Not an April Fools' Joke: 

Amazing Things Are Happening at the MMA!

Join us and embark on a Wild West adventure—Nantucket style! Savor a fireside feast crafted by Island Kitchen and quench your thirst with ranch water and smooth whiskey sours. Come kick up your heels and cowboy boots to live country music by the Ben Allen Band. Yeehaw!

 

Our Stargazer Gala is a truly special evening, with all proceeds directly supporting our 550 annual public programs and summer Intern Program. Each year, the Maria Mitchell Association welcomes thirty-five talented college students who gain hands-on experience in Astronomy, Natural Science, Education, Marine Science, History, Communications & Marketing, and Development.

 

Help us ignite a spirit of curiosity and adventure, and celebrate the rich history of our island’s natural wonders by joining us for this unforgettable night under the stars.

Individual tickets for our July 24 event will be available soon at mariamitchell.org.

Please email Amy Young regarding sponsorship opportunities.

Join Joanna Roche, MMA Executive Director, with special guests Captain Daniel W. Bursch (US Navy, Ret.) NASA Astronaut, Bernard Sun, Maison Louis Jadot, Champagne Taittinger, and EJ Harvey – Proprietor of The Seagrille, for an evening of sensational wine, food, and celestial wonder. 

 

We’re rounding the bend into spring—well, Nantucket’s version of spring: cold and windy, with welcome bursts of sunshine and blooming daffodils.

 

March was a busy month at the MMA, with our Annual Nantucket Science Festival taking center stage. This year, we welcomed over 740 attendees! A huge thank you to our community partners for their support, and a special shoutout to Jónelle Gurley, our Director of Science and Programs, whose hard work and dedication were the magic ingredients that made it all come together.

 

This month, we’re excited to resume public Stargazing Open Nights at Loines Observatory. We’re also proud to participate in International Dark Skies Week, collaborating with the Nantucket Conservation Foundation and Nantucket Lights for a special event at Altar Rock on April 23rd (click here for more information).

 

Looking ahead, we’ve been busy planning our annual Seas, Skies, and Vines Winemaker Dinner in May, featuring wonderful French wine partners, and finalizing details for our annual Stargazer Gala—which promises to be a fresh and exciting take on this cherished event.

 

We also received an overwhelming 840 applications for our 2025 summer Intern Program! The selection process has been rigorous, and we’re thrilled to welcome an outstanding class of interns this summer.

 

Most recently, Jónelle, Dr. Rich Blundell, and I spent a meaningful weekend with Nantucket’s science community in a conversation facilitated by Karen Ketterer and the Great Harbor Yacht Club Foundation Board. The GHYC Foundation has been incredibly generous to the MMA, and we applaud their efforts in bringing local organizations together to address critical issues affecting our harbor, including water quality, scallops, eelgrass, and overall marine health. These conversations remind us that we are stronger together, and we deeply appreciate the focus on these pressing environmental challenges.

 

If you’ve driven down Milk Street lately, you may have noticed a large group of turkey vultures that have taken up residence. They’ve been making their way to Vestal Street more often than we’d like, and we’re hoping they decide to move on soon—the mess they leave behind is less than ideal! If anyone has ideas on how to encourage them along, please drop us a line.

 

Happy Spring!

 

With much gratitude,

Joanna Roche

Executive Director

The MMA is committed to fostering a lifelong passion for science and nature by connecting youth to our local environment through hands-on exploration and inspiring action to protect our planet.

 

Campers ages five to sixteen participate in a wide range of programs including Wee Explorers, Habitat Hoppers, Junior Scientists, Junior Astronomers, Junior Historians, Eco-Investigators, and Nantucket Nature Bound. 

 

These programs feature activities such as beach exploration, snorkeling, seining, kayaking, discovery hikes, wetland studies, survival skills instruction, live animal programs, orienteering, astronomy exploration, nature-related games, art projects, insect collecting, and more.

 

Register today to explore the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island with the MMA this summer! 

Thanks to a generous gift from the Ella George Children's Foundation (EGCF), the MMA is able to offer scholarship opportunities for eligible Nantucket Island residents and visitors. Any family who can demonstrate a need is encouraged to apply here.

 

Perfect for those interested in biology, entomology, and environmental science, this camp offers activities through exploration across Nantucket and in our natural science museum.

 

Campers will learn about terrestrial ecology, marine biology, animal classification, and conservation while engaging in exciting activities like snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking. Additional experiences include dissections, plankton collections, and community-focused projects. The program is designed to foster natural history knowledge, public speaking skills, and a deeper understanding of coastal resiliency and habitat preservation.

 

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. 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 astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. 

