Virtual Learning Library

Bath Climate Conversations: Nature-based solutions to climate change and what you can do to help

December 4, 2024 with Andrew Whitman (Maine DACF) and Peter Arnold; Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

Two experts share examples of nature-based solutions, like conserving and restoring ecosystems, using agricultural practices that reduce emissions and trap carbon, managing healthy forests, and integrating nature into urban areas. The program also shares how to make and use biochar, a charcoal that can be produced from plant matter that traps carbon and benefits ecosystems when incorporated into the soil.

This program is part of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

Storm Readiness: NOAA Disaster Preparedness

November 13, 2024 with Emily Setser (NOAA), Co-hosted with Georgetown Conservation Commission

This presentation by Emily Setser, a specialist and meteorologist from the Disaster Preparedness team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), highlights ways that we can get ready for the next big storm. See below for links to a few resources shared during the program.

Check Ready.gov for more resources on preparing emergency management plans and kits for your family and pets. Red Cross also has good resources.

Sign-up for Sagadahoc County emergency alerts through the RAVE system.

Sea Grant has information about accessing disaster assistance

butterflies of maine

March 28, 2024 with Dr. Ron Butler

Dive into details about butterflies in Maine with the expert who literally wrote the book on them! Listen to this lecture to learn about the history, lifecycle and populations of Maine’s butterflies. You’ll be awed by the beautiful photographs of so many different colors and patterns. We are grateful to have Dr. Ron Butler join us again for this KELT Virtual Learning Lecture.

As a professor for 35 years in UMaine Farmington’s Division of Natural Sciences, Dr. Ron Butler co-authored a book on the butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritimes, and is now working on a similar book on damselflies and dragonflies of the region. The book can be purchased here.

Bath Climate Conversations: Demystifying Renewable Electricity options

March 13, 2024 with Laura Walters (Bath Climate Action Commission), Elizabeth Deprey (Consumer Advisor at the Maine Office of the Public Advocate), & Chris Jones (Clean Energy Consultant at ReVision Energy), Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

Learn about different options for supporting renewable energy – whether it is installing it on your home, through a community solar subscription, or purchasing from a utility-provided renewable energy option - and learn about the factors to consider when determining which option is the best fit for you.

This program is part of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

Shrink Your Energy Bills Lecture

February 22, 2024 with Sam Saltonstall

KELT was pleased to welcome Sam Saltonstall, a retired schoolteacher who has experience as a lead volunteer for a wide variety of energy efficiency projects and is the Midcoast South Chapter Leader of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby. Learn about rebates and tax credits available for homeowners and businesses to make upgrades that save energy, decrease heating costs, and reduce fossil fuel use. The lecture provides an overview of programs available to support home improvements, weatherization, solar, and electric vehicles, with examples of how to best take advantage of the incentives and navigate potential obstacles.

Bath Climate Conversations: How to Retrofit Your house to become carbon neutral

January 10, 2024 with Paul Perkins, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

Learn the steps for updating a home to make it carbon neutral from a resident in Bath who went through the process for his 150+ year old home.  Paul shares the steps his family took to decrease the amount of energy needed to heat and power their home through insulation and efficiency upgrades, transition to appliances and energy sources that don't use fossil fuels, and make their yard a more welcoming space for pollinators and wildlife.  He also shares information about the rebates and programs that help to make these upgrades more affordable.

This program is part of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

Bath Climate Conversations: Thinking About Climate Change – An Introduction to the Science

November 8, 2023 with John Zittel, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

One of the co-chairs of Bath’s Climate Action Commission shares an introduction to the science behind climate change: the roots of climate science, how we understand that climate change is happening, and how we understand its causes.

This program is part of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

invasive jumping worms in maine

October 17, 2023 with entomologist Brittany Schappach

Jumping worms are an invasive species of worm that is currently spreading in Maine. These worms, which were recently found at the LOCAL Garden managed by KELT, have the potential to significantly and relatively quickly alter natural ecosystems and lead to the dramatic loss of native plants and wildlife. Brittany joins us to present the biology, history, and current management practices for invasive jumping worms, and the Q&A in the final 15 minutes is full of practical next steps.

