August | September | October |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 6/6: Summer Trees & Bark; Ferns; Volunteering ______ Thur 6/11: Insects ______ Thur 6/25: Aquatic Ecology | Sat 7/18: Aquatic Ecology; Insects; Volunteering ______ Thur 7/23: Volunteering | Sat 8/1: Wildflowers & Fruits; Volunteering ______ Thur 8/13: Lichens ______ Thur 8/27: Fungi/Mushrooms | Thur 9/10: Volunteering; Mosses ______ Sat 9/12: Lichens; Fungi ______ Thur 9/24: Odds and Ends; Stories of the Land | Sat 10/3: Volunteer Presentations & GRADUATION!! |
| *Please note that snow day dates are only used in the event of a class cancellation. |
Class Resources and Assignments
| All class materials are located within a Google Drive. For each class period below, please click on the topic link(s) to view the associated google drive sub-folder for that lesson. If you have any access issues please reach out to your course coordinators at mmnpnorthernmaine2026@gmail.com |
January 2026
Saturday, January 3rd
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better.” ~Albert Einstein
Week’s Topics:
Prepare for class:
We are so excited to meet everyone! Please plan to arrive a little early to settle in before class.
This day will include the following:
-Morning (9:30-11:30): Introductions, Course Overview, Class Photo, Topic Presentation of Phenology and Delimited Site
-11:30am: Lunch & Breakout Mentor Groups
-Afternoon (12:15-3:30): Topic Presentations of Taxonomy & Nature Journaling, Q&A time
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Review Student Handbook pp. 2-5 (Introduction to course and course expectations)
-Review Student Study Guides linked below
Bring to Class:
–Taxonomy Student Study Guide PDF
–Taxonomy Creating A Dichotomous Key PDF
–Taxonomy Template For Dichotomous Key Construction (pdf version)
–Taxonomy Glossary PDF
–Nature Journaling Student Study Guide PDF
–MMNP Nature Journaling Guide PDF (we will print this for you!)
–Delimited Site PDF
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Plain copy paper or a journal or sketchbook
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ None |
| To be assigned: Taxonomy (due Jan 8th): ▢ Build a dichotomous key using the provided silverware photo ▢ Complete Taxonomy Topic Quiz Ongoing assignments: ▢ Delimited Site: Find a delimited site (by end of January) and begin observations as noted in Delimited Site PDF |
Thursday, January 8th
“If you do not know the names of things, the knowledge of them is lost, too.” ~Carl Linnaeus
Week’s Topic:
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-None
Bring to Class:
–Ecology Student Study Guide
–Ecology Glossary PDF
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Hand lens
-Ruler
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Silverware dichotomous key ▢ Taxonomy Topic Quiz Completed ▢ Delimited Site selected and observations started |
| To be assigned: ▢ Delimited Site Observation assignment: after choosing and describing your site, describe a simple food web based on species or signs you observed at your site. Draw a simple food web and label at least one producer, consumer, and decomposer. Note the evidence for each of these roles. ▢ Ecological Principles Topic Quiz (due Jan 22nd) |
Thursday, January 22nd
“Never forget the trail, look ever for the track in the snow; it is the priceless, unimpeachable record of the creature’s life and thought, in the oldest writing known on the earth.” ~Ernest Thompson Seton
Week’s Topic:
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-None
Bring to Class:
–Mammals Tracks & Sign Student Study Guide PDF
-Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide by Lynn Levine
-Scat Finder booklet by Dorcas Miller
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Hand lens
-Ruler
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Delimited Site selected and observations started (if not already done so) ▢ Ecological Principles Topic Quiz Completed |
| To be assigned: Ongoing assignment begins: ▢ Mammal Tracks & Signs: Journal tracks and signs you find this winter as noted in the Mammal Tracks and Signs PDF (due by end of February) ▢ Mammal Tracks & Signs Topic Quiz (due Feb 7th) Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
February 2026
Saturday, February 7th
“Everything on the earth leaves a story” ~Tom Brown Jr.
Week’s Topics:
Prepare for class:
This day will include the following:
-Morning (9:30-11:45): Tracking *Plan to be outside, in the cold! Please bring good traction!
