The Maria Mitchell Association has been shaping lives since 1902 and was founded to preserve the legacy of native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. Maria Mitchell’s “learning by doing” philosophy drives us to reach beyond the shores of Nantucket and to make a lasting impact on generations of learners both here and afar.
Your gift supports children attending our camps, families exploring our exhibits, stargazers at the Loines Observatory, and the hundreds of interns we’ve
mentored – all of whom deepen their connection to the island and strengthen their commitment to its preservation. As they take this passion beyond our shores, they create a Ripple Effect that starts on Nantucket, fostering a greater commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Our tradition of education and curiosity lives on in everything we do.
Your gift to the 2024 Appeal makes all the difference and we are grateful.
As we come to the close of the year, a year that passed quickly and was marked with change and transition, it’s worth noting that life, like nature has one constant – change. The seasons, the tides, the weather, the trees, the moon – all go through periods of change and adaptation. In reflection, we can see points of growth and wisdom, clarity, and often we find support. This rhythm guides us though the cycle of life. On our tiny island, within our community, in our workplace and in our families, we all experience transition and change.
Maria Mitchell met change and most other challenges with curiosity. In the coming year ahead, we invite you all to join us as we launch our new series: “Learning Labs.” Starting in January, each week we will offer a 90-minute deep-dive and discussion into a range of topics. From astronomy to leadership, history to marine biology, chemistry to art, there will be lots of hands-on-learning opportunities for connection and conversation. We hope you lean into your curious nature and explore the possibilities.
December is the perfect time to find some moments of quiet and reflect on how nature shows up in your life – join us for birding, moon watching, stargazing, and enjoy the simplicity of the experience. We are so grateful for the way nature informs our work as an organization and for the legacy and leadership that is the history and heritage of the MMA.
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season,
Joanna
P.S. Please consider a gift to our annual appeal – your generosity means everything to us and makes our work possible. THANK YOU.
Stroll Weekend Happenings: Deck the Wharf Bash!
Jingle & Mingle with Straight Wharf Fish and the Maria Mitchell Association as we celebrate Stroll's 50th Anniversary with a night destined to sparkle and shine!
Saturday, December 7 | 7 - 10pm
Straight Wharf Fish, 4 Harbor Square
Indulge in an evening filled with luscious bites and bubbly featuring Champagne, Caviar, Burgers, and More! Your ticket includes the exquisite culinary creations of chefs, Gabriel and Kevin, of Straight Wharf Fish, the luxurious flavors of Calvisius Caviar, and endless Champagne!
Get Ready For:
Stargazing on the Deck, Festive Photo Ops, Cosmic Caroling, Exciting Prizes in Our Reindeer Giveaway. Special Visits from 'Sconset Santa, Gigi the Holiday Spirit Fairy, and Zoltar the Fortune Teller!!
Tickets are selling fast! Thisfabulous fundraiser supports the incredible year-round programming at the Maria Mitchell Association.
Let’s make this annual Stroll celebration unforgettable, together!
Join our astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky during our final “Look Up!” program of 2024. Get a chance to view the moon, planets, stars, nebulae, and even distant galaxies through the MMA’s telescopes! Learn more about the constellations, phases of the Moon, the planets, and why eclipses happen. This stargazing program is designed to be engaging and interactive for all ages but with a focus on young adults and students of K-12 grades.
A Two Part Exploration of the Unique Avian Life of Nantucket
Friday, December 13 | 3 - 5pm
Saturday, December 14 | 10am - 12pm
What is the allure of birding? We have always looked to birds to tell us what is happening in the world around us but there are almost as many ways to enjoy birds as there are birders. Join the MMA's Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, for a workshop to find your own unique birding style, with tips and suggestions to find and identify Nantucket's varied avian life.
This workshop is a two-part series but you may register for individual days. The time of the field trip will be solidified during the Friday afternoon session.
Part 1: Introduction to Birding, December 13
-Field Guides
-Bird Feeding
-Specimens, Sketching, and Note Taking
Part 2: Birding Field Trip, December 14
-Bird Identification
-Habitats and Homes
-Binoculars and Telescope Configuration for Viewing
Pre-registration is recommended as programs do fill up but walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.
Night-time has always had a mysterious appeal, which brings out a whole new cast of avian and other creatures. It requires patience, and a shift of consciousness from sight to hearing. Join the MMA's Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews, as we listen for calls of a variety of nocturnal animals and birds. We will watch for owls as they begin their nightly activity. While an owl sighting is not guaranteed, you will certainly be able to observe several fascinating nocturnal animal species.
Join the MMA's Executive Director, Joanna Roche, on a peaceful one hour walk under the light of the full Moon. Discover the legends and narratives of the past and present. Enjoy the tranquility of the quiet night sky and learn about our Moon's current themes and its important symbolism.
Image by MMA Artist-In-Residence, Henry Michaelis.
Hinchman House Natural Science Museum Gift Shop
At 7 Milk Street Is Open Friday - Sunday | 10am - 2pm
Stop by to view our wide selection of custom MMA apparel, nature-based gifts, accessories, books, and more for this holiday season! Can't make it? Visit our online shop here.
After-School Programming for Grades K-5
Fall Series II
Ending December 12!
Each Afternoon Holds Different Activities, Crafts, and Adventures!
