Casco Bay Learning Journey 2023
Joins us and learn how to see together to connect and accelerate positive change.
Program At A Glance
Five days of complete immersion within the Casco Bay bioregion, from the land, to the waterfront and the ocean, will lead to many questions, discussions, and reflections.
- DAY ONE: Welcome and Traditional Ecological Wisdom and Knowledge Related to Seagrass Stewardship
- DAY TWO: Mapping of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
- DAY THREE: Monitoring of the Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
- DAY FOUR: Restoration of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
- DAY FIVE: Next Steps for Team Zostera
Casco Bay Learning Journey 2023
Who?
THINK DIVERSITY: for an effective Learning Journey, we begin with a diversity of perspectives, professions, ages, ethnicity, disciplines, sectors. The power of a Learning Journey is to learn how to see through the eyes of another and that is best accomplished through diversity – so join us and bring your perspective but be prepared to learn how to see through the eyes of others!
When?
The entire Learning Journey will start at 12:00 noon on Monday June 12th and end at 5:00pm on Friday June 16th 2023.
DAY ONE
Welcome and Traditional Ecological Wisdom and Knowledge Related to Seagrass Stewardship
Welcome: Dwayne Tomah and Chief Hugh Akagi on the important of Seagrass Stewardship from a Wabanaki Perspective
We will begin with a reflection of the indigenous past, present, and future followed by a sacred blessing. The learning journey will continue to be guided by Indigenous & Western knowledge systems.
Topics Covered:
- Likely uses of seagrass in the Dawnland
- The reality of the Doctrine of Discovery and fight for survival
- Issues of seagrass conservation today in tribal communities
- Areas of potential collaboration in mapping, monitoring and restoration
DAY TWO
Mapping of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
Welcome: Libby Bischof, Angela Brewer and Jonathan Ball
Topics Covered:
- The evolution of mapping of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
- The current status of Mapping of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows
- Areas of innovation of Mapping of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows – Introducing the Bioregional Digital Twin
- Art and Mapping of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows
DAY THREE
Monitoring of the Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
Welcome: Curtis Bohlen, Jill Carr, and Jonathan Huges
Topics Covered:
- The evolution of monitoring of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
- The current status of monitoring of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows (quality assurance quality control)
- Areas of innovation of monitoring of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows
- Implications for the use of the Bioregional digital twin
- Habitat rankings and visualizations using the bioregional digital twin
- Working with Portland Water District, Harbormasters, Marinas
- Afternoon snorkel/dive demo at Kettle Cove and detailed simulation of Bioregional digital Twin
DAY FOUR
Restoration of Seagrass Meadows in Casco Bay
Welcome: Glenn Page, Devin Donmeyer
Topics Covered:
Issues that will be covered:
- What do we know about restoring seagrass meadows
- The current status of restoration of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows
- Areas of innovation of restoration of Casco Bay Seagrass Meadows
DAY FIVE
Next Steps for Team Zostera
Welcome: Glenn Page, Hanna Coon, Jon Betz
Topics Covered:
- Strategic actions for mapping and development of the Bioregional digital Twin
- Monitoring activities in 2023-2024
- Steps toward restoration activities in Casco Bay
Weekend Seak Kayak Expedition
June 16 – 18
For those wanting to decompress after a long week, we have the perfect opportunity. Join Team Zostera and Portland Paddles for a journey to Jewell Island for some amazing camping, ultimate frisbee and lots of diving /snorkeling with seagrasses. This experience will be priced through Portland Paddle and ideally suited for these with sea kayaking experience and strong interest in camping in mid June in the Gulf of Maine.
TESTIMONIALS
The following testimonials are from participants of the Gulf of Maine 2018 Learning Journey.
“The Gulf of Maine Learning Journey does offer an extraordinary opportunity for people to understand the dynamics of place, but, perhaps more importantly, it is an opportunity for all participants to contribute in real and meaningful ways to the betterment of this planet. It is nothing short of that. Our worlds, individually and collectively, are enriched because of having shared in some facet of this journey”.
Alan Furth
Former Director Cobscook Institute, Whiting Maine“Transformation always starts small and from within… in the Gulf of Maine, people and organizations are collaboratively exploring the creative frontiers of an emerging future – an inspirational learning experience not to be missed. The Learning Journey is a fantastic way to see the specifics of how people and companies are trying to change the world.“
Steven Lovink
Founder of the Planet2025 Network, France“For anyone who feels change is needed in a big way, this learning journey will help you explore how that can be realized with stimulating conversations grounded in people’s practical, day-to-day work and helpful frameworks for connecting it to the big picture.”
Steve Waddell
Author, Change for the Audacious Global Lead: Bounce BeyondBoston, MA
“The entire itinerary was so diverse. Ideal for the curious and mindful explorer, the Learning Journey in the Gulf of Maine shares and engages – how individual and communal efforts can have transformative impact. This is an experience of a lifetime, if you want to make a difference!”
Martha Holder
Former staff, World BankTall Timbers Maryland
Join us next June
The most effective learning journeys begin with good questions, some of which are unanswerable in the short term and lead to better questions. Often we end up with far more questions than answers! If we are truly successful, this may even feature some “unlearning” of what we thought we knew about ourselves and our place in this beautiful world.