Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park

The mission of Schoodic Institute is 

to advance ecosystem science and learning for all ages

through a unique partnership with Acadia National Park

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Our History

Schoodic Institute exists in a close public-private partnership with Acadia National Park. Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park was created after the former Navy Base on Schoodic Point, completely within the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park, was returned to the National Park Service. Schoodic Institute was originally conceived in 2004 as Acadia Partners for Science and Learning and later known as “SERC Institute” before changing its name to Schoodic Institute in 2013.

The original concept for Schoodic Institute was to serve as a nonprofit partner to Acadia National Park and cooperate in development and management of the Schoodic Education and Research Center, one of 19 National Park Service Research Learning Centers in the United States.

Multi-million dollar investments of federal and philanthropic funding have been made to create the Schoodic Education and Research Center campus, managed by Schoodic Institute. The campus now offers housing and meals for individual researchers, groups and conferences, classrooms, laboratories, and a modern 124-seat auditorium in one of the most inspirational natural settings in the country.

Schoodic Institute and Acadia National Park are national leaders in the development of new techniques to involve the public in science and conservation. Schoodic Institute deliberately and tightly intertwines education with research. Our nonprofit structure allows us to nimbly support Acadia in creating innovative partnerships. We support scientific research of importance to the Park, provide professional development for teachers, and educate students to become a new generation of stewards who will help conserve our natural and cultural treasures.