Schoodic Institute

What Schoodic Institute does

Schoodic Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2004 and headquartered at Schoodic Point within Acadia National Park in Winter Harbor, Maine. It operates as the primary science and education partner of the National Park Service, jointly managing the largest of 18 NPS Research Learning Centers in the United States. The institute's core function is to support environmental research, science education, and conservation programming in Acadia's coastal, forest, wetland, intertidal, and montane ecosystems, while developing professional pathways for early-career conservationists and engaging the public in citizen science.

The institute's product portfolio spans research programs, fellowships, education programs, citizen science initiatives, public engagement, and on-campus hospitality. Research offerings include the Acadia Science Fellowship (replacing the Second Century Stewardship program in 2024), the Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship (launched 2022), and management of roughly 90 research projects and 84 research permits annually across seven categories (intertidal/marine, wildlife/biodiversity, freshwater/air, plants, visitor studies, pests/diseases/invasive species, and cultural resources). Education products include the Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) residential program for middle school students, the Acadia Teacher Fellowship for K-12 professional development, school field trips, and ranger programs. Public engagement is delivered through the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall (31,000+ annual visitors), the Summer Lecture Series, the annual Acadia National Park Science Symposium (in-person and virtual), and media including the Sea to Trees podcast (Season 4) and Coastal Conversations radio on WERU. Citizen science programs leverage external platforms (iNaturalist, Anecdata, Nature's Notebook) for intertidal monitoring, bird surveys, dragonfly mercury sampling, and sea level rise documentation. Campus conference facilities (Moore Auditorium), lodging, and dining services provide additional programmatic and event infrastructure.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded rather than transactional. Revenue streams include individual philanthropic donations (one-time and monthly recurring), foundation and corporate grants (National Park Foundation, Cathy and Jim Gero, L.L. Bean), NPS partnership support, facility rental and lodging/dining revenue from campus operations, and dedicated fellowship funding. Private philanthropy is reported to more than triple the underlying NPS investment. Customer and stakeholder groups are diverse: scientists and researchers, early-career conservation professionals, K-12 teachers and middle-school students, citizen scientist volunteers, NPS resource managers, Wabanaki Nations, the Friends of Acadia, and foundation/corporate donors. The institute manages its own budget independently through its Board of Directors and is not a subsidiary of any parent organization.

Name

Schoodic Institute

Legal name

Schoodic Institute

Website

https://schoodicinstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schoodic Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that operates as Acadia National Park's primary science and education partner, managing the largest of 18 NPS Research Learning Centers. It delivers research programs, fellowships, K-12 education, citizen science, and public engagement, funded through philanthropy, grants, and campus facility revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Winter Harbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Donations: Individual donors contribute to support the institute's science, education, and conservation programs. Monthly giving program available for ongoing support.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations including National Park Foundation, and corporations like L.L. Bean. Private philanthropy more than triples the NPS investment in science, education, and conservation.
3. Campus Facilities Revenue: Revenue from conference facilities, lodging, and dining services at the Schoodic Institute campus. The Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall attracts over 31,000 visitors annually.
4. Fellowship Program Support: The Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship is funded through generous support of Cathy and Jim Gero, with additional support from National Park Service and National Park Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Schoodic Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and education organization that operates as Acadia National Park's primary partner in science and education. It manages the largest of 18 NPS Research Learning Centers, coordinating approximately 90 research projects annually across intertidal, forest, mountain, and wetland ecosystems. Its offerings include competitive research and early-career fellowships, residential K-12 education programs, teacher professional development, citizen science initiatives, public lecture and symposium programs, visitor services, and conference/lodging/dining facilities on its Winter Harbor, Maine campus.

