Island Heritage Trust of Deer Isle - Stonington, Maine. Walks and Talks Event Calendar.

Unless otherwise noted, all Talks are at the Heritage House - 420 Sunset Road - and are FREE. Printable IHT Walks and Talks 2013 schedule available for download.

May 11 - Saturday - Birdwalk at Scott's Landing
8:30-10:00 a.m. Join Mike Little on this, International Migratory Bird Day, at Scott's Landing.

May 14 - Tuesday - Search for the Yellow Birch
10:00-11:30 a.m. Farmer Eric Ziner will lead a woods walk to the amazing source of his farm’s name: the largest Yellow Birch in the State of Maine; along with all the spring flowers, budding shrubs and brief look at a certified organic dairy in action. Wear muck boots and bring bug dope! FMI 348-2455.

May 17, 18, 19 - Wings, Waves & Woods
Download the 2013 Wings, Waves & Woods Schedule

May 18 - Saturday - WWW: Dinner & Slides
5:00-9:00 p.m. Deer Isle's Birding weekend - Dinner and Slides; Harbor Cafe and Leslie Clapp.

May 31 - Friday - Pine Hill Work Party
8:30-11:30 a.m. Annual preserve clean up work party. Expect to pick up garbage, prune back trails, cut invasive plants, mark trails, etc. Bring gloves, loppers, clippers, and appropriate clothing. Water, coffee and a snack will be provided for volunteers!

June 1 - Saturday - Island Cleanup Sea Kayaking Trip
Join us at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures for a full-day, free, guided sea kayak trip to IHT's Wreck and Round Islands. Paddle 8-10 miles; walk the shores of both islands collecting refuse. Boats & padding gear included. No paddling experience necessary. Call Michael Daugherty at 367-5997 for more information/sign-up. Register early, space limited. Meet at Old Quarry. 8:30-5:00 PM.

June 1 - Saturday - Invasive Plants Talk and Work Party
Master Gardener, Sandy Wachholz, leads an hands-on workshop on controlling invasive plants with non-chemical methods. Focus will be on Asiatic bittersweet and Japanese barberry, but other invasives will be discussed. Bring gloves, bug repellent and clippers to Scott's Landing. All ages welcome! 8:30 AM.

June 1 - Saturday - Bird Calls for Beginners
Led by Diane Walker. Bring curiosity and listening patience, and a pair of binoculars (call to borrow some from IHT). Perfect for families and beginners who want to explore birding. Meet at Settlement Quarry at 9:00 AM.

June 8 - Saturday - Bird Walk
Monthly bird walk at Scott's Landing - beginners welcome! 8:00-9:30 AM.

June 15 - Saturday - Ride the Reach
Enjoy a morning bike ride along scenic Reach Road. We'll start from the parking lot of St. Brendan's Episcopal Church and ride a relatively flat 8 mile round trip route to IHT's Reach Beach and back (optional extension down the Fish Creek Rd), including a brief refreshment stop at Yellow Birch Farm. A "support" truck will follow riders; great family activity! Meet at St Brendan's at 10:00 AM.

June 19 - Wednesday - Settlement Quarry Through a Pinhole
Explore Settlement Quarry, its granite, woods and panoramic views with pinhole cameras. Start at 9 at Anne-Claude's studio to build cameras from ordinary boxes and tubes; then to the Quarry to expose them, returning to the darkroom to develop the photographs. The beautiful soft-focus images will amaze you! For all ages; no experience needed; for children & adults. Bring a bag lunch. $45. Cotty Studio, 65 Main St (Rte 15) just before entering Stonington Harbor. Info/registration 367-2699. acotty@gmail.com. 9:00-2:00 PM.

