First Fridays In Blue Hill!
2025-06-06 16:00 - 19:00 (America/Halifax) | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Mark your calendars for June 6 … the first First Friday of the summer season! Join us, and other local businesses, for expanded hours. We’ll be open later, providing a great opportunity to check out our new touch tank, gift shop and even take a lab tour.

Plastic Pollution Solutions for World Oceans Day
2025-06-07 09:00 - 12:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Make Your Own Snazzy Pouch Out of Plastic Waste!
Ages 10 and beyond, all levels welcome.
Saturday, June 7th, 9 am-12 pm (Rain date – Sunday, June 8th)
Registration Waiver
12 participants Maximum
Instructor: Hilary Tobin of Island Meadow Arts
Cost: $45
Celebrate World Ocean Day by joining the Shaw Institute and Island Meadow Arts for an outdoor Fused Soft Plastic Pouches class for ages 10+. Learn about plastic pollution and create art by fusing clean, single-use soft plastics (bread bags, frozen vegetable bags, produce bags, etc.) into sturdy material for sewn button pouches. All materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own clean plastics. Light snacks will be offered. Please dress accordingly.

PRIDE! In Nature
2025-06-20 10:30 - 11:00 | First Congregational Church of Blue Hill, 22 Tenney Hill, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, United States
Discover the extraordinary and diverse ways creatures connect in nature! This family-friendly presentation explores unique relationships in the animal kingdom, from head-eating to dazzling dances, we’ll uncover fascinating love stories in nature. It’s all part of the Pride celebration from the First Congregational Church.
FREE and open to the public.

First Thursday In Blue Hill!
2025-07-03 16:00 - 19:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Mark your calendars for July 3 … for round two of First Fridays … ok, First Thursday since the first Friday of July is the 4th! Join us, and other local businesses, for expanded hours. We’ll be open later, providing a great opportunity to check out our new touch tank, gift shop and even take a lab tour.

Seaweed Exploration Station with Maine Sea Coast Vegetables
2025-07-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Discover Maine seaweed species on Saturday, July 18th. We’ll have a seaweed exploration station featuring Maine Sea Coast Vegetables. We’ll learn identification techniques and understand their ecological significance.
The seaweed station is free and open to the public from 10:00 to 10:45 am and 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Shop, Shuck, and Shaw
2025-07-21 16:00 - 19:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Great shopping, tasty oysters and the awe of Maine’s sea life.
Come out and join us for a great evening of community engagement on Water Street … accented with wonderful food, shopping and the always inspiring touch tank of the Shaw Institute.

Oysters served by Waukeag Neck Oyster Company at Juniper and Bar Harbor Oyster Company at SeaLoft
Discounted shopping at Juniper
Boutique designer, Fitzroy & Willa trunk show at SeaLoft
Experience the interactive touch tank of the Shaw Institute

Oyster tasting on each of the decks for Juniper and SeaLoft; kids can hang at touch tank while grown ups bop around.

Storytime with Charlie the Shark
2025-07-30 10:30 - 23:30 | Witherle Memorial Library, 41 School St, Castine, ME, 04421, United States
Meet the Shaw Institute’s resident shark, Charlie. He loves to read books to kids about the ocean, teaching them why taking care of the ocean is important for us all. Your school or youth group will find the experience to be engaging and most of all … fun! The Shaw Institute, Blue Hill, aims to use its scientific research projects as opportunities for the public to learn about our work and provide an inclusive science education learning environment for the community.

First Fridays
2025-08-01 16:00 - 19:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Mark your calendars for August 1 for another First Fridays in downtown Blue Hil! Join us, and other local businesses, for expanded hours, food, music and shopping. We’ll be open later, providing a great opportunity to check out our new touch tank, gift shop and even take a lab tour.

Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival
2025-08-09 10:00 - 16:00 | ME
As always, we are delighted to be participating in the Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival!
The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) is proud to host and help sponsor the Festival. The Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025. We are planning a fun summer day by the bay, with a lot of maritime and historical related activities: boats, and boat building demonstrations, art on the lawn, sea shanties, seafood and more.
The Festival will be held in Blue Hill’s historic village, centered on the scenic waterfront. Various activities will be occurring throughout the day, such as boat building demonstrations, wood carving, traditional boats on display, kiosks of organizations supporting or involved with the bay. On the water there will be more boats, many offering rides. Musicians will be adding to the maritime atmosphere with sea shanties and fiddle tunes.

