(schedule will be updated as events are finalized)
Ongoing Events:
Nature Photo Contest— (April 1st through April 30th) SEAD is hosting an Earth Month Nature Photo Contest! To participate, just go out and take pictures of nature. Either tag us on social media or email them to us. We will randomly choose a grand prize winner, and 2nd & 3rd place winners. Location: IN NATURE!
From Pollution to Protection: Water, History, & Indigenous Treaty Rights – Art Exhibition— (April 1st through April 7th – Visiting hours daily from 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM) The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC on the UMaine, Orono campus will host an interactive program featuring Indigenous-led efforts to protect waters, lands, & climate from the Dawnland to the Great Lakes and beyond. For questions, please contact: Sephora McIntyre <sephora.mcintyre@maine.edu> This program is generously funded by the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund. Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
UMaine Spirit Week— (April 26th through May 2nd) Sponsored by Student Life. In 1935 President Arthur Hauck inaugurated MAINE DAY, a day set aside for “spring clean-up” of our campus. The entire campus community – students, faculty, staff, and alumni – pitches in to spruce up the campus. Historically Maine Day was set on Wednesday of the last week of classes of the Spring semester. Over the decades, the tradition transitioned away from its roots and became a large-scale celebration. In the fall of 2024, the University shifted to “Spirit Week”, a week-long focus on beautification, giving back to campus, and increasing Black Bear school spirit. Various Locations: Click Here for the Schedule
Tuesday, April 1st:
From Pollution to Protection: Water, History, & Indigenous Treaty Rights – Opening Event – Keynote Panel Discussion — (6:00 PM) Penobscot Nation citizens Maria Girouard – historian, film co-writer and co-director, Kathy Paul – Penobscot elder & film consulting producer, and Dawn Neptune Adams – Sunlight Media Collective journalist and film narrator will hold a community discussion prior to the film screening (see below). Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
12th Annual Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series – The Penobscot: Ancestral River, Contested Territory— (7:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Anthropology. This year the film series will be part of a larger interactive program organized by AEP PhD Candidate Sephora McIntyre entitled “From Pollution to Protection: Water, History, & Indigenous Treaty Rights” which features an exhibit, an opening panel discussion (see above), a dissertation defense, and the film series – all of which focus on the connections between water keepers and climate resistance. This program is generously funded by the Alton ’38 and Adelaide Hamm Campus Activity Fund. **For virtual attendance please register here to receive the Zoom link** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
Wednesday, April 2nd:
Radical Care in Decolonial Art and Activism – Guest Lecture — (4:00 PM) Visiting Scholar Dr. Amber Hickey (they/them) will provide a lecture focusing on an
interdisciplinary examination of the aesthetics of radical care. **This lecture will be in-person only** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
12th Annual Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series – Keepers of the Tundra— (6:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Anthropology. Keepers of the Tundra is a documentary film about the inhabitants of the Arctic north of the Republic of Sakha, the Anabar national Dolgan & Evenk uluus (county). The heroes of the film are reindeer herders, folk craftsmen, singers, fishermen, artists etc. Each of them could have chosen a different life, exchanging the harsh Arctic conditions for urban comfort, but they remained true to their national traditions and native land, hoping that their children continue their traditions. Discussants: Producers and directors Sardaana Barabanova & Diana Khudaeva will join virtually to discuss their film and independent documentary film studio “Күн оҕолоро” (Children of the Sun). **For virtual attendance please register here to receive the Zoom link** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
12th Annual Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series – This River is Our Relative— (6:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Anthropology. This River is Our Relative is a Sunlight Media Collective documentary about the Penobscot Nation’s intrinsic kinship connection to and tireless environmental advocacy for the Penobscot River. The story is told through the voices of 24 Penobscot people, who share their experience of historical, physical, and spiritual connection to place, cultural identity, and survival. Discussants: Dr. Darren Ranco is a Penobscot Nation citizen, Professor of Anthropology, Coordinator of Native American Research, and the Chair of Native American Programs at the University of Maine, Orono. Nolan Altvater (they/them) is Passamaquoddy from Sipayik currently working as the Cultural Projects Coordinator for the Passamaquoddy Cultural Heritage Museum and as an interdisciplinary PhD student at the University of Maine. **For virtual attendance please register here to receive the Zoom link** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
Friday, April 4th:
Youth Climate Summit — (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM) Sponsored by the Govenors Office of Policy Innovation and the Future. The 2025 Youth Climate Summit is a one-day event for Maine high school students to gather, build community, and learn key skills for planning and implementing climate projects at their school. Please click here for more information. Location: Wells Conference Center, UMaine
Sunday, April 6th:
