Education
Introduction
The Conservation Commissions duties include the development of public educational programs and outreach materials to promote sound natural resources management and an awareness of the cultural, historical and ecological assets of the town.
The content developed within this section provides the St. George community information on upcoming programs and educational materials, as available, from past programs, and a listing of previous programs. Past program topics included, but were not limited to, walking tours around St. George, land conservation and open spaces, climate change, energy efficiency, solar energy, livable landscapes, wildlife, and issues facing our waterfront and fisheries. If you have a suggestion for a program of interest for the St. George community, please send to stgcc@stgeorgemaine.com.
St. George School Programs
- St. George students share stories and learnings highlighting our connections to, and appreciations for, our community of people and places. Join us to listen to the local history of smelt fishing around the peninsula, and smelt history in Meadow Brook Preserve. Meadow Brook Preserve and Rainbow Smelt History
Upcoming Programs
TBA
Recent Programs
Stop the Pests: Browntail Moth and Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
On January 31, 2023, the St. George and South Thomaston Conservation Commissions co-sponsored a talk on two destructive insects that are making their way into our towns and down the St. George Peninsula. The speaker was Rebecca Jacobs, Program Manager at the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District. Rebecca has a BS in Environmental Design and Planning with significant experience in native and invasive plants and ecological design. The presentation was well attended with 13 people in person at the town office and over 30 participants by Zoom.
The Browntail Moth (BTM) is best known for its caterpillar, whose toxic hairs cause painful itching much like poison ivy. Feeding by BTM caterpillars can cause reduced growth and branch dieback on oaks and other trees and shrubs. BTM nests have been spotted in our region and are spreading. The Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) is just beginning to show up in our area. This insect attacks primarily Hemlock trees, killing them over several years of infestation.
The talk addressed how to spot BTM nests and HWA masses in the winter and how best to deal with them. This is one way we can slow the spread. The state is also asking citizens to help by reporting any new sightings of these two insects.
Presentations and Resources:
Invasive Plant Walk on Clark Island
- June 18 at 9:00AM
Join us for a guided walk identifying the more common and troublesome invasives we find along our mid-coast. Our leaders are Ryan LeShane, Director of Blueberry Cove 4H Camp and Learning Center, Dale Pierson of Pierson Nurseries, and Amanda Devine, Regional Steward Manager at Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Amanda is actively engaged in identifying and eradicating invasives on the newly acquired Clark Island preserve. Suspect you have an invasive on your property? Bring a cutting and we’ll identify it for you. A selection of one-gallon Native plants to replace invasives will be available in limited quantities courtesy of Pierson Nurseries.
Directions and Parking: Clark Island is located in St. George off Route 73. There is limited parking; see https://www.mcht.org/preserve/clark-island-saint-george , for more information. There will also be a shuttle available at Outward Bound which is ½ mile before the causeway.
Registration is required. Please email name and number in party with “Invasive Walk” in the subject line to: stgcc@stgeorgemaine.com Rain date is June 25
Apple Tree Pruning Workshop
With Amanad Devine from Maine Coast Heritage Trust
- Date/Time: Sunday, March 6, 2022 - Time - to be announced
- Where: Bamford Preserve on Long Cove Road
Save the Date: Sunday March 6th With our partner Maine Coast Heritage Trust we are planning an apple tree pruning demonstration at the Bamford Preserve. If there is snow on the ground bring your snow shoes. The demonstration will be led by Amanda Devine of MCHT. After the demonstration attendees can help prune the old apple trees and enjoy refreshments provided by MCHT.
Gardening for a Better Planet: Using Home Landscape as Habitat
with Kelly Corbin, ecological landscape designer and consultant.
- Date/Time: April 22, 2021 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm
- Via Zoom: 40 participants
The Conservation Commission presented the first educational program of 2021, Gardening for a Better Planet: Using Home Landscape as Habitat. Kelly Corbin presented many approaches to sustainability that come from asking "how can we be less bad for the Earth?" In this presentation, Kelly Corbin shared her ”do more good” approach to sustainable landscaping. She offered simple and effective methods to encourage pollinators, create bountiful habitat, and reduce your carbon footprint. Kelly’s approach can help decrease the time and effort it takes to maintain gardens and lawns while increasing your appreciation of the diverse natural world around you.
Resources:
Solar Thursdays: Meet the Vendors
With Brandon Mazur, Solar Design Specialist, ReVision Energy and Sam Zuckerman, owner Maine Solar Solutions, llc.
- Date: November 12, 2020
- Via Zoom: 34 participants
The Conservation Commission with co-sponsor the Community Development Corporation presented the second public informational program on residential options for Solar Energy via Zoom. Branson Mazur and Sam Zuckerman presented options for installing a solar array on your property or becoming a member of a solar farm. Following the presentations, Brandon Mazur and Sam Zuckerman answered audience questions.
Presentations
Solar Thursdays: New Options are Here
With Kendra Jo Grindle, Community Development officer at the Island Institute where she contributes to the Climate/Energy Team, Representative Seth Berry, House Chair of the Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology, Representative Ann Matlack, State Representative for District 92, which includes St. George , and Richard Bates, St. George Select Board and Assessors chairperson.
- Date: October 1, 2020
- Via Zoom: 36 participants
Kendra Jo presented an overview of solar energy, benefits of solar, and options for home and community solar installed on and off your property. Seth Berry presented relevant past/current/and future Maine legislation and regulations, state/town goals, and visioning including the future of distributive power generation in Maine. Ann Matlack and Richard Bates joined Kendra Jo Grindle and Seth Berry to answer audience questions.
Invasive Plants of St. George; Hands-on ID and Management Methods
with Ryan LeShane, Blueberry Cove Camp Director and Amanda Devine, Regional Stewardship Manager with Maine Coast Heritage Trust
- Date: June 8, 2019
- Location: Blueberry Cove Camp
Forty participants learned how to identify the top twelve (Dirty Dozen) invasive plants in St. George with indoor samples and in the field. The “Dirty Dozen” include Autumn Olive, Barberry (Common & Japanese), Black Swallowwort, Burning Bush, Glossy Buckthorn, Himalayan Balsam, Honeysuckle, Japanese Knotweed, Multiflora Rose, Norway Maple, and Oriental Bittersweet. Control methods were demonstrated on invasive plants on the Blueberry Cove Campus. Many participants brought clippings from their property for identification. At the conclusion of the program Dale Pierson answered questions about native plants and participants selected a native plant donated by Pierson Nurseries to take home.
PowerPoint Presentation - Invasive Plants of Midcoast Maine