notes from the AIO director, Sheryl Gilmore
Several things are happening today. First, I'm e-mailing everyone this year's newsletter with important information on what to bring and travel. It also has an updated biography of the staff. You can also view the 2010 Meet the Staff here at the web site ("our faculty"). Second, I will be mailing the letters to your local newspapers about your attendance in the program (if you provide the full address). Last, I will be leaving for Maine in the morning. This means that all correspondence should go to the Maine address (P.O. Box 285, Seal Harbor, ME 04675; this will also be in the newsletter). It also means I will be a little harder to reach on your first try as I'll spend a lot of my time in the program with your kids. You can still reach me at the 800-375-0058 number and leave a message. I'll get back to you as soon as I can (which will often be in the evenings).
I'm excited to get the summer rolling! See you all soon. Please read the newsletter carefully for information.
May 17, 2010
It's that crazy time of year: tuition is due. And it seems that I receive almost everybody's tuition at the same time. If you've been waiting for a receipt or some other piece of information, I apologize but my desk is stacked with paperwork right now. It will take me a week or so to get through all of it properly (I don't like to rush so as not to mix anything up). Please be patient and trust that it will get to you.
We also find ourselves nearly full for the summer. As of today, we have 1 open spot for the last Intermediate session and 5 open spots in each advanced session. I take the applications on a first come, first serve basis so you'll want to move quickly to get these last spots.
If you are on the wait list for a session, I'll know more once I've gotten through the tuitions and can tell who has not yet paid. I'll contact you as soon as I know something.
April 26, 2010
Very busy month of April! Our one week Introductory and our first two week Intermediate sessions are now closed and wait lists have begun. I am often able to get the first couple of people from the wait list into some sessions but I'll know more when tuitions come due in mid-May. Still, if you want to attend one of those sessions, it's important to get me the application as I take them on a first come, first serve basis. Our last Intermediate (Aug. 8-21) and our last Advanced session (July 25-Aug. 7) have very limited availability so you'll want to move quickly on those sessions.
Besides the $10,000 annual scholarship offered by College of the Atlantic for AIO alum, we are working with a large university to see about getting college credits for the advanced sessions. I'll keep you posted on the status of that.
For those who are already registered, let me know if you need rides from airports (Bangor or Bar Harbor) or bus stations. You'll also want to be sure your health form is ready by the beginning of your session. Keep in mind that Maine requires a doctors exam within one year of attendance.
April 2, 2010
Wow! The weather has been so warm the past few days that it feels summer. Of course, I know that it won't last but I'm enjoying it just the same. I think this nice weather has everyone thinking "summer" since the registrations are coming in at a record pace. The Introductory session is now closed and the first intermediate (June 27-July 10) can only accept 3 more females and no more males (due to dorm limitations). Any applications received for these sessions will go on to the wait list. In the past, I've been able to get a few from the wait list into the session as people's plans change sometimes.
As for the other sessions, the last intermediate (Aug. 8-21) only has 10 spaces available while the advanced sessions are filling equally which means they are still both open.
If you are already registered and you haven't received an official letter of recommendation it means that I have not received the recommendation. Be sure to remind teachers to get them back to you... I suggest you ask the teacher to complete the recommendation, put it in the envelope you've provided, seal it and give it to you. This way you'll know that it was completed.
January 12, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I start this year with a renewed hope for the economy. Living in Michigan during the school year, we've seen many people really suffering and I hope the pundits are correct when they say things will begin to pick by the end of the year.
The registrations for the summer of 2010 have been coming in steadily and I've also been getting registrations and requests for material on the Florida Career Seminar that takes place in November. I apologize if you asked for material but have yet to receive it. SeaWorld was sold to another organization and they have been making several changes (probably to save money). One of those was to cut the Animal Sciences program we took part in many times. Though at first I was worried, it does seem that I can recreate the program to some extent and still get the best it has to offer. It's going to require a little more work on my part but nothing I can't handle. Before I sent the mailer, I wanted to be sure the price wasn't going to change. It seems to be in the same ball park as before so I'm ready to send the information. If you have the registration from the summer orientation meeting, you can use that. Otherwise, let me know if you need another and I'll send a pdf via email. I can take registrations from students who have already attended the summer program. New students can receive the information but I ask that they wait until their summer session to submit the Florida application. I'll be sure there is still space available for you. This does mean, however, that I'll stop taking applications from past students once I've reached a certain number so I can save the space for the new summer students.