Terrell House Open Garden — (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Come join Terrell House residents for a fun day of garden chores and community building! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Monday, April 7th:
Closing the Loop: Opportunities for Industrial Circular Economy Exchanges in Maine – Sustainability Talk — (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, Ecology & Environmental Science Program, and Advanced Manufacturing Center. In this talk, the research team (Reed Miller, John Belding, Jean MacRae, & Cindy Isenhour) will explore the potential of industrial symbiosis and materials exchanges as solutions for reducing waste in Maine— a key policy priority for climate action and sustainable resource use. By facilitating the exchange of waste, Industrial Symbiosis and Materials Exchanges can cut disposal costs, minimize pollution, and unlock new economic opportunities. This presentation will examine how Maine can create a collaborative network to foster these circular economy solutions and support the state’s climate goals. The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person. Please click here to register for Zoom connection information. Location: 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono
Environmental Protection Open House! — (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM) Community members, UMaine staff/faculty/students, environmental organizations, student groups, student clubs, and interested others are welcome to come to an open house and get-to-know-you event. In this informal gathering folks interested in environmental protection can come together to organize, hold space, and build community! Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
12th Annual Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series – Necessity: Oil, Water & Climate Resistance— (6:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Anthropology. Grounded in people and places at the heart of the climate crisis, Oil, Water and Climate Resistance traces the fight in Minnesota against the expansion of pipelines carrying toxic tar sands oil through North America. The story unfolds in a setting where activists make a moral case for acts of civil disobedience using the necessity defense. Discussants: Eóin Small (pronounced “Owen”) is an artist, activist & community organizer with roots near Mississippi River on the homelands of the Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples. Much of Eóin’s work centers the need to protect Water, honor and uphold our treaty responsibilities & the need to urgently change course in the context of a rapidly changing climate. Emma Schoenberg is an artist, trainer, and organizer with The Magpie Project, an experiment in transformative movement building and mutual aid. She co-founded NoCoalNoGas, the successful direct action campaign to close the last coal plant on New England’s electrical grid, and she is a co-creator of the sacred activism project the Fierce Vulnerability Network. **For virtual attendance please register here to receive the Zoom link** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
Wednesday, April 9th:
Tool Care, Knife Sharpening, and Clothing Mending — (4:30 PM – 5:30 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Learn how to de-rust tools, sharpen knives, and mend your clothes to keep everyday items out of the landfill! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Saturday, April 12th:
Bikepacking Diner Ride — (8:00 AM) Sponsored by the UMaine Bikepacking Collective. Join the UMaine Bikepacking Collective for a bike ride leaving from campus to the LaGrange General Store Diner. This bike ride will be around 45 miles total! (20 ish there, 20 ish back). Location: Leaving at 8:00 AM from Mainebound on the UMaine Campus
Sunday, April 13th:
Terrell House Open Garden — (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Come join Terrell House residents for a fun day of garden chores and community building! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Monday, April 14th:
Managing for sustainability and climate resilience: The future of agroecological wild blueberry management in Maine and maritime Canada – Sustainability Talk — (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, and Ecology & Environmental Science Program. Wild blueberry production in Maine and maritime Canada is an ecologically, economically, and culturally important industry and land use. Agroecology is a scientific discipline that examines agriculture within both ecological and social contexts, and can be used to better understand the past, present, and potential future of wild blueberry agriculture in our region. In this talk, we present two recent agroecological investigations of wild blueberries: First, Brogan Tooley, senior manager of agroecology at Wyman’s, will share on-farm challenges and ongoing research efforts to identify management techniques that bolster crop resilience and mitigate crop stress in today’s climate. Next, Dr. Rachel Schattman of the University of Maine Agroecology Lab will present on an ongoing study to investigate the effects of climate change, specifically changing temperature and precipitation regimes, on wild blueberries. We invite audience participation in the second half of the presentation as we probe the most pressing questions related to Northeast wild blueberry production in a changing climate. The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person. Please click here to register for Zoom connection information. Location: 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono
Testimony Writing Workshop and Sign Making — (5:00 PM – 7:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Come join Terrell House residents to write testimony in support of bills relating to conservation and food recovery in the Maine legislature as well as making signs for the Youth Day of Action in Augusta on Thursday. Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
