A Halloween StoryWalk® Event! ~ Tuesday, October 22nd, 5:00-6:30pm @ IIT’s Narrows Preserve

Join IIT and the ALP Library for our fourth year of Halloween-themed StoryWalk®! Through the month of October, IIT’s Narrows Preserve will host the book The Pomegranate Witch written by Denise Doyen and illustrated by Eliza Wheeler.

As an extra treat, a Spooky StoryWalk® Event will be held at IIT’s Narrows Preserve on Tuesday, October 22nd, from 5-6:30pm. Dress in costume and join us to walk and read  - with hot cider and treats!

Pumpkin Harvest!

Saturday, October 19, 10:00am @ the Blueberry Hill Learning Garden

The pumpkin patch has been growing all summer long and our pumpkins are ready to harvest! In September, we etched names and favorite phrases in pumpkin skins which have been growing with the pumpkins as they ripen.

On Saturday, October 19, join us to harvest your pumpkin and bring it home! If you didn’t etch a pumpkin in September, come pick a pumpkin of your choice. All ages are welcome!

Also joining us is local food expert, Sandy Oliver, to talk about how to process and cook all of our tasty pumpkins!

Predicting Flooding and Sea Level Rise - Monday, October 7, 5:30pm via Zoom

As climate change progresses and the ice caps melt at faster rates than seen before, we wonder at what rate we can expect sea levels to rise in our region. Is it a “bath tub” effect, where we will experience equal sea level rise across the globe? Or does it differ from region to region? And why? How do scientists predict what is going to happen in a given area?

Joining IIT, on Monday, October 7, is Dr. Hannah Baranes. Dr. Baranes is a coastal scientist with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in southern Maine who has performed extensive research on flooding along the Maine coast. She joins us to answer some of these questions and tell us about the programming, projects and methodology GMRI uses to predict coastal flooding and sea level rise.

Follow the link below to join the talk!

Predicting Flooding & SLR Zoom Link

Pumpkin Etching Party!

Saturday, September 7th, 10:00am @ Blueberry Hill’s Learning Garden

We sowed the seeds, we planted the seedlings and all summer long, our pumpkins, gourds and sunflowers have been growing at IIT’s Learning Garden!

On Saturday, September 7th, join IIT and Growing Things’ Pam Larson at the Blueberry Hill Learning Garden for the next step in our pumpkin patch—name etching! Come out, choose your very own pumpkin and learn how to etch your name or phrase of your choosing into the pumpkin skin that will grow and expand as the pumpkin ripens. In October, come back for the Pumpkin Harvest!

Sip 'N Paint on the Preserves! - Wednesday, August 21st, 6-8pm @ IIT's Blueberry Hill Preserve

Each month through the summer, IIT is partnering with the Islesboro Community Center's Sip 'N Paint program to bring painting to the preserves! August’s plein air session will be led by local artist, Corinna D’Schoto and take place at IIT's Blueberry Hill Preserve.

Marsh Adaptation Talk - Saturday, August 17th, 2:00pm @ IIT’s Hutchins Preserve

The Hutchins Marsh has seen dramatic changes after severe winter storms eroded the banking between the freshwater pond and Coombs Cove, creating an outlet which quickly grew in size. What used to be called a “pond” does not hold water any longer, but empties the streams of this major watershed into the Coombs & Parker cove systems.

Noticeable changes to the surrounding environment can already be seen. With the guidance of Dr. Brian Beale, IIT is putting into place monitoring practices that will help us mark and study this transition. Join IIT with Dr. Brian Beale, on Saturday, August 17 at the Hutchins Preserve to learn about what we might expect to see over coming weeks, years and decades and best practices for monitoring future changes.

Morning Birding - Saturday, August 10th @ 8:00am at the Tarratine Golf Course

The Tarratine Golf Club is working to certify Islesboro’s Golf Course as a sanctuary with Audubon International - prompting many bird and wildlife observations! On Saturday, August 10th, join IIT and John King of the Tarratine Golf Club on a morning bird walk, led by local bird enthusiast, Mark Forney. Come to discover the variety of bird species that call this lovely part of the island home and hear more about the Audubon International Sanctuary Certification Program.