Storytime With Charlie the Shark - Peters Cove
2025-08-12 10:30 - 11:15 | Peters Cove, Blue Hill, Maine, United States
Come out to Peters Cove to have the kids meet and learn from Charlie the Shark! Kids ages 5 and up and their families are invited to a special Ocean Storytime with Charlie the Shark from the Shaw Institute on Tuesday, August 12 at 10:30 am. This program will take place at Peters Cove in Blue Hill on the beach! For a map of the trail, visit https://bluehillheritagetrust.org/peters-brook-trail-and-peters-cove/. We will meet at the beach by the parking area. Charlie the Shark loves to read books to kids about the ocean and teach them why caring about our oceans is important. Join us for a fun ocean themed story, a scavenger hunt, and an engaging art project all on the beach!
Participants are encouraged to wear suitable footwear to walk on the beach, a sun hat and sunscreen, and bring a water bottle.
The Shaw Institute’s mission is to discover and expose environmental threats to people and wildlife through innovative science and to engage in global partnerships to improve human and ecological health. For more information, visit https://www.shawinstitute.org/.
This program is free and is co-sponsored by the Blue Hill Library, Shaw Institute, and Blue Hill Heritage Trust. To learn more about the work of Blue Hill Heritage Trust and receive updates on their free and public events, sign up for their e-newsletter here.
For more information, email Claire at claire.malina@bhpl.net or call 374-5515.

Presenting at ACS Fall Conference
2025-08-19 10:50 - 11:15 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 01 Allen Y. Lew Place NW, Washington D.C., DC, 20001, United States
Our Executive Director, Dr. Charlie Rolsky, will be presenting our research at the prestigious ACS conference.
Laundry and dish detergent pods are incredibly popular, but they introduce a “water-soluble” plastic called Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) into our wastewater. While often considered biodegradable, new research reveals that PVA often survives conventional wastewater treatment processes. Our study specifically investigated PVA’s presence in biosolids, the treated wastewater byproduct commonly used as agricultural fertilizer.
Using advanced analytical techniques, we’ve confirmed that PVA persists through waste management and contaminates these biosolids, establishing them as a direct source of environmental PVA pollution. This research challenges existing assumptions about PVA’s fate and raises significant concerns about its potential impact on soil, plant, and environmental health.
Join us at the upcoming ACS conference to learn more about these critical findings and discuss the implications of persistent PVA in our environment. This research adds a vital piece to the growing puzzle of plastic pollution and calls for a re-evaluation of current practices.

Shaw Institute attends Homeschool Information Fair
2025-08-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Woodlawn Museum, 21 Black House Drive, Ellsworth, ME, 04605, United States
Talk with local organizations to learn about programs that they offer for homeschool students.
Children are welcome to attend with an adult.

First Fridays
2025-09-05 16:00 - 19:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Mark your calendars for September 5 for another First Fridays in downtown Blue Hill! Join us, and other local businesses, for expanded hours, food, music and shopping. We’ll be open later, providing a great opportunity to check out our new touch tank, gift shop and even take a lab tour.

Beach Cleanup with Blue Hill Heritage Trust
2025-09-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Carter Nature Preserve, 99 Cross Road, Surry, ME, 04684, United States
Join us Saturday, September 13th from 10am-12pm for a Beach
Cleanup Day at Carter Nature Preserve in Surry with the Shaw Institute. This is a Family Friendly Event!
Plastics collected at this event will contribute to scientific research done at the Shaw Institute using our new plastics analysis and identification instrument. We will provide gloves, bags and other cleanup materials.
Access to the beach from the trail is via wooden stairs. The terrain on the beach can vary (Rocky/Slippery at times) and may not be accessible for all people.

Lobster Day!
2025-09-25 11:00 - 15:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
In celebration of National Lobster Day, we’re celebrating these invaluable marine creatures.
11am- Lobster Lecture (discussing the ecology of lobsters, fishing practices here in Maine, and more!)
12:30pm- We’ll be feeding Arnold Clawmer a super special lunch of salmon!
2pm- Repeat Lobster lecture
Throughout the day we will also have a “make a lobster craft” and Lobster themed cupcakes donated to us by Hannaford!

