On a late May evening, the Land Trust hosted the fourth and final event of its Climate Resilience
Series, supported in part by Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. The timing of this event was
celestial — that is, the focus was on the monthly high tide which would be coming in the
following days. There was something for everyone in the diverse group of kids and adults who
gathered at Johnson Field at Mackerel Cove — Outdoor Games, Hot Dogs and Jacket
Potatoes, all that and informative presentations too! Harpswell’s own Conservation Commission
provided detailed maps of Harpswell showing various ways climate changes are affecting our
community. Mary Ann Nahf, chair of that Commission, was instrumental in receiving a grant for
the series from the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership. She gave an information packed overview
of the work of the Conservation Commission and the importance of our ongoing commitment to
meeting the challenge of climate change. Brandon Hall, Programs Director of HHLT, had the fun
job of giving HHLT swag to the kids.

At the waters edge, the group learned about the value of citizen science in a
presentation by Gayle Browness, a manager of the Municipal Climate Action Program of the
Gulf of Maine Institute (GMRI). She pointed out the importance of gathering data simultaneously
from many places, noting that even in a small town like Harpswell, the effects of climate change
can be very different from Cundy’s Harbor to Potts Point to Basin Cove. Many hands are
needed.

While the kids energetically threw stones into the cove, Gayle talked the adults through
the protocols of documenting on paper for the GMRI Ecosystem Investigation Network.
Participants followed along on handouts that showed what data was needed. The same
information can be collected and uploaded through a free cell phone app. Imagine the benefit to
scientists and residents if dozens of people made observations of specific events at a specific
time. This is the goal of the GMRI High Tide program, which trains volunteers to collect data
throughout coastal communities. More information, along with a chart that shows the dates of
high tides, including King Tides, through the end of this year can be found at gmri.org/flood-
observations.

Other events in the Climate Resilience Series included a presentation by Mulian Dana
Bryant who spoke at HHLT’s annual meeting last July, in a talk titled “Generational Thinking:
Wabanaki Wisdom for Climate Resilience and Community Land Management.” A second
program used shared ideas about journaling as a way to think about climate resilience and a
third program spoke of the many uses of kelp and it’s role in climate change. Each of these
programs demonstrate the commitment of individual Harpswell residents and our several
community organizations to be informed and active in our changing world.