Trail Accessibility - Thursday, August 8th, 11:00am @ the ALP Library

IIT believes that the natural world is for everyone to experience and we’d like to do our part to make it more accessible to all. That is why we are looking to convert our Hinkle Preserve trail into an ADA/ABA compliant trail! This 0.2 mile loop trail, located on Point Comfort Road, winds through a fern meadow and along the coast of Parker cove with views of Hutchins Island and Cape Rosier. It is also the location of the IIT StoryWalk®, a collaboration between Islesboro Islands Trust and the Alice L. Pendleton Library - making it a great location for walker, stroller and wheelchair accessibility!

Interested in learning more? Join IIT for a cup of coffee and a nibble at the ALP Library on Thursday, 8/8, to hear more about the project, grant prospects and how you can get involved!

Happy 80th Birthday, Smokey Bear! Saturday, August 3rd, 3:00-4:30pm @ IIT’s Hinkle Preserve

IIT and the Alice L Pendleton Library invite you to join us in celebrating 80 years of forest fire prevention with a party for Smokey Bear. Visit the Hinkle Preserve, located on Point Comfort Rd., to read this summer’s StoryWalk®, A Cub Explores written by Pamela Love and illustrated by Shannon Sycks. Then, join us on the beach for a bonfire with s’mores, activities, a fire safety talk and birthday cake!

IIT’s 4th Annual Trail Day! Sunday, July 28th, 9:00am-2:00pm

Join us Sunday, July 28 for IIT’s 4th Annual Trail Day! Kick-off event at Blueberry Hill @ 9:00am - spend your day visiting and hiking as many preserve trails as you’d like. When you sign up, you will receive a Trail Day Passport with directions, trail information, nature clue hunt and more!

For more information on how to sign up, visit IIT’s Trail Day Page on our website.

July 20 - 28 marks this year’s National Moth Week! To celebrate these varied, unique and crucial nighttime visitors, we will be spending an evening looking for, identifying and talking about the moths found on Islesboro. Join us at IIT’s Cregar-Mellencamp Center at 376 West Bay Road.

Sip ‘N Paint on the Preserves - Wednesday, July 17th, 6-8pm @ IIT’s Blueberry Hill Preserve

Each month through the summer, IIT will be partnering with the Islesboro Community Center's Sip 'N Paint program to bring painting to the preserves! July’s plein air session will be led by local artist, Laura Read and take place at IIT's Blueberry Hill Preserve, on Wednesday, July 17th.

Busy Beavers - Saturday, July 13th, 10:00am @ Meadow Pond Town Access Area

Beaver are fascinating and invaluable creatures to our ecosystem! They have been hard at work, maintaining Meadow Pond for many years now. This summer, Maine State Wildlife Biologist, Kendall Marden, will join us to discuss the habits and characteristics of this remarkable rodent.

This will be a two-part walk & talk, beginning at the Town access at Meadow Pond and walking along to the dam site, we will begin our discussion, looking at signs of beaver. Then, we will take to the water! Bring your kayak or canoe and Kendall Marden will lead us on a paddle toward the beaver lodge to see if we can catch sight or sound of nature’s construction workers.

Between climate change and over browsing deer, Islesboro’s deciduous trees are under duress. Interested in learning more about how to identify and protect deciduous seedlings? Join IIT with Maine State Forester, Allyssa Gregory, at IIT’s Herbert Preserve to learn about properly identifying seedlings and steps you can take to protect young trees on your property.

Planting a Pumpkin Patch! - Saturday, June 22nd, 10:00am @ the Blueberry Hill Learning Garden

Join Pam Larson and IIT at Blueberry Hill’s Learning Garden to plant pumpkin and companion plant seeds and seedlings!