I've also been slow with the Belize pictures but they should be up soon. It's a very slow process, going through each one and then cropping to size it for the website. Almost there!
December 9, 2009
Well, it's back to reality after our wonderful trip to Belize. Sad to say good bye but I'm also happy to be with my family again. Dr. Ken Mattes and the TREC crew offered us a great experience and we thank them! I'll have a folder of pictures from this trip up at the website as soon as I can get them to my webmaster.
Now I turn my sights to the summer of 2010 and the November Florida Career Seminar. I'm currently taking registrations for both. Students who have attended the summer program and have performed in an exemplary manner are welcome to apply for the Florida program. If you've lost the forms, please let me know and I'll e-mail another.
November 29, 2009
We definitely saved the best snorkeling for last! What an incredible day! The day started out quite windy and we had some concern that we wouldn't see as much as we had hoped on our last full day in Belize. Luckily, we were wrong. Our first stop is called Turtle Rock Island and it lived up to it's name. Within minutes of getting into the water, a very large loggerhead turtle approached the snorkelers. This site was really a former island that was destroyed in a storm. Fisherman used to come here to clean their catches and the turtle got used to coming here for the free meals. It still lives in the area.
Our second stop was my favorite of the entire trip. It's called Hol Chan Marine Reserve (but I call it paradise). As a marine reserve, the life within is protected from fishing which means we see a large diversity and population of fish and other wildlife. Again, immediately after entering the water, 2 green sea turtles swam around underneath us and we saw them several other times during this snorkel. We were able to swim along a channel in the reef which is a bit deeper. Here we saw some very large schools of fish and some that are not typically around such as very large tarpan.
Our last stop is called Shark Ray Alley for a very good reason. Right off the back of the boat we saw a 3 foot nurse shark and several southern rays. During my snorkel, I saw 7 more nurse sharks along with several southern, eagle and horseshoe rays. The end of a fabulous snorkeling day!
Tonight, the students gave their presentations on topics varying from diadema to sharks to termites to Mayan culture. It was obvious that they spent a great deal of time collecting information and observing in the field. They should be proud of the work they accomplished.
We are sad to be leaving but leave we must. We'll depart TREC at 12 noon and begin the flights that will get us back to Houston at 7:04 pm. We'd like to thank Dr. Ken Mattes and all of his staff who provided such an unforgettable experience for all of us! Thanks, Ken!
November 26, 2009
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! So much to be thankful for today! We were up at 6 am so we could be at the dock to meet the boat by 7 am. We took a fast moving boat up the Belize River to the Mayan Ruins at Altun Ha on the mainland. Our guide, Allen, was full of information about the Mayans and what is known about their history. He also explained that there was a lot we don't know since so much of their written history was destroyed by the Spanish. We saw the remanents of their market place, the temple their royalty used to rise above the commoners and the area where they would sacrafice those who were worthy of heaven. That really is a huge sacrafice!
After a lunch of the Belize National Dish (chicken and rice), we got back into our boat to continue down the Belize River to search for wild life and we are happy to report success. We saw more than 20 iguanas in the tops of trees. Most were males in their bright yellow coloration in search of love! The females were more difficult to see since they are still the same green color as the leaves. A few salt water crocodiles were sunning themselves along the bank while, high above, Howler Monkeys jumped from branch to branch. It was amazing and a great way to spend Thanksgiving. We topped it off which a huge Thanksgiving meal prepared by the two ladies in the kitchen, Maria and Sandra. It was just like home with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, corn, carrots, homemade bread and even cranberry sauce. So kind of them to make us feel at home.