-11:45am: Lunch
-Afternoon (12:15-3:30): Skulls, Scat, and Mammals *Note: we will be looking at mammals that have died and are frozen. We will provide masks and gloves.
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Review all the PDFs particularly the handout “What You Can Learn From a Skull”
Bring to Class:
–Mammals Tracks & Sign Student Study Guide PDF
-Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Pocket Guide by Lynn Levine
-Scat Finder booklet by Dorcas Miller
–Mammal Skulls & Scat Student Study Guide PDF
-Maine Mammals Skull handout
–Attributes of Skulls Worksheet PDF – print
–Skulls Identification Worksheet PDF – print
–New Species Report – print
–Owl Pellet Activity PDF – print
–Discovery Box Homework PDF
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Hand lens
-Ruler
Homework:
| Due at this class: New observations for ongoing assignments: ▢ Delimited Site observations ▢ Phenology observations ▢ Mammal Track observations |
| To be assigned: Mammal Skulls & Signs (due Feb 12th): ▢ Mammal Skulls & Signs Topic Quiz ▢ Skulls ID Worksheet (due Feb 26th): ▢ Owl Pellet Dissection Activity ▢ Discovery Box identifications Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Thursday, February 12th
“Even the tiniest of flowers can have the toughest roots.”~ Shannon Mullen
Week’s Topic:
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Read Volunteering section of Student Handbook
Bring to Class:
–Volunteer Student Study Guide (pdf)
–Considerations for Leading Your First Nature Walk (pdf)
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Skulls ID Worksheet Completed ▢ Mammal Skulls & Signs Topic Quiz Completed |
| To be assigned: Volunteering: ▢ Review MMNP Mission and vision with respect to volunteering ▢ Attend/make a plan to attend an organized walk and provide a critique (prior to July) ▢ Attend/make a plan to attend an organized bird walk and provide a critique (prior to July) Mammal Tracks & Signs (due by end of Feb): ▢ Complete winter observations Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Thursday, February 26th
“The winter tree is a snowflake dressed in grace and bones, a simple miracle to behold on winter’s lonely road.” ~Angela Weiland-Crosby
Week’s Topic:
| Winter Trees Zoom Recording linked here. (Sorry the first few minutes of the meeting was not recorded) From Susan – “Check this out!”: Small Wonders: Winter Tree Bingo – Maine Audubon |
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Print the two PDFs on the study guide and review those as well as the vocabulary in the Study Guide.
-There is no separate Glossary for this topic.
Bring to Class:
–Winter Trees Student Study Guide PDF
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Hand lens
-Forest Trees of Maine book
–Twig Terminology PDF
–Tree Bark ID PDF – print (black & white is fine)
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Owl Pellet Dissection assignment ▢ Discovery Box identifications answers sent to instructor ▢ Plan for attending an organized walk ▢ Plan for attending an bird walk ▢ Final Mammal Track observations |
| To be assigned: Winter Trees (due by Mar 12th): ▢ ID tree twigs in the field and collect 5 winter twig species. Sketch and label identifying characteristics. ▢ Bark: observe 5 common deciduous trees and one white pine. Sketch the bark of each, describe the bark, label the tree species, ID the type of bark. ▢ Develop a Personal Tree Guide on at least 5 trees, including characteristics for winter ID, bark, twigs, fruit present, shape of tree, location of the tree, etc. ▢ Winter Trees Topic Quiz Ongoing assignment: ▢ Begin the Adopt a Tree exercise outlined in the Winter Trees PDF Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
March 2026
Thursday, March 12th
“A bird does not sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” ~Maya Angelou
Week’s Topic:
| Birds (Part 1) Zoom Recording linked here. |
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Review Birds Glossary PDF and Bird Respiration Mechanism PDF
Bring to Class:
–Bird Student Study Guide PDF
-Notebook, journal, and writing implement(s)
-Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America book
–Birds Glossary PDF
–Bird Respiration Mechanism PDF
–Hands On Birds PDF
Homework:
| Due at this class: New observations for additional ongoing assignments: ▢ Delimited Site observations ▢ Adopt a Tree observations |
| To be assigned: Birds: ▢ Complete Bird Beaks Worksheet (due 4/9) ▢ Bird Topic Quiz (due 4/9) ▢ Complete a brief report for two birding outings: a summer birding trip (prior to July) and a fall birding trip (prior to Sept) ▢ Ongoing assignment – ID 10 species of birds in the field (can work together): note the date, time, location, try to sketch the bird, or take a photo. Add the season of the year the bird is in Maine, preferred habitat, any behavior clues to ID, field marks and voice. Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Saturday, March 14th
“I realize there’s something incredibly honest about trees in winter, how they’re experts at letting things go.” ~Jeffrey McDaniel
Week’s Topics:
| Winter Trees From Susan – “Check this out!”: Small Wonders: Winter Tree Bingo – Maine Audubon |
| Winter Botany (Part 1 – Floral Dissection & Plant Families) |
Prepare for class:
This class has been moved to zoom – 9am-12:15pm. Watch the recording here!