Bath Climate Conversations: Flood Risks in Bath- Study Results & Next Steps

October 11, 2023 with GEI Consultants and Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

The City of Bath has contracted with the engineering firm GEI to develop a detailed model of flood vulnerability for the city that incorporates the combined impacts of river flooding from land and storm surge flooding from the coast. This presentation shares the vulnerable locations that were identified using the model with flooding today and in the future with sea level rise. It also shares an online tool that will be developed in the coming months to share the flooding data in an easy-to-use online map.

This program is part of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

History and Restoration of Georgetown’s Marshes

August 1, 2023 at the Georgetown Historical Society with Jack Witham, Geoff Wilson, and Ruth Indrick

Learn about the history of farming on Georgetown’s marshes and plans for restoring the marshes for the future at a lecture program at the Georgetown Historical Society. The program showcases a local expert on marsh history and a marsh restoration expert who is taking an innovative approach that incorporates the marsh’s history into plans for restoring and increasing the resilience of the marsh.

(Apologies for the presenter view on the powerpoint)

Maine's Frogs and Toads Lecture

March 30th, 2023 with Maine Master Naturalist Bryce Hach

KELT was pleased to welcome Maine Master Naturalist Bryce Hach to introduce us to the diversity of frogs and toads that hop, climb, ribbit, and sing around the state. From learning to identify their croaks and trills in spring and summer months to understanding their adaptations to survive frigid winters, join us to learn about the frogs and toads of Maine.

Bath Climate Conversations: The shoreline and coastal Waters

March 22nd, 2023, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

Led by Leila Pike, a civil engineer with GEI consulting, this program focused on the City of Bath’s current planning project which is assessing Bath’s vulnerabilities due to climate change related sea level rise and flooding events. The City of Bath has hired GEI to develop a much more accurate model of flood vulnerability than anything that exists for the city, and this presentation shares an overview of the flood vulnerability study and preliminary results of the analysis.

This program is the third of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

Sustaining Maine’s Native Brook Trout

March 16, 2023 with Merry Gallagher, Native Fish Conservation Biologist at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW)

Co-hosted by KELT and the Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Maine is home to the greatest abundance of native wild brook trout of anywhere in the United States. Tune in to learn about these colorful fish that support food, recreation, and healthy stream ecosystems in our state!

Learn more about brook trout conservation carried out by Maine and neighboring states through the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture program.

Firefly Lecture with Firefly Watch

March 9, 2023 with Doug Lowry and Don Salvatore from Massachusetts Audubon’s Firefly Watch program

Join us for a feast of fascinating facts about these fantastic flashing fluorescent fliers! Firefly experts Doug Lowry and Don Salvatore from Massachusetts Audubon’s Firefly Watch program joined KELT to teach us about these unique insects and Firefly Watch, a fun community science project that allows people to identify and document the firefly species flashing in their own backyard.

Check out the Firefly Watch program here! Download the Maine Firefly flash key here!

Bath Climate Conversations: Natural Landscapes

February 15th, 2023, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

Experts from Bath and beyond shared information about the interactions between climate change and the natural landscape, and attendees took part in a community discussion to share their thoughts and concerns. The local experts came from the Maine Natural Areas Program, Bath Community Forestry Committee, Bath Division of Forestry, Bath Department of Sustainability and the Environment, and the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust.

This program is the second of a continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” focused on learning, discussing, and connecting around ways to sustain and support our vibrant town as climate change occurs. 

Dragonflies and Damselflies of Maine

February 9th, 2023 with Dr. Ron Butler, Professor Emeritus at UMaine Farmington

KELT was pleased to welcome Ron Butler, Professor Emeritus at UMaine Farmington, to introduce us to the beautiful and unique dragonflies and damselflies that make Maine their home. There are 161 species that have been documented in the state! Learn about the characteristics, life cycle, species in Maine, population changes over time, nifty facts, and ways to support these acrobatic insects. Dr. Butler was one of the co-leaders of the Maine Damselfly and Dragonfly Survey (1999-2005) and also helped lead two other major efforts that rallied community volunteers to gather information about Maine insects.

