our mission
The Center for Ecological Teaching and Learning conserves and stewards 70 coastal acres in Downeast Maine while immersing learners in regional and global ecological education.
vision
We envision a community where people are deeply rooted in their shared place among all species on Earth.
Land Acknowledgement
CETL recognizes that the entire Cobscook Bay area is the original territory of the Passamaquoddy people who called this land home before the arrival of colonists, and still do call it home. We pay respect to Passamaquoddy elders both past and present. We acknowledge the caretaker, inter-generational wisdom of the Passamaquoddy culture and heritage and commit to upholding these values as we develop our stewardship practices.
conservation easement
In 2022, we entered into an agreement with Maine Coast Heritage Trust to protect these lands. By creating this easement, CETL was able to secure the land from development and ensure that our mission of conservation and stewardship will be carried out in perpetuity.
VALUES
Teaching & Learning: Deliver lifelong, experiential, transdisciplinary education that empowers people to learn, grow, and evolve in all their relations.
Systems Thinking: Reclaim our intuition about whole systems and hone our ability to restore, renew, and regenerate life as we shift from an ego-centric to an eco-centric world-view.
Ecological Consciousness: View Earth as a community to which we belong and interact with her with love, respect, and reciprocity.
Social Justice: Understand systems of privilege, oppression, racism, and colonization and use this knowledge as we create and share our work.
Inclusion: Commit to accessibility, inclusivity, and intergenerational learning.
Connection: Deepen our connection to the land, the more-than-human world, and to each other.
Community: Cultivate resilience and inspiration through collaboration, partnerships, and mutual support.
Climate Change: Mitigate for the human-created climate crisis with responsible action.
Science: Utilize science to inform our thinking, decisions, and actions.
Programs
Colleges
For decades, groups of college and graduate students have done coursework and research in this space. CETL welcomes these institutions to continue to use this space, learning about and monitoring the unique and diverse ecosystems of coastal Maine.
Teachers
CETL offers professional development to help teachers incorporate systems thinking into their practice in their home setting.
K-12 Students
CETL offers the opportunity to connect with nature to elementary, middle, and high school students from the nearby community and beyond.
Families
Our family camp weeks invite campers of all ages to connect with each other and the natural world, immersed in the beauty of this remarkable place.
Service
Our mission includes serving the ecological community in which we live through thoughtful stewardship of the land.
