Join Acadia National Park

Building Science Literacy & Enthusiasm

Schoodic Education Adventure is Acadia National Park’s residential education program for middle school students. Students spend three to four days on the Schoodic Peninsula, living and learning in Acadia.

The Schoodic Education Adventure program is led by park education rangers and allows students to become citizen scientists, while building science literacy and enthusiasm. The low-cost program is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards and integrated across the Common Core, including programs in math, science, social studies, language arts, physical education, health, and art.

With matching funds from L.L.Bean, Friends of Acadia provides grants to the Schoodic Institute for student scholarships and transportation stipends for public schools interested in bringing their students to the Schoodic Education Adventure. Our funds also support Acadia National Park education rangers and stipends for the teaching interns who are developing their field-based teaching methods by working side-by-side with National Park Service educators and classroom teachers.

Learn More & Apply

Reservations to attend the Schoodic Education Adventure are accepted January through mid-February with consideration for remaining open spots through June. The application process is ongoing, but program reservations fill quickly. For more information on the Schoodic Education Adventure program, apply with the link below.

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Testimonials

Here’s what some of our Schoodic Education Adventure participants had to say

Donald, Catholic Memorial School student

The Acadia experience is amazing. You get to see many more things that you do not get to see at home. During our time at Acadia, we did many different programs like hiking, tide pooling, night walking, and campfire where you learn new things. For example, did you know that you can tell a crab’s gender by their abdomen?

Student, Otisfield Community School

Also what you should be looking forward to is learning new things, exploring the woods, participating in stewardship and you should look forward to learning about the earth.

Kathleen, Freeport Middle School

The SEA Program is an amazing opportunity. The nature-based experience is important for our students and for some, this is their first introduction to a National Park. SEA allows for active application of classroom learning by reinforcing our science units: the rock cycle, weathering and erosion, ecosystems, and the ocean. It also makes connections with social studies, math and art making the learning even more meaningful. It is experiential learning at its best!

Stephanie, Oxford Elementary School

The majority of students from Oxford Hills school district are poverty-stricken, so it’s wonderful for them to have the opportunity to travel to a national park where they can experience the magnificent diversity of Maine, as well as augment their scientific knowledge with the experiential learning of the SEA program. For many of them, this is a life-changing experience.

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