This community centered 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, and provides an excellent opportunity for students, educators, and families of Nantucket to visit the Loines Observatory and learn more about the night sky. 

 

 

Join MMA Executive Director, Joanna Roche, on a peaceful one hour walk (up to 2 miles on uneven terrain) 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.

 

 

This introductory workshop taught by Nikoline Bohr will guide you through the exciting world of metal detecting! Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, you'll learn the basics of how metal detectors work, how to properly use and maintain equipment, and how to safely and effectively search for treasures.

 

 

Join us in celebrating International Dark Sky Week this year with an unforgettable evening of stargazing at Altar Rock. This free, family-friendly community event offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the night sky while also learning about light pollution and the importance of preserving Nantucket’s natural starlit beauty.

 

Guided by expert stargazers, attendees will discover constellations and celestial wonders in a pristine, low-light environment. 

 

Parking is available along Altar Rock Road, with assistance from our volunteers in getting to Altar Rock in the dark. In case of inclement weather, the event will re-schedule to April 24. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and be inspired by the beauty of the night sky. 

 

Pre-registration is required. Please dress warmly and bring blankets just in case it is cold!

Learn more about International Dark Skies Week.

 

Join our professional astronomers for impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. MMA staff will guide you in viewing astronomical objects through our historic 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor and our modern 24-inch research telescope. Get a chance to view the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and even other galaxies! 

 

 

Explore Nantucket’s birdy landscapes and hidden nooks with local bird guide and Inquirer and Mirror columnist, Ginger Andrews. With so many varied habitats so close together, the Island is a great place to look and listen for birds. Our location out at sea makes for a fascinating mix of migratory species and year-round residents. Dry humor—always useful in a foggy environment—natural and human history, unexpected rarities, and other stories fill out the picture. Children 8 and up are welcome with an adult guardian. Loaner binoculars available. Wear sensible shoes, dress for the weather. You never know what may turn up.

 

Join the MMA for our April Break Discovery program happening the week of April 21 - 25. This series of programming is DAY SPECIFIC and explores Nantucket Island. Registration sign-up is per day, and the cost is $50.

MMA Members receive a 20% discount when signed into their account.

 

April marks the true spring transition, as “winter birds” begin heading north and migrants begin to drop in. All winter we enjoyed the relatively drab—except for a dab of yellow—on the Yellow-Rumped Warblers. But they are already beginning to get their yellow waistcoats at the end of March and will be nearly unrecognizable as they molt into breeding plumage.

 

Pine Warblers will be arriving in greater numbers and singing in the tops of, yes, pine trees. They can have variable plumage so a good question to ask as you wonder what you are seeing is, "If it isn’t a Pine Warbler, what is it?”

 

We will be saying “good bye for now’” to Loons and Grebes while awaiting the arrival of Snowy Egrets, and keeping an eye out for Little Blue Herons and Cattle Egrets.

 

We will be awaiting the Blue-Winged Teal while continuing to enjoy Bufflehead, and listening to the keening wail of Black Scoters as they stage for migration.

Song Sparrows are ubiquitous year-round regulars, found in every part of the island where there is some cover. But they will soon be joined by Savannah Sparrows, which prefer open fields and grasslands. Listen for their buzzy, insect-like vocalization in Head of the Plains. Chipping Sparrows are also arriving, but their preferred nesting turf is under the cover of shrubby tangles in the pines at The Gardner Farm off of Hummock Pond Road.

 

But we never know what rarity might show up. Will a stray Sandhill Crane find its way to one of our golf courses? Will a Tricolored Heron suddenly appear in a marsh? It is worth keeping your eyes open, but also an open mind. Even if something seems outrageous and totally unexpected, check all the details, and write them down or sketch if you cannot get a photo. Good observation makes the difference between a record and a maybe.

As part of the Veronica Beard (VB) Gives Back Program, VB will be donating 15% of their sales on Friday, April 25, from 3 - 6pm during Daffodil Weekend to the Maria Mitchell Association. You can find VB at their Nantucket location, 11 South Water Street. Stop by to show your support and shop for a cause!"

 

While you're there, don't forget to check out our weekly “Star Report,” written and presented by Dr. Geoffrey Clayton, the MMA Interim Director of Astronomy. 

The Hinchman House Natural Science Museum and Gift Shop, 7 Milk Street:

3 - 7pm, Friday

10am - 2pm, Saturday - Sunday

 

Research Center, 2 Vestal Street:

By appointment only. Please e-mail jgurley@mariamitchell.org

 

Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street, Ext.:

Re-opening this month for stargazing! View our calendar.

 

The MMA Aquarium, 32 Washington Street:

Closed for the season. Re-opening in June 2025.

 

The Historic Mitchell House:

Closed for the season. Re-opening in June 2025.