Check out the new book Dr. Butler co-authored on Butterflies of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces here!

Bath Climate Conversations: Locals Leading on Climate Change

October 4th, 2022, Co-hosted by the Bath Climate Action Commission, KELT, and Patten Free Library

The first in a planned continuing series of “Bath Climate Conversations” community forums. This forum focused on Locals Leading on Climate Change – The Built Environment, and included discussion of climate change and Bath’s public facilities, homes, roads, transportation, and people.

Panelists included Marc Meyers (Bath's City Manager), Rod Melanson (Bath's Director of Sustainability), Deb Keller (Executive Director of Bath Housing), Ruth Indrick (Project Director at KELT), and Tim Blair (Bath's Transportation & Bike Ped Committees). The program also included an engaging community discussion for attendees to share their ideas and concerns.

climate change impacts on water supply & quality

July 7th, 2022 with Ryan Gordon of Maine Geological Survey, Jayne Knott of JFK Environmental Services, & Kyle Pimental of Strafford Regional Planning Commission

With continued impacts from climate change - increasing droughts and severe rainfall events as well as sea-level rise - coastal communities are finding that their wells run low or dry, or are becoming contaminated from saltwater intrusion. Learn how these changes might impact your community and how other towns are assessing these threats to their water supply.

This presentation was planned by Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and New England Environmental Finance Center, providing information on a topic of interest to the communities of Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Westport Island, and Woolwich as they work to join the Community Resilience Partnership.

Gardening for Habitat and Pollinators

April 21st, 2022 with Anna Fialkoff of the Wild Seed Project

KELT was pleased to welcome Anna Fialkoff, Program Manager at The Wild Seeds Project, for a lecture on gardening for habitat and pollinators! Gardens are habitats, but the degree to which they support local wildlife depends on how we plant and manage them. Our plant choices determine who visits, stays or passes by as creatures look for food, shelter, to nest and lay eggs. Learn how to create habitat in the garden year-round while balancing your workload and garden aesthetics.

Learn more about Wild Seed Project’s work here!

Maine Astronomy

March 31st, 2022 with the Southern Maine Astronomers

KELT was pleased to welcome Rob Burgess and Russ Pinizzotto of the Southern Maine Astronomers for a lecture on Maine astronomy. What actions are being taken by individuals and organizations, including right here in mid-coast Maine, to preserve our night skies? Russ and Rob focused their lecture on answering this question and more! They provided a primer on light pollution issues in Southern Maine, before launching into a conversation about SMA as an organization, as well as a conversation on ways to enjoy the evening sky in the early spring.

Learn more about the Southern Maine Astronomers here!

sEa Level Rise

March 3rd, 2022 with Dr. Susie Arnold

KELT was delighted to host Susie Arnold, Ph.D, Marine Scientist at the Island Institute, for a lecture on sea level rise and its current and projected impacts on our region. Learn more about the science as well as what's being done at the community level across Maine to mitigate these impacts. How can we keep pace with sea level rise? How can we upgrade infrastructure and utilize nature-based solutions to reduce its impacts? How can individuals take action to preserve Maine’s ocean and coast? Answer these questions and more!

You can view Dr. Arnold’s lecture slides here!

Fish and water temperature

February 24th, 2022 with Kirstin Underwood

Did you know that some of Maine's most iconic fish species, including the Eastern brook trout and Atlantic salmon, cannot survive water temperatures above a certain threshold (70-80 degrees Fahrenheit)? Stream temperature is a primary control on the distribution and abundance of many aquatic creatures. How will climate change impact these sensitive populations? KELT was delighted to welcome Kirstin Underwood, Fish and Wildlife Biologist at US FWS for a lecture on Fish and Water Temperature.

Want to view climate resilient watersheds in Maine? Check out the EcoSheds Database.