SLUDGE: A PFAS UPRISING | Film Screening & Panel Discussion
2025-09-25 18:00 - 20:00 | Alamo Theatre, 85 Main Street, Bucksport, ME, 04416, United States
The Shaw Institute is proud to be screening the award-winning documentary short film, SLUDGE: A PFAS UPRISING (28 minutes), followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers, PFAS experts and Maine family farmers that are featured in the film. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Our team served as advisors on the film and also created the official education guide for it.
SCROLL DOWN TO BUY TICKETS
This event is a fundraiser for the Shaw Institute’s nonprofit mission, specifically supporting our PFAS research and testing capabilities.
PANELISTS
Mary Yurlina, Agricultural PFAS Specialist, Maine DACF-PFAS Response Program
Shelley Megquier, Policy & Research Director, Maine Farmland Trust
Brendan Holmes, Family Farmer, Co-Owner, Misty Brook Farm (featured in the film)
Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director, Shaw Institute
VENUE
Alamo Theatre, Bucksport, Maine
TICKETS*
$10 General
$5 Students, Seniors and Members of Northeast Historic Film
*These are suggested donations. Nobody will be turned away as long as we have seats to offer, but tickets sold on our website will have priority. Tickets can be bought below.
ABOUT THE FILM
SLUDGE explores the impact of PFAS contamination on Maine’s family farmers. The film focuses on the widespread contamination of farmland with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” due to the use of municipal sludge as fertilizer. It highlights the stories of farmers like Fred Stone and Adam and Johanna Nordell, who have been significantly affected by this contamination. The film aims to raise awareness about the issue and potentially inspire action to protect farmers and the food supply.
The film is from director Jeff Christian and one of the executive producers is well-known actor and environmentalist, Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Dark Knight Returns, Stranger Things, Oppenheimer and more).

Autumn Gold Festival in Ellsworth
2025-09-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Knowlton Park, 160 State Street, Ellsworth, ME, 04605, United States
The Shaw Institute will be participating in the kids fun zone portion of the Autumn Gold Festival at Knowlton Park. The Festival is Ellsworth’s beloved annual fall celebration, hosted by the Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce. Held the last weekend in September, this vibrant tradition brings together residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of the season and the spirit of community.
From festive activities to creative displays by local businesses and organizations, Autumn Gold shines a spotlight on everything that makes Ellsworth special. The festival not only celebrates our community pride but also supports the Chamber’s mission to promote Ellsworth, boost tourism, and foster connections across our region.

SLUDGE: A PFAS UPRISING | Film Screening & Panel Discussion
2025-09-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Stonington Opera House, 1 School St, Stonington, 04681, United States
The Shaw Institute is proud to be screening the award-winning documentary short film, SLUDGE: A PFAS UPRISING (28 minutes), followed by a panel discussion featuring filmmakers, PFAS experts and Maine family farmers that are featured in the film. The audience will also have the opportunity to ask questions. Our team served as advisors on the film and also created the official education guide for it.
This is a FREE screening due to the generous support of Amy and Terry Britton, but donations to support the Shaw Institute’s nonprofit mission are greatly appreciated. Any donations from the screening will directly benefit our PFAS research and testing capabilities.
PANELISTS
Mary Yurlina, Agricultural PFAS Specialist, Maine DACF-PFAS Response Program
Mike Pagano, Editor & Producer on the film, Maine resident
Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director, Shaw Institute
Sergio Cahueque, Organizer, Defend Our Health
VENUE
Stonington Opera House, Stonington, Maine
ABOUT THE FILM
SLUDGE explores the impact of PFAS contamination on Maine’s family farmers. The film focuses on the widespread contamination of farmland with PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” due to the use of municipal sludge as fertilizer. It highlights the stories of farmers like Fred Stone and Adam and Johanna Nordell, who have been significantly affected by this contamination. The film aims to raise awareness about the issue and potentially inspire action to protect farmers and the food supply.
The film is from director Jeff Christian and one of the executive producers is well-known actor and environmentalist, Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Dark Knight Returns, Stranger Things, Oppenheimer and more).

First Fridays
2025-10-03 16:00 - 19:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Mark your calendars for October 3 for another First Fridays in downtown Blue Hill! Join us, and other local businesses, for expanded hours, food, music and shopping. We’ll be open later, providing a great opportunity to check out our new touch tank, gift shop and even take a lab tour.

Build. Create. Innovate.
2025-10-18 10:00 - 14:00 | Cole Land Transportation Museum, 405 Perry Road, Bangor, ME, 04401, United States
Join us for “Build. Create. Innovate.,” a FREE family-friendly event open to the entire community! This dynamic STEM and innovation event is designed for families, offering a hands-on experience that brings science, technology, engineering, and creativity to life. Enjoy interactive exhibits, exciting demonstrations, and engaging activities suitable for all ages. Discover the power of curiosity, imagination, and innovation—come ready to explore, experiment, and be inspired!