12th Annual Human Dimensions of Climate Change Film Series – Bad River: A Story of Defiance— (6:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Department of Anthropology. Bad River is a documentary film which chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band and its ongoing fight for sovereignty – a story that unfolds in a groundbreaking way through a series of shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience that includes a battle to save Lake Superior, the largest water body in North America. Discussants: Joe Bates is a Bad River Tribal Elder, hunter, fisherman, gatherer, A Treaty Rights Activist and a Water Protector. Mr. Bates is currently a member of the Bad River Environmental Protection Alliance committee as an EPA secretary/reporter. He has been working to protect waters and Bad River homelands for decades. Buttons works in Public Health, is a water protector, land defender, veteran of Standing Rock and Line 3, and has been fighting the Line 5 pipeline since the early 2000’s. Buttons is a member of both the National and Wisconsin Environmental Health Associations. **For virtual attendance please register here to receive the Zoom link** Location: The Fernald Adaptive Presentation & Performance Environment at the IMRC
Thursday, April 17th:
Youth Day of Action — (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Sponsored by the Maine Youth for Climate Justice. Across the globe, young people are leading the fight for bold climate action and climate justice. Maine Youth for Climate Justice, MEEA Changemakers, JustME for JustUS, Maine Youth Power, Community Organizing Alliance, and Young People’s Caucus will be hosting a Youth Day of Action at the State House in Augusta. This event will be a day for youth in Maine to mobilize and present our vision and demands for our future. The day will include a rally, press conference, lobbying, and networking. Transportation to and from Orono will be via carpool – contact Edge Venuti (edgelynn.venuti@maine.edu) for more information. Location: Outside the Maine State House, Augusta, ME
Friday, April 18th:
2025 Maine Wasted Food Solutions Summit — (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions. The Maine Wasted Food Solutions Summit is Maine’s statewide event focused on ending wasted food and food loss in our state through solutions that benefit everyone. This virtual Summit brings together our state’s key food system participants: farms, businesses, feeding partners, community leaders, and nonprofit organizations – to discuss best and highest uses for our valuable Maine food resources at every stage… “Maine Food: Too Good To Waste.” Click Here for more information and to register for virtual attendance. Location: On Zoom! Please register by April 8, 2025
Saturday, April 19th:
Celestial Earth — (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM) Sponsored by the Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium. Celestial Earth: We Are Here….but When? is a special poetry reading set to stunning space visuals at the planetarium. Presented by Barbaria Maria and the SoundBone Media group. This is poetry wanders into the core of who we might become, and a sonic journey to the Big Bang and back, down to the molten center of everything and into our wondering inner selves. Click Here for more information and to purchase tickets ($10). Location: Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium, UMaine, 167 Rangeley Road, Orono, ME 04469
Sunday, April 20th:
Terrell House Open Garden — (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Come join Terrell House residents for a fun day of garden chores and community building! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Monday, April 21st:
Reconciling with resilience: How Maine can bounce back from floods – Sustainability Talk — (3:00 PM – 4:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions, Maine Climate Science Information Exchange, Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Dept. of Communication & Journalism, and Civil & Environmental Engineering. Last winter’s devastating storms revealed just how vulnerable Maine communities are to flooding, whether they’re behind seawalls along the coast or nestled on rivers in the state’s mountainous interior. In the aftermath of that flooding, Maine Monitor reporter Emmett Gartner traveled across the state to report on how effectively communities weathered the storms, speaking with local officials about their plans to fortify their towns against the rising seas and more frequent, intensifying storms brought on by climate change. Join Emmett at the University of Maine’s Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions on April 21 at 3PM as he discusses his reporting on the challenges Maine faces in building resilience to flooding and what solutions exist at the state and local levels to prepare Maine for what’s to come. Emmett Gartner is an environmental reporter for The Maine Monitor and contributor to The Monitor’s weekly environmental newsletter, Climate Monitor. Having grown up on the Chesapeake Bay, Emmett has long been interested in stories of adaptation and accountability. He joined the newsroom in 2023 as a Roy W. Howard fellow and now explores how environmental policy aligns with Mainers’ lived experiences and where climate change complicates the status quo. Previously, he reported for a daily newspaper in western Maryland and spent separate summer stints working as a trail maintenance worker in Nevada, a wildland firefighter in Oregon and an environmental educator on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The talk will be held virtually via Zoom and in-person. Please click here to register for Zoom connection information. Location: 107 Norman Smith Hall, UMaine, Orono
Wildflower Seed Bombs — (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Horticulture Club. Join the Horticulture club for Earth Week making Maine Wildflower Seed Bombs to help our local pollinators and make campus a bit more beautiful! Location: Roger Clapp Greenhouses