June 22 - Saturday - Marshall Island
Marshall is the largest undeveloped island on Eastern seaboard. Owned by Maine Coast Heritage Trust, the island offers miles of trails through diverse habitat. Bring a picnic and plan on a day of exploring or swimming and relaxing on a pristine sand beach. $55pp; be at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures at 9:30 AM (Depart at 10 & return at 4 PM). Kayaking tour around island with Guide option available. Registration required. Call 348-2455 to register.

June 24 - Monday - Tennis Preserve - Natural and Human History
Ann Hooke has been at the heart of Tennis Preserve stewardship for 20 years. No one is better informed about the natural history and human stories embedded in this 100-acre preserve. A rare opportunity to spend the morning with a gifted and enthusiastic teacher in her favorite element. And... you are invited to stop off at the Deer Isle Hostel for refreshments afterwards. 9:00-11:00 AM.

June 28 - Friday - Fern & Flower Walk
Botanist Sally Rooney will lead a gentle walk to explore the ferns and woodland flowers that grow at Shore Acres. Meet in the parking lot and bring a hand lens if you have one and footwear for wet trails. Rain date: Monday, July 1. 9:00 AM—noon.

July 10 - Wednesday - Useful Knots for Island Life
Join scientist/sailor, Tom Kellogg, for an introduction to practical knotting. Learn useful knots for boating and life on land: bowline, hitches, bends and splicing. Materials provided. All ages. Register with IHT at 3489-2455, space limited. Jane Osborne's Barn; South Deer Isle. 9:00-11:00 AM.

July 10 - Wednesday - Intro to Compass and Nautical Charts
Join retired professor and Coast Guard Auxiliary Member, Davida Kellogg, for a lively class on reading nautical charts, plotting a course and using a compass to follow it. It will be a full morning, but students will leave with a skill that is fun and meaningful in this community. For middle & high school students, and adults. Registration required. Please pre-register at 348-2455. Heritage House, 9:00-11:00 AM.

July 11 - Thursday - Of Mice and Ken
Join ecologist Ken Crowell, otherwise known as The Mouse Man, for an upclose, hands-on look at the lives of wild mice. Kids, as well as their parents, will learn some fascinating facts about these little guys. Meet at Barred Island parking lot. 9:00-10:30 AM.

July 11 - Thursday - Drawing From Nature
Enjoy a morning of sketching with artist/teacher Anne-Claude Cotty as we explore the woods, sand beaches, flowering meadows and views of Eggemogggin Reach from Scott's Landing Preserve. We'll focus on small subjects as well as sweeping landscapes using various media on paper. $45 incl materials; Info/registration 367-2699; acotty@gmail.com 9:00-noon.

July 13 - Saturday - Bird Walk
Monthly bird walk at Scott's Landing - beginners welcome! 8:00-9:30 AM.

July 16 - Thursday - IHT Annual Meeting
Climatologist Paul Mayewski discusses his still-optimistic view of climate change after decades of pioneering research. Members/visitors welcome! Wine and appetizers at St Brendan's Episcopal Church, North Deer Isle at 5:00 PM, business meeting at 6:00 PM, program at 7:00 PM.

July 16-18 - Tuesday-Thursday - Kayak and Wilderness Skills Summer Camp
IHT collaborates with Old Quarry Ocean Adventures and outdoor educator, Kristie Marks, to offer a 3-day learning adventure for children entering 5th grade-9th grade. The camp will focus on learning wilderness techniques as well as develping leadership, communication and team building skills.
Day One: Fire building, shelters, map and compass, and outdoor cooking; create plans for an overnight kayak trip to nearby island.
Day Two: Paddling & kayak rescue skills, then off to explore Stonington's stunning shorelines and waters via kayak until it is time to set up camp for an island overnight.
Day Three: Enjoy a morning honing skills (including preparation of breakfast and lunch) on a Maine island before heading back to Old Quarry in the afternoon.

July 18 - Thursday - Homesteading in the 21st Century
Join owners Dennis and Anneli for a tour of their off-the-grid hostel and homestead, including 17th century style timber frame building with hand-split granite foundation, and outbuildings made from wood harvested and milled on site. Special demo of splitting a large block of granite. Info 348-2308. $5-10 donation; 9:00- 10:30 AM.