Exquisite Echinoderm Program
2025-10-23 10:30 - 12:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Do your young home school learners wanna know more about some of their favorite tide pool critters? Here at the Shaw Institute we will be offering a class to talk about all things echinoderm! These are the family that makes up sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers! We give a brief lecture to describe the group and its natural history and then visit our 200 gallon touch tank to get hands on with some of our native echinoderms! This is a true hands-on experience … providing fun and science/environmental education all at the same time.
Grades 1st-8th(+)
Duration- 1.5 hours
Participants- up to 12
Presentation:

What echinoderms are
When they evolved
Why are they important

Touch Tank:
Hands-on lesson on the types of echinoderms and how to identify them at the Shaw Institute.
Craft:
After learning what echinoderms are and what makes the separate groups unique, students will make their own sea star, sea urchin, sand dollar, or sea cucumber using modeling clay and craft supplies!
Wrap up:
Quiz to test the students’ knowledge

Word Poetry Crawl
2025-10-25 15:05 - 15:25 | ME
Word’s popular Poetry Crawl returns! Join us on an easy walk around Blue Hill village to hear a sequence of readings by remarkable poets, one poet at each of five local venues. There are 15 minute between readings to allow for relocating to the next venue. Dress warmly. The out-of-doors locations have an indoor alternative if weather is inclement.

2:30-2:50 Blue Hill Books: John Reinhart
3:05-3:25 Shaw Institute: Annaliese Jakimides
3:40-4:00 Juniper: Ed Go
4:15-4:35 John Murphy Trail: Christian Barter
4:50-5:10 Congregational Church: melissa goodrum

Here’s info on our featured poet to read at the Shaw Institute:
Annaliese Jakimides makes poems, art, and stories (true and un), from her memory bank of scrappy Boston, her first-generation refugee family, decades living on the land in northern Maine, her New Orleans musician love, and more. She’s published 1,000+ short-works in magazines (Utne, GQ), journals (Beloit,Consequence), and anthologies (MLA winners Breaking Bread, Alive to This), and on NPR. Cited in national competitions, Pushcart, and Best of the Nets, the four-time MLA finalist is cofounder of the Belfast Poetry Festival, serves on MWPA’s Community Advisory Board, cowrote the musical Love Affair, and is, for the first time, at work on a book-length project. annaliesejakimides.com.

Boo Hill: Halloween In Downtown Blue Hill
2025-10-31 16:00 - 19:30 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Celebrate Halloween in downtown Blue Hill and visit Charlie the Shark’s lair for a trick or treat. Doors open at 4 pm until candy and treats run out. More details coming soon!

Ocean-Themed Cyanotype Print Workshop
2025-11-02 12:00 - 14:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Explore the intertidal zone through the art and science of cyanotype printmaking. This workshop, led by marine scientist, artist, and educator Rose Edwards, invites participants aged 10 and up to create memorable prints using algae, crab molts, and shells. All materials, including two 8.5” x 11” pieces of photosensitive fabric, are provided. The finished products could be used to make throw pillows or wall hangings once home. In case of rain, artificial UV lights will be provided in lieu of the sun. Please note the workshop will be held in the Shaw Institute basement lab, which is accessible by stairs only. For any accessibility concerns, please contact us so we can make appropriate accommodations.
Registration Required.
Ages: 10 yrs+
Sunday, November 2, 2025 | 12 PM – 2 PM
$33 (ALL MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED)

Forever Ours: PFAS and Plastics Opening Reception
2025-11-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
The Shaw Institute is proud to host Forever Ours: PFAS and Plastics, a thought-provoking art exhibition exploring humanity’s complex relationship with persistent materials like microplastics and PFAS. The exhibit, which runs through summer of 2026, opens with a public reception on Saturday, November 22, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm at the Shaw Institute’s Environmental Education Center in downtown Blue Hill, Maine.
Forever Ours brings together the work of 11 environmental artists whose visual and mixed-media pieces capture both the beauty and the burden of materials that have become “forever” intertwined with the natural world. The collection invites visitors to reflect on sustainability, pollution, and the shared responsibility of protecting our planet’s future. Each piece is accompanied by an explanatory statement that informs viewers about the environmental impact of these contaminants.
Dr. Rolsky’s talk will address the complex realities of plastic pollution, including misleading greenwashing practices, as well as cutting-edge research on microplastics and the development of sustainable materials.

