MMA Programs and Facilities will be Closed for a Short Break
Saturday, September 5 - Thursday, September 10
Dear Friends:
September on Nantucket has always felt like a moment to exhale, look back, and then look ahead—and this year, there is so much to celebrate.
We are still smiling about the extraordinary success of our first Stargazer Circus. What began as a slightly ambitious idea became something truly magical: families, friends, donors, visitors, staff, interns, and performers coming together under the Big Top to celebrate curiosity and wonder. The community embraced it beyond anything we could have imagined, and we remain incredibly grateful. And yes—the circus will be back!
It was also a remarkable summer across the MMA. Hundreds of young scientists joined us for Discovery Camp and our programs, exploring Nantucket's sky, land, and sea the way Maria Mitchell believed we should: by doing, touching, questioning, and discovering for ourselves.
Now we're turning that spirit of discovery toward the future.
Over the past few weeks, we've begun sharing plans for our new Discovery Center & Aquarium and talking with the community about what this new space can mean for Nantucket. A huge thank you to Christine and John Maraganore for welcoming us to their home in 'Sconset and to everyone who joined us at Fin & Tonic this past weekend. These conversations matter. We are imagining a place where children can get their hands wet, look through microscopes, meet our scientists and interns, and begin a relationship with science that might last a lifetime. We can't wait to share more with you.
September also gives us plenty of reasons to keep learning together. On September 23, Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Sherman, MMA Senior Marine Science Advisor, joins our Science Speaker Series to share her work examining environmental stress and the biological health of Nantucket Harbor through three years of continuous monitoring of the MMA’s harbor buoy—exactly the kind of science happening in our own backyard that we love bringing to our community.
And before we know it, scallop season will be here. It is one of Nantucket's great traditions and another wonderful opportunity to understand the remarkable ecosystem surrounding us. Whether you're a seasoned scalloper or not, we hope you'll learn a little more about the science behind the season with the MMA.
Finally, we're raising a glass to Maria once again. Our friends at Cisco Brewers have created another Stargazer beer in celebration of her legacy, a Pilsner, and we'll be gathering at Cisco to celebrate its release. After a summer like this one, it seems only appropriate to toast curiosity, community, and a woman who taught us to never stop looking up.
Summer may be winding down, but discovery at the MMA never really has a season.
Maria Mitchell and the Daring Daughters of Nantucket Island
September 4 | 2 - 4pm
Join the curator of the Historic Mitchell House for a walking tour concerning the lives of Maria Mitchell and Nantucket's famous and infamous women, as well as the lesser known women of our island. Learn why whaling, Quakerism, and the isolation of an island afforded these women opportunities that women elsewhere in America at the time were not afforded.
This program meets at the Historic Mitchell House, 1 Vestal Street.
A unique and extremely popular collaborative walking tour with the MMA's Deputy Director & Curator of the Mitchell House, the Nantucket Preservation Trust, and the Nantucket Historical Association that looks at the changes in domestic life over four centuries and how it shaped homes, buildings, neighborhoods, and land use. Tour may include brief visits inside each building visited.
This program meets at the Oldest House, 16 Sunset Hill Lane Nantucket MA.
The cobblestones of downtown Nantucket hold stories far more dramatic, and far older, than human history. Walk with the MMA’s Natural Historian, Dr. Rich Blundell, and learn to read a billion years of Earth history written in the stones beneath your feet. Every cobble is a traveler, carried here by ice from mountains and landscapes that rose, collided, and disappeared across deep time.
The granites, schists, sandstones, and gneisses of Nantucket open windows into lost worlds: ancient seas, colliding continents, volcanic island chains that drifted across ancient oceans, the world of the dinosaurs, and the great glacier that ultimately shaped Nantucket itself. Along the way, you’ll hold real rocks and fossils from these vanished worlds—from half-billion-year-old trilobites to shark teeth left behind by warm seas long gone.
Program will commence at the steps of the Pacific National Bank, 61 Main Street.
Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, 7 Milk Street
Saturday, September 12 | 2 - 3pm
Come celebrate the end of summer in style with the MMA Natural Science Museum team! Join us in the garden for a fun and festive afternoon of tie-dyeing our signature white Stargazer Circus t-shirts – yours to keep and rock throughout Fall!
All materials are provided. Your program fee includes the t-shirt, tie-dye materials, and admission to the Natural Science Museum afterwards.
-This is an outdoor, hands-on program - please dress for mess!
-Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult
Pre-registration is required for this program due to material prep.
"Signals, Surprises, and Better Questions: Three Years of Buoy Monitoring in Nantucket Harbor”
September Science Speaker Series with Dr. Betsy Sherman, MMA Senior Science Advisor
Wednesday, September 23 | 7 - 8pm
In Person at 33 Washington Street and Via Zoom
The Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) invites the community to a presentation by Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Sherman, the MMA’s Senior Marine Science Advisor, as part of its September Science Speaker Series.
