The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) and Cathance River Education Alliance (CREA) are partnering on a yearlong program of lectures and field trips to share stories of understanding and hope in a changing climate. With the program, A Local Look at Our Changing Climate, we hope to provide in simple terms some insight into how climate change is affecting mid-coast Maine.

“While there is a host of complex data, policies, and technologies that address global climate change,” says Cathance River Education Alliance Executive Director Matt Dubel, “this series will build community understanding of what change looks like right here, in our own back yards. And it will highlight what some people in the mid-coast region are doing to adapt and make a difference.”

He adds that the series will also give people information about actions they can take to make the region more resilient in the face of change.

The goal of the series is to build community confidence that individuals can positively impact the future of coastal Maine in the face of a global issue.

“The resilience of our community depends on citizens who are informed and empowered,” says Lee Cataldo, Outreach & Education Coordinator at the Land Trust. “This series is an effort to encourage people with positive and constructive information.”

Lecture topics through the year include: research from backyard studies and citizen science; forest  changes and evolving forest management practices; shifting bird migration patterns; local seafood industry adaptations; and invasive forest insects. Fall topics will focus on sustainable energy and local food impacts and options.

The schedule of events is still growing, and details can be found at www.btlt.org/events

Schedule of Events

Lectures are held on the last Tuesday of most months, at 6:30pm, at the Topsham Public Library in partnership with the library.

Outings associated with the lecture topics are planned for most months, including a day-long Forest Inventory Growth training to begin regular collection of comparative forest data at Crystal Spring Farm in Brunswick.

All are FREE (excepting a small fee for the day-long training) and open to everyone.

This schedule will be updated regularly, so check in often for additional events.

Click on any event title for more details.

Backyard Changes

March 29, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library

Nat Wheelwright, Bowdoin Professor of Natural Sciences

The Role of Forests Over Time

April 26, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library

Si Balch of Manomet Climate Smart Land Network

Forest Inventory Growth (FIG) Training

May 7, 9:00am – 2:30pm, Crystal Spring Farm, Brunswick ($50)

The program will train teachers, foresters, and other community members to begin gathering data about Crystal Spring Farm.

Film: Fishing on Changing Waters

May 12, 6:00pm, Frontier Cinema

ME Coast Fisherman’s Association presents a film and discussion with fishermen & scientists

Observing Bird Migrations –Spring Birding Extravaganza

Join one of the many spring outings.

Decades of Change in Bird Populations

May 31, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library

Doug Hitchcox, Maine Audubon Staff Naturalist

Film: Role of Seafood in the Local Food Movement

CANCELLED – June 23

Local Adaptations to Changing Fisheries

June 28, 6:30pm, Topsham Public Library

Dan Devereaux, Brunswick Marine Warden

On the Water: Municipal Aquaculture Demonstration Beds

July 18, 2:30 and 3:30pm, Mere Point Boat Launch

Tour the new municipal aquaculture demonstration area.

On the Water: Kayak to Understand Fishing and Climate Change

September 13, 4:00pm, Orrs Island

Learn about fishing and impacts of climate change on the coast

Forest Invaders

August 18, 4:00. Location TBA

Charlene Donahue, Forest Entomologist

In the Fall: Energy and Food

Details coming soon!

Local Climate Change Resources

This field based, exploratory program connects students and citizen scientisits to Maine forests

An in-depth report from UMaine, covering everything from carbon sequester in the forests, to birds and other species, to agriculture.

Using their backyards as laboratories, participants in the Signs of the Seasons program help scientists document the local effects of global climate change.

Please do your part and learn what you can do to leave invasive pests behind.

These culinary partners have committed to always having Gulf of Maine seafood on their menus.

I want my children to believe their futures are full of hope and promise. Yet they also need to look with clear eyes at the world around them.