July 21 - Sunday - Sketchbook Journaling
The activity of drawing sharpens your awareness and powers of observation. Join Hub white, Bruce Bulger and Doug Wilson for an afternoon of drawing at Crockett Cove Woods. Frequent brief demos of various approaches to sketching and drawing. Beginners are welcome! Bring paper or pad - watercolors and black & white media provided; $45 FMI Doug Wilson at wilsonforge@gmail.com or 348-6871. 12:30-4:30 PM.

July 22 - Monday - Butterflies, Bees ans Biodiversity
Join Ken and Marnie Reed Crowell to identify insect pollinators. The Crowells will discuss how to landscape for biodiversity and read the past history of Scott's Landing by looking at geology and plant species. Rain date July 24. Meet at Scott's Landing at 10:00 AM.

July 24 - Wednesday - GPS for Geocaching
Join Stewardship Director, George Fields, for a hands-on session learning to use a GPS Unit: key in coordinates, create a path, mark a way point, get to a destination and create tracks. There is even a geocache on site to locate with your new skills. Loaners available if you do not have one, call ahead to reserve. All ages welcome. Limit of six. 10:00-noon.

July 25 - Thursday - What the Sea Left Behind
Designed especially to introduce the toddler (2 1/2 - 4 y.o.), and accompanying adult, to the wonders of the natural world at the tide line. Join home-schooling mom Malinda Curtis for an hour of exploring, games and a story. Meet at Reach Beach on Oak Point Rd. 9:30-10:30 AM.

July 25 - Thursday - Campbell Island
Join island stewards/naturalists Gordon Russell and Jane Rosinski for a leisurely day on Campbell Island. Walk the rough perimeter trail around the 85-acre island learning about the abundant natural history on this "big, robust and wild" island. Archeologist and historian Bill Haviland will join the group for a picnic lunch and discussion of Indian history, and one of the area's most unusual finds: a European found buried in full armor on Campbell. Register with IHT, $60. Depart Old Quarry, 10:30-3:30 PM.

July 26 - Friday - Marshall Island
Refer to June 22 listing for more information.

July 30 - Tuesday - Plein Air Workshop
Join artist Jill Hoy for a morning of drawing or watercolor at Scott's Landing - bring your favorite supplies. We'll interpret the landscape, its rhythms and the gestures they inspire: marks, movements and composition. Bring sun protection and water. Kids under 13 are free. Register with IHT, $20. 10:00-1:00 PM.

July 30-Aug 1 - Tuesday-Thursday - Kayak and Wilderness Skills Summer Camp
Refer to July 17-19th listing for more information.

August 6 - Tuesday - Sandhill Crane Expedition
Join IHT Director Mike Little for a day trip to look for two of Maine's rarest nesting birds: Sandhill Cranes and Black Terns. Register with IHT. Meet at Heritage House to carpool at 8:00 AM.

August 6 - Tuesday - Antarctica Changing - Does it Matter?
We'll ponder this question: from geological to more recent human-driven changes in the Antarctic. Join Ann Hooke for this first of two slide shows and talks based on her recent expedition to Antarctica and the islands of the Southern Ocean. Heritage House at 7:00 PM.

August 8 - Thursday - Shackleton's Journey
Join Ann Hooke for this second of two slide shows exploring the route of Shackleton's epic 1914-1916 journey, including rarely photographed portions on South Georgia and Elephant Islands. Heritage House at 7:00 PM.

August 9 - Friday - Migrating Shorebirds
The tidal flats, beaches and islands of Southwest Harbor are a great place to see variety of shore birds, in abundance now with their migration south for the coming winter. Join Gordon Russell and Jane Rosinski for an exploration of this fascinating area. Meet at parking area at junction of Sunset Rd and Dunham Point Rd for a short walk to the beach. 8:30-10:30 AM.