Tides, sunlight, storms, and biological activity shape Nantucket Harbor over hours, days, and seasons. Sherman will invite the audience to join her in investigating what three years of continuous buoy monitoring have revealed: how tidal and daily biological cycles differ, what happens when potentially stressful conditions converge, and how scientists decide whether an apparent pattern is real and useful. By following one particular investigation from an intriguing hypothesis to evidence that ultimately did not support it, she will show how scientists work amid uncertainty, and why good science sometimes means letting go of a compelling idea and asking a better question.
Free to the public. Registration is required for Zoom.
Dive into the science of Nantucket’s waters through hands-on experiments, investigations, specimen exploration, and creative challenges. Each session features a new marine science theme—from local wildlife and coastal ecosystems to water quality, ocean technology, and conservation. Come explore, investigate, and discover the science of our blue world!
Pre-registration is required for this program due to material prep.
Unleash your creativity! Join MMA staff for nature-inspired crafting, where young makers and their families can explore the wonders of the natural world through hands-on projects. From building mini habitats to creating art inspired by local wildlife, each session sparks curiosity, imagination, and learning. Whether you’re painting, assembling, or experimenting with natural materials, Weekend Crafting is a perfect way to engage with science, art, and nature all at once. Come curious, leave with a masterpiece!
Join MMA Natural Science staff to uncover more about the world of science! We may take a deep dive into the microscopic world, investigate shark biology, make agar art, or even collect plankton!
Join us for a special evening of stargazing at the famed Loines Observatory. Our astronomers will lead an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky and 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 & 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.
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 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.
The Corn Moon, typically occurring in September, is named by Native Americans tribes to signify the period of corn harvest and the end of summer. It is also known as the Harvest Moon, due to the abundant moonlight during this time, which aided in crop gathering. Other names associated with the Corn Moon include the "Barley Moon," "falling leaves moon," and "autumn moon."
Experience an evening of creativity and inspiration during this special art program at the MMA's Natural Science Museum. Led by artist, Nikoline Bohr, participants will create a personalized work of art while learning foundational painting techniques through step-by-step instruction and live demonstrations.
Whether you are picking up a paintbrush for the first time or already enjoy creating art, this relaxed and welcoming program encourages creativity, observation, and artistic expression at your own pace. Leave with a finished piece of art to take home and enjoy.
Enjoy this program specifically designed for the young aquarist in your family. During each session, a MMA educator will read a marine or science themed book, introduce you to one of our educational animal friends, and wrap up with an aligned activity.
What sea creatures live around Nantucket? Find out as you help to collect, identify, and release fish, crabs, shrimp, and other marine creatures with our huge seine net. The harbor is filled with interesting animals that will amaze you in their shapes, colors, and behaviors!
Pre-registration is required as this program meets off site.
Join MMA Aquarists as they feed the ever-hungry creatures at the Aquarium. You will learn all about the fascinating marine animals as you observe their unique feeding behaviors. This is a great way to learn about the diverse marine animals in the Nantucket Harbor and beyond.
Discover the fascinating coastal ecosystems on Nantucket as we learn beach biology, ecology, and geology. We will be pointing out shoreline characteristics unique to Nantucket beaches and uncover the stories hidden in shells, seaweed, rocks, and other treasures through guided beachcombing. Perfect for families, curious learners, and nature lovers of all ages, this interactive event offers a fun and engaging way to connect with the local shoreline and better understand the plants, animals, and natural processes that shape our beaches.
Outdoor Art invites participants to slow down, observe, and connect with the natural world through close-up drawing and artistic exploration. Led by Nikoline Bohr, this outdoor art experience focuses on the intricate details of nature—textures, shapes, colors, and patterns often overlooked in everyday life. Rather than capturing sweeping landscapes, participants will study the beauty found in leaves, flowers, shells, insects, and other small natural wonders up close. Set against the lush backdrop of Nantucket, this class encourages curiosity, mindfulness, and creativity while introducing techniques in observational drawing and nature journaling. Whether you are new to art or have years of experience, this relaxed and engaging program offers a unique way to experience Nantucket through a creative lens.
OUTDOOR ART REGISTRATION
Nighttime Marine Ecology Field Trip
September 11 and 25 | 7:15 - 8:30 pm
Nantucket Harbor teems with exciting marine life at night that is not visible in the day. Join our Aquarium staff to learn about the fish, squid, crabs, and other creatures that come out to feed, at night, in the shallow harbor waters.
Pre-registration is required for this nighttime program. Registration closes 5 hours before the program start time.
Enjoy this program specifically designed for the young explorer in your family. During each session, a MMA educator will read a nature or science themed book, introduce you to one of our educational animal friends, and wrap up with an aligned activity.
Join MMA staff on a tour as they feed the hungry animals at the Natural Science Museum. Learn about the unique adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes, and more! You will get to learn about and interact with several of the MMA Natural Science Museum educational animals. This is a great way to learn about native and non-native species up-close, especially if you love animals.
