Park Science Day at Acadia

Date: June 17, 2016
Contact: John Kelly, 207-288-8703

We invite the public to Park Science Day on Saturday, June 25, from 1 to 5 pm at Sieur de Monts. Park Science Day will highlight the park's role as a living laboratory and vital setting for scientific research in celebration of Acadia's Centennial.

Parking for the event will be at the Jackson Laboratory parking lot off Route 3 just north of the Sieur de Monts entrance to the Park Loop Road. A free Island Explorer bus shuttle will provide transportation between the Jackson laboratory parking lot and Sieur de Monts from noon to 5:30 pm. The parking lot at Sieur de Monts will be closed except for those with disabilities who require accessible parking.

From 1 to 2 pm, the public is invited to attend a ceremony to commemorate 100 years of science in the national parks with presentations by several speakers, including Dr. Rush D. Holt, Chief Executive Officer of American Association for the Advancement of Science and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals. Following the speakers, Superintendent Kevin Schneider will lead a ribbon cutting at the Sieur de Monts Nature Center for the debut of a new climate science exhibit, which was designed with help from College of the Atlantic students.

From 2 to 5 pm, visitors of all ages can enjoy more than a dozen interactive stations and take guided walks highlighting science and research in the park. Visitors will learn how to do things at home that can help protect Acadia—from building bat houses to planting native plants to restoring fish passages. Visitors will also have a chance to climb aboard the park's "green" vehicles, and discover simple ways to cut petroleum use and reduce emissions in their own vehicles.

At 4 pm, Superintendent Schneider will recognize the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for providing a grant to the NPS through its Clean Cities National Parks Initiative to replace ten gas-powered vehicles with eight electric and propane-powered vehicles at Acadia National Park, and to partner with Maine Clean Communities to provide public educational and outreach programs. DOE partners with the NPS through the Clean Cities National Parks Initiative to support transportation projects that educate park visitors on the benefits of cutting petroleum use and vehicle emissions. Since 2010, Clean Cities and the NPS have partnered on 32 projects to deploy alternative fuel and fuel-efficient vehicles, reduce vehicle idling, and improve vehicle efficiency.

Following Park Science Day, the NPS will debut a new film by Maine entrepreneur, David Shaw, that explores science in Acadia. The one-hour film will be shown at 9 pm in the outdoor amphitheaters at Blackwoods (Bar Harbor), Seawall (Southwest Harbor), and Schoodic Woods (Winter Harbor) campgrounds in Acadia National Park. Seats will be available on a first come, first served basis.

"We are excited to be debuting David Shaw's Acadia science film to highlight the important role that science plays in the future of all national parks," said Superintendent Kevin Schneider.