Our last day of snorkeling tomorrow could be our best with stops at the marine reserve at Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley and Turtle Rock Island. The students will then give their project presentations in the evening.
November 24, 2009
A lot of snorkeling again today in some very interesting places. We started out with a talk from Kathy on mangrove environments. These are like the saltmarshes of the tropics... calm waters that are home to lots of young organisms that need this protected place to grow. They also provide nutrients to the nutrient poor waters here. And they trap sediment that helps protect the islands from storm damage. They are obviously very important to the region.
Then we got to snorkel in them! What a treat! So many casseopia jellyfish (they live upside down on the bottom), bat fish (a crazy looking fish) and so many juvenile fish you couldn't count them all. It was wonderful to swim circles through them.
Tonight we topped off this wonderful day with a night snorkel through the reef. We took to the water with our flashlights and saw octopus, so many lobsters (not the Maine kind) and fish that are only out at night. Ken Mattes, the director of the Tropical Research and Education Center, showed us something he's only seen 4 times in all of his years of snorkeling... a parrot fish in a cocoon! Quite a sight! Tomorrow we head to a sunken barge to see the life that now inhabits it and then off to another island called Caye Caulker.
We're taking pictures and will have them up when we return.
November 23, 2009
Another busy day exploring the tropics of Belize. We started with a talk from Tim about the sea turtles of Belize. TEDs (Turtle Elimination Devices) are required on all shrimp nets in Belize which means we actually might see some turtles (again) in the open water. We didn't see another turtle today (we did yesterday though) but we did see sharks! A few of us were lucky to see a couple of nurse sharks. We visited an area called Mexico rocks first... Mexico is actually only 15 miles from this site (by water). Next, we stopped at an underwater cave which housed several species of fish, swimming upside down along the roof of the cave. Our last stop was at Playa Blanca (white beach). This patch reef was where the sharks were spotted along with a moray eels, spotted eels, a spotted eagle ray, a couple of southern rays and many, many fish. Fun to see some feeding stations as well. The students have begun working on their projects which they'll present on Friday evening.
Tomorrow we head to the mangroves... I can't wait to see a batfish again!
November 22, 2009
We made it to Belize! Everyone's flight was on time and, after a long wait to get through customs and catch our flight from Belize City to San Pedros, we arrived around 7 pm last night. We've already had a busy time with some snorkel practice in the pool and an orientation from the site director, Dr. Ken Mattes. The students were up early, anticipating the first snorkel this morning to the Pillar Coral and Tres Cocos. The Pillar Coral will give us a rare opportunity to see a coral colony as it might appear at night since the pillar coral are crepuscular (night and day feeders). They attract noctural feeders so we can a nice daytime view!
The signal here comes and goes but I'll update as I can! Looking forward to the 83 degree water!
November 1, 2009
Most of the mailers for next summer have gone out though we are still waiting on some as we wait for new envelopes to be run. They will go out this week. Returning students will be given a bit more time for their discount.
As we prepare for our Tropical program in Belize in 3 weeks, we are also taking registrations for the summer and the next Florida program in Nov. 2010. Still busy!
October 10, 2009
There is only one more slot available for the upcoming Belize trip! Contact me this week if you're interested!
September 20, 2009
EXCITING NEWS!
The summer has just barely ended and I'm already getting ready for summer 2010! I'll be sending the letters to your schools now so let me know if there have been any changes in the addresses. The new application will be online shortly and the application for next year will be in the mail soon. I've only got 2 more slots for the Belize trip for our advanced session students coming up in November. They will only be available until mid-October when I need to purchase the tickets.
We've also just had some exciting news that I wanted to share.