Mini Movers & Shakers is a fun-filled adventure of movement, music, and animal discovery at the Natural Science Museum! Young explorers and their caregivers will dance, wiggle, stomp, flap, and slither their way through the animal kingdom while enjoying stories, imaginative play, crafts, and hands-on activities. Each session also includes a special meet-and-greet with one of the Museum’s live animal ambassadors. Designed for young children and their caregivers, this playful program encourages learning, creativity, and exploration through movement and fun. Adult participation is required.
Photo of a Great Egret in late-summer by Ginger Andrews.
Keep Calm and Bird On!
September is our golden month. It is our season of greatest abundance. All of nature: plants; seeds; fruits; insects; have reached their peak. And birds, yes, the recently fledged young, the birds of year—Juvies for short—are also at their most abundant.
We know, alas, that many of them—perhaps even half of this year’s crop—will not survive the rigors of migration, there and back again, sometimes journeying thousands of miles each way.
Or if they are a resident species, a storm, a tough winter, a lucky predator—the luck being on the predator’s side in such case—or human disturbance may cut their brief lives short.
But rather than falling into an autumn melancholy, remember the incredible generosity of nature, the huge fecundity that gives the world six or eight or twelve birds of the year so that three or four or six may survive to carry on.
So, get out and appreciate the abundance of life. Fill in the gaps in your year list, if you keep one. Look for the fresh plumage of young shorebirds, their brand-new unworn feathers scalloped and brighter than the well-worn adults. Look for the young warblers, some in female-type or winter plumage. Yes, they too are at their most cryptic, but don’t let that stop you. Remember that a challenge is good for your brain.
Marvel that such small dinosaurs still live among us. And be grateful for them, and for the many caring institutions, small and large, that work to protect, monitor and preserve habitat for another year. And their employees who explain, direct, count young, pick up trash, mow paths and trim brush. Also, appreciate people with untidy, bird-friendly back yards. We are lucky to have them all.
After-School Opportunity, Grades K - 12
Join the Maria Mitchell Association this September 15 - October 22 for our Fall After-School Series I designed for students in Grades K–5. Each day of the week offers a unique set of nature-based activities, crafts, and adventures as we explore Nantucket Island together!
School may be out but the adventure never stops! Limited spots available.
Join the MMA Aquarium Manager, Chelsea Petrik, on a scalloping adventure! As we collect and observe bay scallops, we will learn all about their biology and the challenges they face. Waders and hand nets will be provided!
This program is designed to be interesting for adults and children ages 13 and older. Scalloping Field Trip meets at one of multiple locations in Nantucket Harbor to account for changing scallop availability. Registrants will be notified of the exact location via email before the day of the program. The location may change closer to the program date in accordance with scallop trends – participants will be notified of location changes. All registered children must be accompanied by a registered adult to participate in this program. Pre-registration is required as this program meets off site. Registration closes 2 hours before the start time of the program. Personal transport to and from the meeting location is required to participate.
This trip requires a valid shellfish permit in order to take home bay scallops. For more information on obtaining an individual shellfish permit, visit the Town of Nantucket website: https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/2304/Shellfish-Permit. Each individual keeping scallops must have their own permit. A permit is not required for participants who are not keeping scallops.
The smallest pair of waders we have is an adult size 7. If you have a youth participant who wishes to attend the program, you must provide them with their own waders. An adult must register and accompany youth participants.
Discover Nantucket through its most cherished traditions and hidden corners. This bespoke island journey offers insider access to secret scalloping spots and the island's timeless charm, all seen through the eyes of true island insiders. A truly priceless experience
Your Experience Includes:
⚓ Master Scalloping Expedition — Harvest, shuck, and savor fresh Nantucket bay scallops alongside seasoned local scalloper, Captain Bruce Beebe, aboard his boat on Nantucket's waters. A picnic lunch and beverages are included.
On October 1, 1847, Maria Mitchell discovered a comet from the rooftop of the Pacific Bank on Nantucket, launching a remarkable career that would make her a trailblazer for women in science. Celebrate the anniversary of Miss Mitchell’s historic discovery with bourbon and brownies at the Maria Mitchell Association’s Loines Observatory, 59 Milk Street, at 7 PM.
Veronica Beard believes in the power of “Paying It Forward”—and you're invited to shop for a great cause! Join us for a special shopping event benefiting the Maria Mitchell Association, where 15% of proceeds will be donated to the MMA. Stop by Veronica Beard at 11 South Water Street on Friday, October 9, shop your favorite looks, and show your support for the MMA!
Aquarium Release Day!
Saturday, October 10 | 10am - 12pm
Join us at the Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium for our popular Annual Release Day as we celebrate the end of the season by returning our marine animals to their ocean home! After a summer of learning from and caring for more than 100 marine animals representing roughly 70 species, help us say goodbye to our marine friends and safely release them back into Nantucket’s waters.
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 7:40am. You can listen to full episodes on Apple or Spotify. While you're there, don't forget to check out our weekly "Star Report," written and presented by the MMA Astronomy Department.
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. Read here.
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.
