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Acadia National Park offers free distance learning programs for classrooms and groups of all ages. These interactive programs are conducted live from the park through your preferred meeting platform. Choose from the topics below: NPS Mission & History, Weather & Climate, Birds, Marine Science, Ecology, Earth Science & Physics.
Virtual Winter Programs 2026-2027
We will begin to take program reservations for Virtual Winter 2026/2027 programs beginning on Mon, Nov 23. The Virtual Program season will run from Dec 7, 2026 through Apr 3, 2027.
If you have any questions about the programs, please e-mail us.
NPS Mission & Local History Programs
Grades K-3: What do you Notice Videos?
On Your Own or With a Ranger! These ~1-minute non-narrated video clips of Acadia’s resources are designed to be shared with your students for them to generate “I Notice, I Wonder, and I’m Reminded Of” statements. The videos are available on our website, and each include a 1-page “Fast Fact” reference page. Student observations, questions, and connections can be shared with the class, and teachers can utilize the “Fast Facts” to expand on the students’ ideas. (Overall length of lesson determined by teacher.)
Grades 3-12: Acadia's Top 10! (Overview of Acadia Slideshow)
What makes Acadia… Acadia? Invite a ranger to your virtual space to present a slideshow showcasing the resources protected here. This overview acts as a great introduction to the Park! (45 minutes)
Grades 3-4: What Do Rangers Do?
Investigate some of the many jobs that rangers do in national parks and learn what it takes to keep Acadia running. “What Do Rangers Do?” is the prerequisite for completing the Junior Ranger Program and earning a Junior Ranger badge. Request your copy of our Junior Ranger Book ahead of time so you can choose the pages you want your students to work on. Discuss the program conclusion with your ranger and decide whether you want a badge ceremony as part of the conclusion. (45 minutes)
Grades 3-5: Carriage Road ABCs: Architects, Bridges, and Carriages!
Design and draw your own carriage road as we explore the stories of those who helped engineer, build, and maintain the historic carriage roads and bridges of Acadia. (45 minutes - 1 hour)
Grades 9-12: Career Day
Interview a ranger about a variety of National Park Service careers. Explore career options in science, law enforcement, search & rescue, teaching, graphics editing, management, accounting, history, cultural lands management, motor vehicle repair, heavy equipment operation, several trades, public policy, and more! Program is tailored to each school’s needs. (45 minutes)
Seagull standing near ocean with dark clouds.
NPS Photo/Victoria Stauffenberg
Weather & Climate Change Programs
Grades K-2: Weather Watchers
Do you like looking at the clouds? What’s your favorite season? How do we plan for a snowy day? Let’s become weather watchers and explore why it’s important to learn about different types of weather. (30 - 45 minutes)
Grades 3-5: Adventures in Weather and Climate
Bring your weather-wise observations along for a program investigating how we measure weather and why it matters. Explore the tools used and compare weather in different national park climates. (45 minutes)
Grades 3-6: Snow Science
As winter approaches, many people look forward to the snow that comes with it. Join us as we unravel the mysteries of snow and learn how to make our own snowflake cutout. Please have paper, scissors, and adult supervision for the program's craft. (45 minutes)
Grades 6-8: Tracking Acadia’s Seasons – Phenology
Students will learn about phenology and why it is important in helping us understand the relationships of organisms. We will explore seasonal, cyclic changes of plants and animals and the impacts related to changing climatic conditions while gaining exposure to community science projects. (45 minutes)
Forest Habitat
NPS Photo/ Crystal Lewis
General Ecology Programs
Grades K-2: Adaptation Olympics
Join a park ranger to learn about the amazing adaptations of the animals in Acadia. Students have the option to move along with the ranger; they’ll only need a small space to jump, wave their arms around, and try the ant plank! (30-45 minutes)
Grades K-2: Hooray for Habitats
Forests and coastlines and lakes, oh my! Discover how Acadia’s habitats provide animals with what they need to survive in this fun program full of puppets and imagination. (30 - 45 minutes)
Grades K-8: Acadia’s Winter Ecology