College of the Atlantic has just informed us that they are going to offer a $10,000 scholarship per year to any student who attends the Acadia Institute of Oceanography. Here is the information:
College of the Atlantic is proud to offer scholarships to alumni of
Acadia Institute of Oceanography. Any student who has attended AIO
and is admitted to College of the Atlantic (COA) will receive a scholarship of $10,000 per year for up to four years. Apply for admission to COA and include a letter of recommendation from one of the directors at AIO. If admitted, you will automatically receive this scholarship for your first year at COA; an additional $10,000 scholarship is available for each of the next three years of enrollment if satisfactory academic progress is maintained. This scholarship is available to incoming first-year and transfer students. In addition, you may qualify for need-based financial aid. COA is located on the ocean on spectacular Mount Desert Island,
Maine. The college is rich in unique educational facilities; students have access to Acadia National Park and our own research stations on Great Duck Island and Mount Desert Rock. A generous alumna donated an organic farm to the college ten years ago. Our collaboration with Jackson Lab and Mount Desert Island Biological Lab through the INBRE program expand our scientific resources into world-renowned laboratories. And right on campus our library, natural history museum, GIS lab and art gallery provide first-rate educational opportunities to all students.
At COA everyone is on a first-name basis, and it's impossible to fade into the woodwork. Classes are centered around discussion, debate and intensive one-on-one interaction among students and faculty. Other colleges talk about "inter-disciplinary"and "value-centered"studies, but we live them. COA has no departments and no formal majors, and offers only one undergraduate degree, a B.A. in human ecology. The degree is founded upon the premise that the complex problems and issues of modern society and the environment are not departmentalized - or compartmentalized. And neither is our education.
While it's long been know for its strength in marine science and environmental studies, COA is not just about science. Art and design, literature and philosophy, history and politics, international studies: all integrated into COA's unique exploration of the relationship among humans and their environment. As its roster of outstanding graduates proves, COA teaches its students to understand the consequences of their actions and helps them gain the capacity to make future choices wisely, and to influence others to do so as well. COA practices what it preaches: it is a national leader in implementing sustainability policies and procedures. One of the most important choices you will make in life is not where you go to college, but what sort of education you get while you're
there. For more information on the College and the scholarship, visit www.coa.edu or e-mail: inquiry@coa.edu or call 800-528-0025.
This is exciting news and I hope that our students will take advantage of the opportunity. A two week session at AIO could be worth $40,000 in scholarship money!
July 26, 2009
Wow, the time has been flying and we're having a great summer... despite the rainy, foggy weather! We've just begun our last advanced session with 33 students. We've got a shark dissection, sand dollar lab, college tours, boat trips, and so much more. A visiting artist named David Wheeler will be here on Sunday to work with the students on their scientific drawings. Zack Klyver will be in to teach about the history of whales. And we'll have a visit from the Jackson Lab and then take a trip over to meet with a scientist at the Mt. Desert Biological Lab. Busy!
I'm just about ready to post the pictures from the completed sessions... just clearing up a few bugs so, though you can see the link, it doesn't go anywhere yet. I'll let you know!
Many students have shown interest in the upcoming Belize program as well as next year's Florida Career Seminar. I'm taking registrations for both now.
I've loaded a few of this year's pictures on the recent pictures page.
June 23, 2009
We have finished our first full day of the summer and, if this is any indication of how the rest of the summer will go, we're in for a great time! The weather was cloudy and windy but the group didn't let that stop them. They created a 75 gallon saltwater tank, explored the beach and tidal pools, learned about algae and classification and performed a squid dissection... a busy day! I've uploaded a few pictures at our recent pictures site and will continue to do so during the session.
Our phones have continued to give us problems...Fairpoint has many excuses for not getting them put in the proper places but all result in not being able to call into the building. You can still call your child and I have been passing the message to them so they can call you back. I apologize for any inconvenience. I'm pretty frustrated about the situation and continue to spend too much time on the phone trying to get it resolved. They have informed me that the clinic phone number would change (after 35 years!) but I'll e-mail that to everyone when I get it. The main phone number will remain 207-276-9364.
Be sure to check out the photos... this is a great group of kids. Full of enthusiasm! And smart!
June 4, 2009
The newsletters were sent via e-mail today so please let me know if you didn't receive one and I'll send it again. It gives you some important last minute information on arrival and items to remember. It also has a write up on each of the 2009 staff. I've also just updated the faculty information at the website.