Earth Day! – Tuesday, April 22nd:
Spire Issue #9 Release — Spire: The Maine Journal of Conservation and Sustainability is publishing its ninth amazing issue! Spire issue #9 contains a variety of submissions, including art, poetry, photography, research, and personal stories. Access the latest issue and back-issues by clicking here. Location: Online
Wednesday, April 23rd
Spring Foraging/Tree ID Walk — (7:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House and the Maine Outing Club. Join resident stewards from Terrell House and MOC officers for a walk on the campus trails to look for edible mushrooms and plants as well as learn about tree ID. Location: Meet at Nutting Hall at 7:00 PM
Friday, April 25th
MeSH Field Day — (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM) Sponsored by MeSH and all UMaine Green Clubs! Join MeSH for a Field Day on the UMaine Campus Mall with all the green clubs from UMaine Orono. We will have yard games and free food! Clubs at this event will be: UMaine Greens, Horticulture Club, Waste Minimizers, SEAD, Green Team, and the Permaculture & Gardening Club. Clubs will share highlights from what they’ve been up to this year and will also share some fun activities! Location: University Campus Mall
Mushroom Log Inoculation Workshop — (4:00 PM – 5:30 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardening Club. Join Terrell House residents to learn how to inoculate logs with mushroom spawn. Learn how to grow your own mushrooms which will be ready to eat within a year! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Saturday, April 26th
Spawning Run 5K — (8:30 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine American Fisheries Society. Spring is here, and soon the alewives will be too! As they begin their journey upstream to spawn, we invite you to lace up your running shoes and join us for the Spawning Run 5K. Join us in celebrating with our own annual migration, connect with fellow fish enthusiasts, and enjoy a day of movement, nature, and fun. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking for a great way to welcome spring, we encourage all students and community members to participate. Please register in advance here. Race start time is 9:00 AM. Check-in/registration begins at 8:30 AM. Click Here for full details. Location: Race begins at Nutting Hall at 9:00 AM
Hirundo Trail Maintenance — (2:00 PM) Sponsored by the UMaine Green Team. We will be helping with updating Hirundo‘s geocaching trail activity. Among other things, we will be hiking to various locations within the refuge. More details of how we will be helping will be provided on site by the Refuge Manager, but please be prepared to work outdoors and have fun! We anticipate this event taking a couple of hours, but timing is flexible. Please reach out to the UMaine Green Team if you are planning to join so we can coordinate carpools. Location: Hirundo Wildlife Refuge
Celestial Earth — (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM) Sponsored by the Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium. Celestial Earth: We Are Here….but When? is a special poetry reading set to stunning space visuals at the planetarium. Presented by Barbaria Maria and the SoundBone Media group. This is poetry wanders into the core of who we might become, and a sonic journey to the Big Bang and back, down to the molten center of everything and into our wondering inner selves. Click Here for more information and to purchase tickets ($10). Location: Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium, UMaine, 167 Rangeley Road, Orono, ME 04469
Sunday, April 27th:
Terrell House Open Garden — (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM) Sponsored by the Terrell House Permaculture and Gardeing Club. Come join Terrell House residents for a fun day of garden chores and community building! Location: Terrell House, 491A College Avenue, Orono
Tuesday, April 29th:
Maine Day of Service – UMaine Day of Service Projects — (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM) Sponsored by the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism. The University of Maine’s Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism connects students, faculty, and staff with meaningful volunteer opportunities, fostering a culture of civic engagement and community impact. Through a wide array of programs, workshops, and partnerships, the center empowers individuals to address local and global challenges, promoting service-learning and strengthening communities through collaborative action. The Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism coordinates activities for Spirit Week. Sign up to volunteer during Spirit Week and Maine Day of Service at umaine.edu/volunteer/mdos. Location: Projects today will be focused on the northeast side of campus, and tools/supplies will be available at the Bodwell Center (139 Rangeley Road)
Wednesday, April 30th:
Maine Day of Service – Maine Day Meal Packout hosted by the Honors College Advisory Group— (8:00 AM – 2:30 PM) Sponsored by the Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism. Help pack 50,000 meals to be distributed to food pantries throughout eastern and central Maine. The University of Maine’s Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism connects students, faculty, and staff with meaningful volunteer opportunities, fostering a culture of civic engagement and community impact. Through a wide array of programs, workshops, and partnerships, the center empowers individuals to address local and global challenges, promoting service-learning and strengthening communities through collaborative action. The Bodwell Center for Service and Volunteerism coordinates activities for Spirit Week. To sign up to volunteer during Spirit Week and Maine Day of Service at umaine.edu/volunteer/mdos. Location: Memorial Gym in the UMaine Field House (multiple shifts available)
