IN PERSON at APL and ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM if desired.

As we are repeatedly told how divided and polarized our society has become, we may feel discouraged from trying to bridge those divides. This presentation is an antidote to that discouragement, providing practical tips for productive dialogue in divided communities. Drawing on his book Together We Decide, Craig Freshley emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness, inclusivity and cooperation as he shares inspirational stories and teaches practical skills for getting along and moving forward together.

Craig Freshley is a professional facilitator, author and public speaker who is passionately committed to peacemaking and draws on his experience with consensus decision-making to promote healing in our world. In 2019, he received the American Civic Collaboration Award for creating and facilitating Make Shift Coffee Houses, community gatherings that provided a space where individuals from diverse political backgrounds could come together to engage in dialogue and understand each other’s perspectives.

Zoom and in person at APL

Lindsay will join us via Zoom. Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may either Zoom in from home or come to the library to watch the presentation on the big screen.

Lindsay Ware will introduce us to the work of Science Dogs of New England, an organization that trains both dogs and their human handlers to use the superior scent-detection abilities of dogs for low-impact conservation and research work. The presentation will include a video of the dogs working on important environmental research. 

Lindsay has partnered with dogs for conservation purposes since 2011, when she began training dogs to find mortally wounded large game animals for hunters. Passionate about wildlife and conservation from a young age, Lindsay earned her B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Unity College, and her M.S. in Biology from the University of Western Ontario. She spent many years traveling the U.S. and Canada working as a wildlife research technician for several government and non-profit agencies.

IN-PERSON at L-A Metro Chamber of Commerce (415 Lisbon Street, Suite 100, Lewiston, ME)

When we think of plants and botany, many of us think first of flowers, but there is a whole world of non-flowering plants out there. These include lichens, liverworts, mosses, clubmosses, horsetails, ferns and conifers. This course will cover the basic structures, functions, ecological relationships, and taxonomy of this diverse group of organisms, including an introduction to the specialized vocabulary used to study them. The course is primarily taught with PowerPoint but will include live and preserved specimens from each group. An optional field trip on a weekend day will be scheduled near the end of the course.

Jeff Pengel was trained as a geologist and botanist and holds degrees in Natural Science and Secondary Education. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide, a Maine Master Naturalist instructor, and an Appalachian Mountain Club volunteer naturalist. Jeff has worked as geologist, high school science teacher, outdoor educator, and park ranger but has spent most of his career in IT and project management.

IN PERSON at APL and ZOOM

Everyone who registers will receive a link to ZOOM in their email on the morning of the class, and may attend either in-person or by ZOOM if desired.

Astronomers are the 'canaries in the coalmine' and leaders in addressing a number of new and major environmental issues. Light pollution, space crowding and space debris, and climate change are all connected with our disciplines. As individuals and communities, we can make a difference - but only if we know what the issues are and how to address them. The documentary film, Defending the Dark, tells the story of our work combatting light pollution and protecting the dark skies of northern Maine, with lessons that can be applied anywhere. Our workshop and presentation will discuss these and other environmental issues that we can, and must, address.

Douglas Arion, PhD is the director of Mountains of Stars, a public science outreach and education program that engages the public with 'environmental awareness from a cosmic perspective,’ is Professor Emeritus of Physics and Astronomy and Donald D. Hedberg Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Entrepreneurial Studies at Carthage College, and has been a leader in many astronomy educational programs. Arion led the effort to create the AMC Maine Woods International Dark Sky Park, which protects over 100,000 acres in Maine – the last substantial dark sky region in the eastern 2/3 of the US. He produced Defending the Dark, a documentary on dark skies in Maine that has been shown on PBS across the US and at several major film festivals. Among his many awards and honors is Dark Sky Defender Award from the International Dark Sky Association.