The colorful lives of rainbow smelt

February 3rd, 2022 with Dr. Danielle Frechette

Every year, folks across Maine brave the cold and go ice fishing for rainbow smelt. But what roles do these small fish play in Maine’s estuaries and food webs? KELT was joined by Maine Department of Marine Resources biologist Dr. Danielle Frechette to learn about the life cycle and habits of rainbow smelt. Rainbow smelt are one of the important species of sea-run fish in Maine that migrate between fresh water and salt water. The presentation also highlighted opportunities for people to get involved as volunteers in a study to learn more about smelt populations along Maine’s coast.

Interested in helping smelt in your area? Check out GMRI’s Smelt Spawning Program.

Climate change and marine policy

January 13th, 2022 with Susan Farady J.D.

KELT was thrilled to host Susan Farady J.D., Associate Professor of Marine Affairs at the University of New England, for a lecture on Climate Change and Marine Policy. As New England ocean waters warm and ocean circulation changes, marine animals are moving from their preferred habitat to new locations. Does future fishery management need to adjust in response to the changing ecosystem?

Interested in more of Susan’s work? Check out this article on microplastics!

Maine's Vernal Pools

with Aram Calhoun

Join University of Maine Professor Aram Calhoun to learn about the ecology of vernal pool systems as well as actions that we can take at the individual property owner, land trust, and community level to support vernal pools and the creatures that live in them.

Check out more about Aram’s research and Maine’s vernal pools.

Spiders in Maine

with Dana Wilde

KELT was pleased to welcome, Dana Wilde, author of A Backyard Book of Spiders in Maine. A perfect opportunity for curious observers and those of us more timid around arachnids to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the biology, ecology, behavior, and natural history of spiders in Maine.

Check out A Backyard Book of Spiders in Maine

Birds of Maine

with Barbara Vickery and Jeff Wells

Written by the late Peter Vickery in cooperation with a distinguished team of co-authors and editors, the recently published Birds of Maine is the first comprehensive overview of Maine’s rich birdlife in 70 years. Providing a sampling of what the book includes, Barbara and Jeff specially focus on birds of the Kennebec Estuary, including Merrymeeting Bay, and Seawall and Popham Beaches. They also highlight conservation concerns for birds of Maine.

Co-sponsored by the Bowdoinham Public Library

Check out Birds of Maine

Tick Talk

with Dr. Nananda Col

Are ticks different sizes at different times of year? What types of bug spray provide the best protection against ticks? How many different types of diseases can ticks carry? What should you do if you find a tick on you? How is Lyme disease treated? You have the chance to join Dr. Nananda Col for a conversation about ticks and find out the answers to these questions and more.

View Dr. Col’s slide deck and resources!

Maine Bumble Bee Atlas

with Kalyn Bickerman-Martens

KELT was pleased to welcome Kalyn Bickerman-Martens to share more about the state-wide citizen science effort, the Maine Bumble Bee Atlas (MBBA).

Learn more about the Maine Bumble Bee Atlas

Continue learning about bumble bees!

Small Mammals in your Forest

With Jack Witham

We were joined by Jack Witham, Associate Scientist for University of Maine’s Center for Research on Sustainable Forests, who shared information about the 35+ years of small mammal research at Holt Research Forest in Arrowsic.

Learn more about the Holt Research Forest

Lecture begins at the 1:30 mark.

Continue learning about small mammals with resources shared by Jack.

Mindfulness in Nature

With Tim Blair of The Mindful Nonprofit

Tim introduced participants to how mindfulness can help change their relationship to the stressors in their lives, and he demonstrated how being in nature can provide wonderful opportunities to explore this practice.

Learn more about The Mindful Nonprofit.

Maine Sturgeons Lecture

With Dr. Gayle Zydlewski

KELT was pleased to welcome expert Dr. Gayle Zydlewski, from the University of Maine, to talk about the fascinating lives of Maine's sturgeon. Dr. Zydlewski presented about sturgeon life history and habitat as well as their populations in the Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers and other parts of Maine.

Learn more about Dr. Zydlewski’s research.