For Winter Trees – material related to bark will be covered in the summer
For Winter Botany – material related to fruiting structures will be covered at a future field class
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Read page 11-18 (Introduction) and 46-57 (Plant Families) in Wildflowers of New England
-Read pages 1-5 in Winter Weed Finder
-Print the Plant Family Diagrams PDF for class and review the 7 families listed in Learning Goal #1
Bring to Class:
–Winter Trees Student Study Guide PDF
-Forest Trees of Maine book
–Twig Terminology PDF
–Tree Bark ID PDF – print (black & white is fine)
–Winter Botany Student Study Guide PDF
–Plant Family Diagrams pdf
–Perfect Flower Handout pdf
-Two twigs
-Either a tulip or a lily along with a sharp knife, razor blade, scalpel
-Wildflowers of New England book by Ted Elliman
-Winter Weed Finder by Dorcas S Miller
-Hand Lens and Ruler
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
Homework:
| Due at this class: Nothing specific is due at this class however you have previous assignments you should be working on: Winter Tree HW (due 3/26): ▢ Tree characteristics sketches and descriptions ▢ Winter Trees Quiz ▢ Adopt a Tree exercise started and Bird HW (due 4/9): ▢ Bird Beaks Worksheet ▢ Bird Topic Quiz ▢ Bird ID observations started |
| To be assigned: Winter Botany: ▢ Winter Botany Topic Quiz (for now don’t worry about question 4) Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Thursday, March 26th
“In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” ~Robert Lynd
Week’s Topic:
| Birds (Part 2) Zoom Recording linked here. |
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Follow ups from Birds (Part 1) last week
Bring to Class:
–Bird Student Study Guide PDF
-Notebook, journal, and writing implement(s)
-Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America book
–Birds Glossary PDF
–Bird Respiration Mechanism PDF
–Hands On Birds PDF
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Tree characteristics sketches and descriptions ▢ Winter Trees Quiz Completed ▢ Adopt a Tree exercise started ▢ Winter Botany Topic Quiz Completed |
| To be assigned: ▢ Nothing new to be assigned! Please review previous assignments, ensure you are staying on task with assignments ongoing! Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
April 2026
Thursday, April 9th
“If we can discover the meaning in the trilling of a frog, perhaps we may understand why it is for us not merely noise but a song of poetry and emotion.” ~ Adrian Forsyth
Week’s Topic:
| Vernal Pools Watch the recording here. |
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Read Vernal Pool Animals PDF
–Review Maine Vernal Pool Indicator Species PDF
-Read pp. 1-9 in Leo P. Kenney and Matthew R. Burne. 2009. A Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
Bring to Class:
–Vernal Pools Student Study Guide PDF
–Vernal Pool Animals PDF
–Review Maine Vernal Pool Indicator Species PDF
-Hand lens
-Ruler
-Writing Implements and Paper/Journal
-Leo P. Kenney and Matthew R. Burne. 2009. A Field Guide to the Animals of Vernal Pools. Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Bird Beaks Worksheet ▢ Bird Topic Quiz Completed New observations for additional ongoing assignments: ▢ Delimited Site observations ▢ Adopt a Tree observations ▢ Bird ID observations |
| To be assigned: Vernal Pools (due Apr 23rd unless noted): ▢ Observe a vernal pool over the course of 3 weeks, describe its life cycle based upon learning in class and supplemental resources (due May 2nd) ▢ Sketch and label 4 vernal pool indicator species. If possible do this on site. ▢ Vernal Pool Topic Quiz Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Saturday, April 11th
“And what is there to life if a man cannot hear the lonely cry of the whippoorwill or the arguments of the frogs around a pond at night?” ~Chief Seattle
Week’s Topics:
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Prepare for hands-on bird specimens activity
-Winter Weed Finder by Dorcas Miller – READ pages 1-5 and browse through the remainder of the book.