Product overview

Schoodic Institute offers a portfolio of science, education, and community programs centered around its role as Acadia National Park's primary partner in science and education. The core offerings include the Acadia Science Fellowship and Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship for researchers, the Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) residential program for middle school students, and the Acadia Teacher Fellowship for professional development. Science communication products include the Sea to Trees Podcast and Summer Lecture Series. The Institute also operates visitor facilities including the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall, conference facilities like Moore Auditorium, lodging, and dining services. Citizen science initiatives engage the public in research through various monitoring programs. The annual Acadia National Park Science Symposium brings together scientists and stakeholders. The organization manages the largest of 18 National Park Service Research Learning Centers in the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) Multi-day residential education experience for middle school students at Acadia National Park, led by NPS educators with Schoodic Institute funding support, focused on hands-on outdoor learning in science and conservation.
• Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellowship Highly competitive 10-month fellowship program for recent college graduates to develop professional skills in conservation fields, engage learners of all ages in science, and advance science to inform park stewardship at Acadia National Park. Funded by Cathy and Jim Gero with additional support from NPS and National Park Foundation.
• Acadia Science Fellowship Fellowship program for scientists to conduct research in Acadia National Park, focused on topics such as coastal erosion and other environmental science priorities. The 2026 cohort studies and maps coastal erosion. Replaced the Second Century Stewardship fellowship program.
• Citizen Science Programs Initiatives engaging the public in scientific research, including bird monitoring, intertidal surveys, sea level rise monitoring, dragonfly mercury sampling, and biodiversity documentation through platforms such as iNaturalist, Anecdata, and Nature's Notebook.
• Acadia Teacher Fellowship Teacher professional development opportunities in partnership with Acadia, University of Maine, and other partners, including Acadia Learning, Maine Physical Sciences Partnership, and AP Summer Teacher Institutes.
• Acadia National Park Science Symposium Annual forum hosted by Schoodic Institute and the National Park Service to learn about science in the region and build collaborations with scientists, educators, students, park staff, and the public, held in-person at Moore Auditorium and online via Zoom.
• Summer Lecture Series Annual lecture series held at Schoodic Institute featuring scientific presentations on conservation and environmental topics, attracting visitors to learn from researchers.
• Sea to Trees Podcast Science communication podcast telling stories of the research happening in and around Acadia National Park, from the rocky shoreline to the evergreen forests to the granite mountaintops. Currently in Season 4 and available on the NPS website and Apple Podcasts.
• Conference Facilities Meeting and retreat spaces at Schoodic Institute campus including Moore Auditorium, available for rent for conferences, education programs, weddings, and special events.
• Lodging and Dining Facilities On-campus lodging and dining services for visitors, researchers, and program participants at the Schoodic Institute campus in Winter Harbor, Maine.
• Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall Public welcome center open daily from 10am to 5pm, providing visitor information and serving as the primary entry point for learning about Schoodic Institute and Acadia National Park. Greeted over 31,000 visitors in the busiest season.
• Bird Tours and Workshops Guided birding tours and educational workshops led by Schoodic Institute's Bird Ecology Program, including the Cadillac Mountain Hawk Watch and Sea Watch.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than triples NPS investment in science, education, and conservation through private philanthropy and grants.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• National Park Service / Acadia National ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Primary public-private partnership managing the largest of 18 NPS Research Learning Centers. Schoodic Institute serves as Acadia National Park's main partner in science and education, with shared goals to promote national parks as premier places for scientific inquiry and improve science literacy.
• Friends of AcadiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComplementary partnership with 25-year record of advocacy, volunteerism, and fundraising. Organizations share common goal of brightest future for Acadia National Park. Collaboration areas include education/youth programs, science, and natural resource protection.
• Wabanaki Nations (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Mi'kmaq)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchoodic Institute supports Wabanaki sovereignty and government-to-government relationships with the U.S. Department of Interior. Supports Wabanaki scientists conducting research, includes Wabanaki perspectives in governance, and participates in First Light initiative.
• University of MainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner cooperating closely with the Institute on multiple programs including teacher professional development, ecology field courses, and collaborative research projects.
• Citizen Science AssociationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional association for citizen science practitioners. Schoodic Institute is an innovative partner in developing citizen science approaches.
• Earthwatch InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational citizen science organization that brings volunteer teams to participate in research projects at Acadia, including intertidal monitoring, bird surveys, and dragonfly mercury sampling.
• Maine Sea GrantsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and outreach program supporting coastal science. Partners with Schoodic Institute on the Coastal Conversations radio program.
• WERU Community RadiosupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity radio station (89.9 Blue Hill, 99.9 Bangor) broadcasting the Coastal Conversations program featuring conversations with Maine coast residents.
• The First CoastsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMaine-based organization partnering on Coastal Conversations radio program production and distribution.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sitka Sound Science Center: Alaska-based nonprofit research and education center focused on coastal ecosystems, marine science, and community programs. Shares Schoodic's mix of citizen science, K-12 education, fellowships, and visitor programming within a coastal/forest setting.
• Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont: Nonprofit residential education center within Great Smoky Mountains National Park offering field-based science programs for students and teachers. Directly comparable to Schoodic as an NPS park-based nonprofit running multi-day residential education, teacher professional development, and citizen science in a national park setting.
• Harvard Forest: Harvard University's ecological research and education forest offering long-term ecological research, fellowships, and public programs. Comparable to Schoodic as a long-established research and education site with a similar fellowship and citizen-science portfolio.
• Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies: Independent nonprofit ecological research institute with strong public engagement and education programs. Comparable to Schoodic as a research-and-education nonprofit focused on ecosystem science, long-term data, and science communication.
• Mountain Lake Biological Station: University of Virginia's biological field station offering residential research and education programs in a natural setting. Provides a comparable research-learning-center model with summer courses, fellowships, and public engagement in a remote natural location.
• Yosemite Conservancy: 501(c)(3) nonprofit partner supporting Yosemite National Park through philanthropy that funds research, education, and stewardship. Closely comparable to Schoodic as an NPS park-partner nonprofit raising private funds to multiply federal investment in park science and education.
• Highlands Biological Station: Nonprofit biological field station in the southern Appalachians offering residential courses, research fellowships, and citizen science programs. Comparable to Schoodic as a nonprofit research-and-education field station combining research, training, and public engagement.
• Rocky Mountain Conservancy: 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting Rocky Mountain National Park through philanthropy, education, and stewardship programs. Directly comparable as a park-partner nonprofit with a research, education, and visitor-services portfolio.
• Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve: Stanford University's biological preserve offering research, education, and docent-led public programs in a natural setting. Comparable to Schoodic as a field-research and education site combining academic research, K-12 engagement, and citizen science.

Broad incumbents

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Large, established nonprofit conservation and recreation organization offering outdoor education, conservation research, and lodging services across the Northeast. Broader comparable as a larger nonprofit combining environmental education, research, and visitor services, but with a multi-region rather than single-park footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@schoodicinstitute
• Facebookfacebook.com/SchoodicInstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/schoodicinst
• Xx.com/schoodicinst

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Schoodic Institute