Trail Work Party! Saturday, June 22nd, 9:00am @ The Hutchins Preserve

Calling All Volunteers! IIT’s Hutchins Preserve sustained immense erosion and trail damage during major Winter storms this year. As a result, the access to the beach has changed dramatically and portions have been rerouted. It remains messy - with debris (both natural and man-made) strewn along the trail and falling trees encroaching. We can use your help cleaning it up!

Bring work gloves, pruners and your enthusiasm!

Sip 'N Paint on the Preserves! - Wednesday, June 12th, 6-8pm @ IIT's Hinkle Preserve

Each month through the summer, IIT will be partnering with the Islesboro Community Center's Sip 'N Paint program to bring painting to the preserves! Our first plein air session will take place at IIT's Hinkle Preserve (located on Point Comfort Rd.), on Wednesday, June 12th.

Maine’s Amazing Corvids - Saturday, June 8th, 10:30am @ the Alice L. Pendleton Library

The Corvids are a fascinating bird family that includes Ravens and Crows. Joining us to discuss the habits and characteristics of these birds is local expert, author and birder, Don Reimer.

Seed Block Workshop - Saturday, May 11th, 10:00am at the Growing Things Garden

Join Growing Things’ Pam Larson to learn how to start seeds inside by making seed blocks! We will be sowing a variety of pumpkin, gourd and companion flower seeds to be transplanted into IIT’s Learning Garden in June.

May Day Celebration - Saturday, May 4th, 10:00-12:00 @ the Blueberry Hill Preserve

Come celebrate the warming soil and longer days with flower crowns, crafts and dancing around the maypole!

Pizza and Family Movie Night! Friday, April 12th, 5:30pm @ the Islesboro Community Center

Join IIT at the Islesboro Community Center for a Pizza and Family Movie Night, featuring the 2012 film, the Lorax! This event is free and open to all. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

With power outages spoiling our previously planned candle-dipping workshops, we have rescheduled to Tuesday, March 12th.

March 19th marks this years' Vernal Equinox. A day where we say goodbye to Winter and greet the coming Spring. A day in which light and dark are equal, and every day after, until the Summer Solstice, we see a little more daylight.

Let's celebrate the shift in season by learning how to make our own candles! On Tuesday, March 12, ICS Art teacher, Laura Read, will lead a workshop on making hand-dipped candles at Chloe Joule’s home on Bluff Rd. 

Space and supplies are limited. To save your spot, contact Chloe Joule at iitcjoule@gmail.com or 734-6907.

Backyard Forest Health - Tuesday, March 5th @ 5:00pm, via Zoom

Emerald Ash Borer, Beech Bark and Beech Leaf Disease, Hemlock Woolly Adelgid - Maine’s forests are facing a variety of health issues. On Tuesday, March 5th, State of Maine’s forest pathologist, Aaron Bergdahl, and forest entomologist, Colleen Teerling, join us to talk about concerns in our backyard forests and how to identify them.

To tune in to the this virtual talk, follow the Zoom link below:

Backyard Forest Health Zoom Link

Maple-tapping with IIT! Saturday, February 24th, 10:00am @ the Blueberry Hill Preserve

Maine is a rich source of maple syrup and Islesboro is no exception! On Saturday, February 24th, join IIT to learn about the process of maple sugaring at IIT’s Blueberry Hill Preserve with Dan Tutor.

December is nearly here, says the seasonal nip in the air! It’s time to collect greens and create a holiday wreath. Whether you have been making wreaths for years or this is your first one, join us for this fun event.

We’ll start our morning at the Turtle Head Preserve to talk about the different kinds of greens one may choose to use and collect them. Then, we will take our freshly cut greens to Chloe Joule’s home on the Bluff Road to assemble our wreaths.

IIT provides wreath rings and wire. Bring any other decorations you would like to add (pinecones, berries, ribbons, etc), as well as pruners, gloves and a bag to put your greens in. 

Space and supplies are limited. To save your spot, contact Chloe Joule at iitcjoule@gmail.com or 734-6907.