-Review the Glossary (pp. 445-6) in Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., Trevor B. Persons, Aram J. K. Calhoun, Phillip G. deMaynadier, and Derek T. Yorks. 2025. Maine Amphibians and Reptiles, 3rd edition. University of Maine Press
-Read introductory material (pp. 9-65) in Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., Trevor B. Persons, Aram J. K. Calhoun, Phillip G. deMaynadier, and Derek T. Yorks. 2025. Maine Amphibians and Reptiles, 3rd edition. University of Maine Press
-Listen to frog calls at Calls of Frogs and Toads of the Northeast
Bring to Class:
*PLEASE BRING BACK YOUR DISCOVERY BOX!
-Binoculars, hand lens, ruler
-Notebook, journal, and writing implement(s)
-Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America book
–Herps Student Study Guide PDF
-Malcolm L. Hunter, Jr., Trevor B. Persons, Aram J. K. Calhoun, Phillip G. deMaynadier, and Derek T. Yorks. 2025. Maine Amphibians and Reptiles, 3rd edition. University of Maine Press
-Dorcas Miller handouts:
○ Identifying Snake By Its Skin handout
○ Maine Turtles Chart handout
–Lab Activities-Maine Herps PDF
–Lab Activity-Snakes Of Maine PDF
–Snakes in Maine PDF
-Winter Weed Finder by Dorcas Miller
–Bird Respiration Mechanism PDF
-Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America book
–HOB Handout & Revised Bills/Feet Page
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Vernal Pool Observations Started |
| To be assigned: Herps (due Apr 23rd): ▢ Answer study questions ▢ Sketch and label the unique physical characteristics and habitat of TWO of EACH of the following native Maine herps: snakes, turtles, frogs, salamanders (8 species – include common and scientific names.) Ideally, sketch from observations in the field. Selections must not be vernal pool indicator species. ▢ Complete Herp Topic Quiz Winter Weeds (due May 2nd): ▢ Collect 5 fruiting structures, sketch them in your journal and add the additional information noted in the Winter Botany PDF Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
Thursday, April 23rd
“May your life be like a wildflower, growing freely in the beauty and joy of each day.” ~Native American Proverb
Week’s Topic:
Prepare for class:
Pre-Class Assignments:
-Ted Elliman and Native Plant Trust. 2016. Wildflowers of New England. Timber Press. READ pages 11-25 (Some of this–pp. 11-18– was originally assigned in Winter Botany) and examine the diagrams on the inside front and back covers.
-Review your notes, vocabulary, and handouts from Winter Botany.
-Review Flower Traits slideshow here: https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/flowers/flowertraits/
-Play matching game here: https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/flowers/matchflowerpollinator/
Bring to Class:
–Wildflower Student Study Guide PDF
-Notebook and writing implement(s)
-Ted Elliman and Native Plant Trust. 2016. Wildflowers of New England. Timber Press
-Hand lens and ruler
–Plant Families PDF (from Winter Botany)
Homework:
| Due at this class: ▢ Vernal Pool indicator species sketches and label 4 vernal pool indicator species. If possible do this on site. ▢ Vernal Pool Topic Quiz Completed ▢ Herp study questions ▢ Herp Sketches ▢ Herp Topic Quiz Completed |
| To be assigned: Wildflowers: ▢ Ongoing assignment – Identify a minimum of 50 wildflowers. Record the following information: common name, scientific name, plant family, key characteristics for identification, date, habitat. Discuss the format of this homework with your mentor. ▢ Sketch at least 5 of the wildflowers you identify. Ideally sketch from observations in the field. Represent several different families Vernal Pools: ▢ Complete vernal pool observations Please complete the feedback survey for this class here. |
May 2026
Details coming soon!
June 2026
Details coming soon!
July 2026
Details coming soon!
August 2026
Details coming soon!
September 2026
Details coming soon!
October 2026
Details coming soon!