Summer Interlude 3: Where the Dream Began

Five years ago, in February 2020, we stood in Acadia National Park for the very first time. The wind was sharp, the ocean air thick with salt and stillness, and yet—something stirred in us. A spark. A tug. We couldn’t name it yet, but we knew we were standing somewhere special. We fell for it instantly. The quiet. The raw beauty. The potential.

We had no idea how much the world was about to change.

By October, we were back—this time to film one of our National Parks Expedition Challenges with Rangers Kate and Lisa. The cameras were rolling, but in between takes, the conversations ran deeper. We talked about the fear and uncertainty we were all carrying in that season of the pandemic—and about the quiet hope that something better might still be ahead.

Sitting on one of the old Rockefeller Bridges, surrounded by the steadiness of stone and sky, we let ourselves wonder out loud: Could this dream still grow?

That’s when Ranger Kate looked at us and said, “You should reach out to Schoodic Institute. They’re our partner in environmental education.”

That moment changed everything.

In January 2021, we sent a message: “Would you be willing to help us host a camp this summer?” Kate said yes. Megan Moshier at Schoodic said yes. And on July 17, 2021, thirty-two educators arrived at the edge of the sea for our very first STEAM in the PARK at Schoodic Institute. We were cautious—COVID protocols were still in place—but hope showed up anyway. And it stayed.

Since that first gathering, we’ve welcomed 183 educators and 71 of their family members to this wild, beautiful place. We’ve stood on rocky shores together, asked hard questions, shared stories, and reimagined what teaching and learning can look like. We've laughed hard, cried some, and left with more than we came with.

One of the most meaningful parts of our time here has been diving into UN Global Goal 14: Life Below Water. Together with researchers and rangers, our educators have helped address the growing threat of the invasive European green crab—a tiny, resilient species wreaking havoc on Maine’s coastal ecosystems. We’ve studied their behaviors, collected data, and explored real-world solutions. It’s more than professional development—it’s hands-in-the-mud, heart-in-the-work kind of learning. The kind that sticks.

And it doesn’t end when camp does. These educators have taken what they’ve learned here—about science, stewardship, creativity, and community—and brought it back to their classrooms. They’ve engaged their students, their schools, and even their neighborhoods in the work. They’ve sparked curiosity. Built lessons around big questions. Invited others into the story.

Because what we’re building here isn’t just a camp. It’s a movement. A place where ideas catch fire, where calling gets rekindled, and where weary educators remember why they said yes in the first place.

This week, as we pulled into Schoodic for the fifth summer in a row, I felt it again—that original spark. Only now, it’s rooted in something deeper. Gratitude. Growth. Community.

By the end of this summer, STEAM in the PARK will have reached nearly 1,100 educators and rangers across 47 national park sites. And through them, the ripple continues—reaching students, schools, and communities all across the country. That’s not just a program. That’s legacy.

And it all started right here.

On Saturday, we’ll welcome 33 new educators to this beloved corner of the world. We don’t know exactly what the week will bring—but if it’s anything like the last four years, it will be full of wonder.