August 10 - Saturday - Bird Walk
Monthly bird walk at Scott's Landing - beginners welcome! 8:00-9:30 AM.

August 11 - Sunday - Ice Cream Social at the Lily Pond
Nature exhibits, fun games, activities, swimming - and ICE CREAM! 12:30-2:30 PM.

August 14-16 - Wednesday-Friday - Kayak and Wilderness Skills Summer Camp
Refer to July 17-19th listing for more information.

August 15 - Thursday - Homesteading in the 21st Century
The Deer Isle Hostel is an off-the-grid homestead which grows a year-round food supply. This fascinating tour focuses on the organic gardens, orchard and farm animals. Learn about traditional and modern methods used to produce building materials, food, medicine and energy, in harmony with the island landscape. Info 348-2308. $5-10 donation; 9:00-10:30 AM.

August 17 - Saturday - Marshall Island
See June 22 listing for more information.

August 18 - Sunday - Sketchbook Journaling at Setlement Quarry
See July 21 listing for details (Preserves are different).

August 21 - Wednesday - Settlement Quarry through a Pinhole
See June 19 listing for details.

August 21 - Wednesday - Sand and Mud Beaches Talk
Ecology Biologist Bob Knowlton will give a slide talk about the ecology and importance of New England's sand and mud beaches. Heritage House. 7:00 PM.

August 22 - Thursday - Sand and Mud Beaches Field Trip
Bob Knowlton will lead a field trip to examine the sand and mud beach of Reach Beach at Gray's Cove. 5:00 PM.

August 24 - Saturday - Invasive Plant Talk & Work Party
Master Gardener, Sandy Wachholz, leads a hands-on workshop on controlling invasive plants with non-chemical methods. Focus will be on Japanese barberry, but other invasives will be discussed. Bring gloves, bug repellent and clippers to Lily Pond Beach. Meet at parking area located at Deer Run Apartments. 8:30 AM.

August 27 - Tuesday - Tales of Gluskabe, a Wabanaki Culture Hero
Join anthropologist Bill Haviland for the story of Gluskabe, the Wabanaki cultural hero who transformed the land for human benefit. Heritage House; 7:00 PM.

August 29 - Thursday - What the Sea Left Behind
Toddler program. See July 25 listing for details.

September 8 - Sunday - Understanding the Night Sky
Join navigator and retired professor Davida Kellogg for an orientation to the night sky with special attention to stars and other bodies used in celestial navigation. All ages welcome. Bring a flashlight and warm clothes. Rain date Sept. 9th. Meet at Mariners Park; 8:30 PM.

September 8 - Sunday - Sketchbook Journaling at Shore Acres
See July 21 listing for details (Preserves are different).

September 12 - Thursday - Drawing From Nature at Edgar J Tennis Preserve
Discover the secrets of this little known state park and views of Pickering Cove, one of the prettiest of Deer Isle, as we walk and sketch along the way. Guided by poetry and appreciation for the natural and human history of the preserve, we will work with a variety of materials. All welcome, all materials provided. $45. Info/registration 367-2699; acotty@gmail.com; 9:00-noon.

September 14 - Saturday - Bird Walk
8:00-9:30 AM.

October 1 - Tuesday - Mushroom Walk
Mushroom expert David Porter will lead a walk at Settlement Quarry. This date should give us a chance to see Black Trumpet, Honey Mushroom, Lion's Mane, the Gypsy, Lobster Mushroom, Sweet Tooth, Hen-of-the-Woods, Shaggy Mane, and Oyster Mushroom. Register with IHT, space is limited. 10:00 AM.

October 12 - Saturday - Bird Walk
8:00-9:30 AM.

October 20 - Sunday - Sketchbook Journaling at Scott's Landing
See July 21 listing for details (Preserves are different).

November 9 - Saturday - Bird Walk
8:30-10:00 AM.