Freeze, stay, or go away. We will focus on the strategies of hibernation, tolerance, and migration that Acadia's animals use to survive Maine's winters. Join us to explore the winter ecology of Acadia and learn about some of the amazing animals who adapt to this challenging season! This program is adapted to each grade level. (30-45 minutes)
Grades 2-4: Acadia's Reptiles and Amphibians
Who are the reptiles and amphibians of Acadia? Grab your pencil and paper and join us for a draw-along and fun introduction to the fabulous snakes, turtles, salamanders, and frogs of the park! (45 minutes- 1 hour)
Grades 3-5: Ecosystem Explorations
Learn about interactions between producers, consumers, predators, and prey in Acadia's ecosystem. We'll explore the relationships between organisms and focus on their roles in the environment, as well as food webs. (45 minutes)
Grades 3-6: Amazing Animal Adaptations
Explore the diversity of animals in Acadia and learn about the remarkable adaptations that help them survive! From tongues to tails, we will take a close look and learn wild facts about some local Maine creatures. (45 minutes) Amazing Animal Adaptations Resources
Grades 4-5: Jr. Bat Researchers: All About Bats
Learn all about bats as we debunk myths, review adaptations, and examine their importance. We’ll dive into some bat research going on in the park and discuss how rangers and students can help protect bats. (1 hour)
Barred owl chick
Photo by Will Greene, Friends of Acadia, NPS
Bird Programs
Grades K-2: Feathered Friends!
From feathers to beaks and feet, birds vary quite a bit! In this interactive lesson, we will explore and appreciate the great diversity of our feathered friends. (30-45 minutes)
Grades 3-12: Owls: Nature's Nighttime Predators
Explore the unique and amazing adaptations of owls as we learn about their natural history! We'll focus on species that call Acadia home as we delve into the world of these incredible nocturnal birds. (45 minutes)
Ranger showing shoreline animals
NPS Photo/ Lisa Girardin
Marine Science Programs
Grades 2-4: Shoreline Discovery
Learn about the wildlife that live along Acadia's rocky shoreline during this interactive program. An introductory skit showcases challenges encountered here, and shells, replicas, and images of different animals will be used to highlight various adaptations. (45 minutes)
Grades 3-6: Giants of the Gulf of Maine
Beyond the tidepools and coastlines of Acadia is the great Gulf of Maine! What amazing gentle giants call this place home? Discover the special adaptations that these creatures have which help them to survive in their watery world (45 minutes).
Grades 6-8: Waters of the Gulf of Maine
One of the fastest warming bodies of water in the world, the Gulf of Maine is the spectacular backdrop of Acadia National Park. Why are we warming so rapidly and, more importantly, how is this warming affecting the many gentle giants that call the Gulf of Maine home? Take an in-depth look at these topics as well as some incredible marine animal adaptations (45 minutes).
Grades K-12: Tidepool Tank Tour
Investigating the life found along our shores is a popular activity in Acadia National Park. Each Tidepool is a miniature window to the ocean where many amazing plants and animals can be found. Join us as we look closely at several intertidal animals and learn about their adaptations for survival in this challenging zone between land and sea! (45 minutes)
The Bubbles over Jordan Pond
NPS Photo
Earth Science & Physics Programs
Grades 2-3: Where the Mountains Meet the Sea
Join a ranger to discover how landforms and bodies of water in Acadia have been shaped over time! Through imagery, fun movements, and sketching, we'll connect the various forces that sculpt the planet to the incredible resources of our National Parks. (45 minutes - 1 hour)
Grades 4-5: Sedimentary Sleuths
Wind, waves, and ice! Become a sediment detective and investigate how weathering and erosion have shaped the landscape of Acadia National Park over time. (1 hour)
Grades 6-8: Geology: A Story Written in the Landscape
The story of Acadia's formation involves colliding continents, ancient oceans, intruding magma chambers, and bulldozing glaciers. We will investigate the rocks and the landscape to learn about Acadia's dynamic story of past and ongoing change. (45 minutes).
Grades 7-10: Physics of Acadia: Ocean waves
Ocean Waves are fascinating to watch, but how are they formed? Explore and learn about the interaction between sunlight, wind, water, and how they create waves using basic principles of physics. (1 hour)