Check out more resources shared by our presenter.

Reporting encounters with sturgeon to NOAA — Visit: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/endangered-species-conservation/help-noaa-help-sturgeon OR Call 1-844-STURG 911 (1-844-788-7491) OR email NOAA.Sturg911@noaa.gov

Virtual Walk at Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve at Squam Creek

Join KELT Board Member, Dennis Dunbar, for a virtual walk and historical overview of Carl and Barbara Segerstrom Preserve at Squam Creek!

Special thanks to Rob Shultz of Resonant Photography!

Creating a Calendula Cure

with KELT Garden Coordinator Laurie Burhoe

Kennebec Estuary Land Trust Garden Coordinator, Laurie Burhoe, demonstrates how to make a Calendula Salve in this virtual workshop at KELT's LOCAL Garden in South Bath.

Calendula is a flowering plant in the daisy family that has been used as a skin and lip remedy. Learn more about KELT's LOCAL Garden by visiting the link below.

Special thank you to our All-Star Volunteers, Jeff and Rosalind Benton, for the creation of this video.

Clamming with KELT

with Maine Shellfish Warden Jon Hentz

Each summer, we love getting folks out in the clam flats at Reid State Park to learn the ins and outs of clamming. While we were unable to gather in person this year, we're bringing KELT's annual Clamming Day to you virtually!

Join us as Maine Shellfish Warden Jon Hentz demonstrates how to dig for clams. KELT's Project Coordinator, Ruth Indrick, will also walk you through a clam dissection, how water quality testing is done, and discuss green crabs on Maine's coast.

This very special production was made possible by our wonderful volunteers, Jeff and Rosalind Benton.

Restoring the American Chestnut through Biotechnology

with UNE Professor Thomas Klak

American chestnut restoration efforts are currently in a crucial moment where their biotech approach is under review at USDA. There is a public comment period open until October 19. We encourage you to make your comment to the USDA here.

Klak is a Professor of Marine and Environmental Programs at the University of New England, and the Vice President and Chair of Gene Conservation at The American Chestnut Foundation’s Maine Chapter. The presentation will focus on seven points about the American chestnut restoration, including its historical importance, dangers they face, building tolerance through transgenics, the importance of rescuing native genetic diversity from remaining wild trees, UNE’s approach to breeding chestnuts, and Maine’s first blight-tolerant American chestnut trees.

Maine Bats - On the Path to Extinction?

with Jan Collins

Maine Bats - On the Path to Extinction? will introduce Maine's eight native bat species little brown bat (ME endangered), long-eared bat (ME endangered and federally threatened), small-footed bat (ME threatened), tri-colored bat, hoary bat, silver-haired bat, and eastern red bat. The life history of bats, biology, myths and threats to their continued existence will be discussed. If you used to spend summer evenings watching the swooping and diving of bats, but have not seen one in years, you are not alone.

Seaweed: Biology, Natural History, Edibility, and Art

with Hannah Webber

Hannah grew up in southern Maine, playing in the seaweeds of Casco Bay. She is now the Marine Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park and a PhD candidate at UMaine--studying seaweed ecology. When not working at the interstices of research, stakeholder engagement, and science communication Hannah is savoring the out-of-doors of downeast Maine. She lives in Surry with her family.

Conservation and Farming - An Ideal Partnership

Bethany Allen discusses why conservation easements are an important tool for farmers.

Rebuilding the Nequasset Fish Ladder

The fish ladder makes it possible for alewives, fish that are key part of the foundation of the food chain in the Gulf of Maine, to reach Nequasset Lake to spawn. The fish that spawn at Nequasset Lake have supported an historic alewife fishery at the Nequasset Dam site for hundreds of years. Both the ladder and dam are important to the town’s infrastructure and culture.

The Cool Little Culvert - Arrowsic Alewife Restoration

The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and Arrowsic Conservation Commission partnered with enthusiastic local citizens to replace the Sewall Pond outlet culvert with an enhanced fish and wildlife passage culvert. One of the first in the nation; watch the video to see it in action!