4:00 PM: Reception (light refreshments and snacks provided)
5:00 PM: Lecture begins

Opening Reception will feature wine and cheese from Blue Hill Wine Shop. The event is free and open to the public.

Holiday Ornament Needle Felting Workshop
2025-11-29 10:00 - 12:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
THIS EVENT IS FULL. Create a felt holiday ornament at the Shaw Institute’s needling workshop! Local artist Reese will lead this hands-on class for parents and kids (ages 8+). Sharp needles are used, so children must be supervised by an adult. All participants creating an ornament must register. Accompanying adults who are not creating an ornament are admitted free of charge but must also register. All supplies included.
Instructor: Reese Wolfe
Ages: 8 & up
Fee: $14

Storytime with Charlie the Shark: Ellsworth Public Library
2025-12-01 10:30 - 11:30 | Ellworth Public Library, 20 State Street, Ellsworth, ME, 04605, United States
Meet the Shaw Institute’s resident shark, Charlie, at the Ellsworth Public Library on December 1, 2025. He loves to read books to kids about the ocean, teaching them why taking care of the ocean is important for us all. Your school or youth group will find the experience to be engaging and most of all … fun! The Shaw Institute, in Blue Hill, aims to use its scientific research projects as opportunities for the public to learn about our work and provide an inclusive science education learning environment for the community.

Plastics Seminar: Dr. Rolsky at University of Maine
2025-12-09 11:00 - 12:00 | University of Maine, ME, United States
Join plastic pollution expert Dr. Charlie Rolsky at the University of Maine as he talks about how we’ve changed our relationship status with plastic to, “it’s complicated”. In this discussion, he’ll demystify the truths and myths surrounding our use of this pervasive material, from the hidden dangers of microplastic pollution and its presence in the human body, to the misleading marketing practices of greenwashing. Dr. Rolsky will also highlight the latest research from the Shaw Institute on the impact of plastics on human health, PFAS contamination, and innovative coastal monitoring efforts. This talk will explore the complex reality of plastic pollution and offer insights into a more sustainable future.

Oysters, Wine, and Animal Affairs: A Valentine's Day Celebration with a Twist
2026-02-14 16:30 - 18:30 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Shaw Institute! Enjoy Oysters, wine, and cheese (you know those good ol’ aphrodisiacs) before our executive director shares an R-rated lecture on how critters find love in the natural world. He’ll speak about interesting mating strategies, wacky habits, strange mate choices, and relationship drama in the animal kingdom. From eating your mate’s head or doing silly bird dances in hopes of securing a partner, we’ll cover all the best of the wild and zany love stories in nature. Think you’ve been in weird relationships? Well, think again. MUST BE AT LEAST 21.

Food and Drink 4:30-5:30 pm
Lecture: 5:30-6:30 pm

COST: $36 per person
This event is LIMITED TO 30 people.

Earth Day Celebration: Shaw Institute and BHHT
2026-04-11 09:30 - 12:00 | Shaw Institute, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, 04614, United States
Celebrate Earth Day with a free, community-powered event that brings together families, local schools, and environmental organizations in a shared commitment to protecting our planet.
This year’s special feature is “Dear Community” Kids Letters — an inspiring project where children write letters or create drawings expressing their commitment to the Earth and their community. Submissions will be collected through local schools and published in The Weekly Packet (target issue: April 16).
Selected letters and artwork will also be displayed in the Shaw Institute lobby through June 30, highlighting the voices of our youngest environmental stewards.
Invitations to schools and families will be distributed by March 15. The submission deadline is April 11.
✍️ “Dear Community” Kids Letters Project
Children are invited to:

Write a letter about how they will care for the Earth
Create a drawing showing their environmental commitment
Share ideas for protecting their community

Publication Goal: April 16 issue of The Weekly Packet (2–4 page feature spread)Submission Deadline: April 11
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE DEAR COMMUNITY FORM
🎨 Event Activities & Crafts
Families can enjoy hands-on Earth Day fun including:
Crafts

♻️ Nature & microplastic mosaics
🐚 Shell necklace creations

Interactive Activities

🐚 Shell tic-tac-toe
🌊 Touch tank exploration
🌎 Additional Earth-themed learning stations