Please remember to inform us if your child needs a ride from the airport or bus station. Anyone 14 and under traveling by plane will need to travel as an unaccompanied minor and pay the airline their appropriate fee. It is best if you take of the fee ahead of time and send along a copy of the receipt showing it's paid (they have made us pay again a few times when we're checking the kids in even though the parent had already paid it). Also, it is important to send extra money for baggage fees for the return flight... we'll keep this with the ticket in my safe until the departure.
Check the newsletter for other important information.
May 13, 2009
An update to let you know that our first intermediate session (June 28-July 11) can't take anymore female students (we don't want to overfill a dorm). We do still have space for male students and we have room for both in our last intermediate (August 9-22).
It looks like you've all received me information on hotels and informing you about the new AIO Facebook group because I've received many requests to join the group. I check the site regularly as well to monitor and answer questions. I hope it will be a valuable tool for connecting prior to the program start.
April 29, 2009
Wow! I can't believe it has been a year to the day since I last changed this blog. My deepest apologies but, now, I am able to make my own changes (thanks to my webmaster) and I will be updating the page regularly during the summer. Until then, I'll keep practicing and updating as the need to share information with you arises.
There is a new Facebook group called "I'm going to the Acadia Institute of Oceanography" and it is for only those students and parents participating in the summer of 2009. It should be a nice way to connect people prior to their arrival... work out shared travel arrangements, make new friends and share suggestions.
We still have space in all of our sessions at this point though I'm about to close the first intermediate to either boys or girls... it depends on which registrations arrive in the next few days. I don't want to overfill a dorm so I will stop with one of them at 18 students and, right now, we have 18 and 17. I can take a few more in the Introductory session though I anticipate that will also close soon.
I was able to lower our travel costs for the upcoming Belize Tropical program by $200!!! Those of you who have already attend the summer program and have a brochure for Belize can cross off the current price and make it $2630 (which is only $30 more than the last trip 2 years ago). I'm going to continue to take prior students until the first advanced session begins this summer. I will need to save remaining spaces for the upcoming summer students. If you are attending an advanced session this summer for the first time, you'll receive the material when I send the newsletter in May. You can bring the signed registration and deposit with you if you'd like to potentially apply... you can decide once you've been through the program and give me the registration at the end of your session. There will be orientation programs for both Belize and the next Florida Career Seminar during your sessions... we'll begin taking Florida registrations this summer since that program fills quickly.
I'm sending out a partial list of hotels on Mt. Desert Island for those interested in staying longer with their families. Should be helpful!
More later...
April 29, 2008
Hello everyone! I'm sorry that it has been such a long time since I've written but I'm hoping to keep up with this each week in the summer and add pictures from each session much more quickly than before so parents can see what their kids have been up to at AIO. A lot has happened since I last wrote, most memorably, our first Belize trip in November of 2007. What a great experience! I can't wait to return in November of 2009 (we'll have orientation meetings for the advanced sessions and start taking registrations at that time)! Ken and Maureen Mattes were the perfect hosts and their facility is really top notch. I've never spent so much time snorkeling but the time flew as we swam with turtles, invertebrates, sharks and more. We couldn't have asked for better weather to explore the world's second largest barrier reef. One of my highlights (though there were so many) was seeing a bat fish for the first time. What a fascinating fish! We found several in the mangroves. I can't wait to share our pictures, videos and memories with you this summer.
As for this summer, we have never had to close sessions this early but both of our intermediate sessions are full with long wait lists. It will be important that you pay your tuition promptly (or contact me to make arrangements) so you can save your space after May 15. We do still have a few spaces in our advanced and introductory sessions. We did add an extra intro session at the end of August (August 17-22) to accommodate the late school end dates with all of the snow days this year. That session is more than half full already.
I'm working on completing staffing and I'll be sending out the newsletter at the end of May, just before I head to Maine for the summer. We're all excited to head back up for another great summer!