Special FREE Early Release Day Program for NPS Half Days: December 4 and 11. Registration for Early Release Days opens one week prior. More information here. Stay tuned for information on our upcoming After-School Winter Series!
Birding News
Image of a Western Tanager, a rare find at last year's Christmas Bird Count by Louis Dentiste.
Keep Calm and Bird On December!
by Ginger Andrews
As December rolls around, we start thinking about the Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), which will be going on in communities all around us. Nantucket’s count is on Sunday, December 29 this year. It is always scheduled on a Sunday to avoid conflicts with hunters. It’s not only for birders safety.
One year Edie Ray had a memorable experience on a Cape Cod count: the bird they had just tallied was shot—legally, it was a game bird, in season, harvested by properly licensed hunters—before they left the area. Could they count it because it was alive when they saw it? Should they scratch it because they saw it die? Count the number of that species as one half?
It’s always good to remember that no data about the real world is perfect. We just get as close as we can. We count species for the three days before, and three days after the count. This enables us to include elusive rarities if any are present, but overly shy on the appointed day. We look at numbers only on count day. We divide the Island into eight different sections, noting times and if we are close to a boundary with another section. This enables us to get a sense of numbers without double-counting – always an issue checked at the compilation.
In any case, this year as in the past, Libby Buck will be compiling the list. Look for further sign-up info in our bi-weekly newsletter if you are here and want to participate.
Aside from its value as data on what is here in winter, the CBC is a last chance to find additions for your year list, if you dipped, or if a “nemesis bird” eluded you—despite being seen by—seemingly—everyone else. With many more eyes out there, chances are someone can help you find it. And it’s a good excuse to spend the entire day birding.
The 70th Nantucket Christmas Bird Count!
Sunday, December 29
The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is one of the longest running wildlife census projects in the world and is organized by the National Audubon Society. Nantucket has been a proud participant since 1954, and originally conducted the count with only three volunteers. It has now expanded to over seventy participants, which includes local and off-island birding enthusiasts.
Over 80,000 volunteers world-wide participate in Christmas Bird Counts spanning the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. It was originally started in the 1900’s by ornithologist, Frank Chapman, who thought it was better to count the birds instead of hunting them on Christmas Day.
On count day, this year December 29, 2024, the entire island is divided up into eight different sections and each one is assigned a team leader and field observers. At the end of the 24-hour period, numbers of all species observed in each section are compiled into one list. The list is reviewed and finalized at the end of "Count Week." Sometimes certain birds aren’t found on count day, so we also record species not seen on count day, but are seen during count week which is three days before and after count day.
The UMass Nantucket Field Station hosts a compilation meeting at 7pm on count day for all participating volunteers to celebrate their findings of the day. The CBC is a fantastic way of getting a quick “snap-shot” of what and how many birds are within a definitive radius in 24 hours, and every bird counts!
How You Can Help:
Do you have a bird feeder? We need Feeder Watchers! A Feeder Watcher can keep track of the birds that visit their feeders within the 24-hour count period.
Do you have a favorite conservation property you like to walk? You can volunteer to be a Field Observer of that property and report your findings.
If you are able to dedicate the whole day and enjoy birding you can be assigned to one of the eight sections as a field observer!
A New MMA-Led Series Offering In-Depth Exploration of Science, Nature, and Community Topics by Local Experts
In January, the MMA is excited to launch our new “Learning Labs.” These 90-minute workshops will focus on a variety of subjects, including observation, astronomy, history, chemistry, art, and gardening.
Our series will feature a “Nature Lab” for both children and adults, as well as a “Leadership Lab,” led by MMA Executive Director, Joanna Roche. The first “Leadership Lab” will take place on January 10, from 8 to 10 am.
More information is coming soon! Stay tuned.
MMA News and Updates
“The Nature of Nantucket” and “The Star Report”
Check out our own podcast, "The Nature of Nantucket," brought to you by 97.7 ACKFM. This program airs on 97.7 every Sunday at 7:20am. You can listen to full episodes on Apple or Spotify.
In a recent episode of “The Nature of Nantucket,” host Joanna Roche sat down with Tara Riley, Nantucket's Shellfish and Aquatic Resource Manager, to continue their conversation about the Eelgrass restoration project. She goes into depth about the importance of Eelgrass on Nantucket and how we can help protect it and improve its presence here. Together, they explore the importance of managing Nantucket’s marine resources and the rewarding challenges of protecting the island's delicate ecosystem.
Don't forget to check out our weekly "Star Report," written and presented by the MMA Astronomy Department. The most recent report discusses the bright planets you can currently see above us this time of year!
Maria Mitchell's Attic
Learn more about Maria Mitchell and the MMA with "Maria Mitchell's Attic," a blog written on a weekly basis by MMA Deputy Director and Curator, Jascin Leonardo Finger.
In the most recent blog, “Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words,” Jascin Leonardo Finger writes about a card that Maria received on November 26, 1857 inviting her to a London rout.At this “rout,” Maria Mitchell met many famous scientists and mathematicians, among others, and talks about the interactions had which are quite humorous!
Be a part of the GivingTuesday movement and help create a world founded on compassion and generosity by considering a donation to the Maria Mitchell Association's Internship Program. Donations of $200 or more will receive a free custom-designed MMA mug.
The Maria Mitchell Association creates opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science, through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island.
