Community Programs & Partnerships
River Bend Farm is a year-round home for growing partnership, offering community collaborators a destination to convene for meetings, year-round research, and programming. Current partners and new relationships build a wide base of support, teach innovative solutions to environmental problems along with an appreciation of Maine’s natural beauty.
Current partnerships include:
ELLMS (Environmental Living and Learning for Maine Students) - A collaborative initiative between five residential environmental education organizations (The Ecology School, Chewonki, Bryant Pond 4-H Camp, Tanglewood 4-H Center, and Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park) with a shared goal to provide every Maine child with a residential environmental learning center experience.
Ecology of Architecture Collaborative - Consists of four leading Maine sustainable architecture firms (Kaplan Thompson, Scott Simons, Briburn, and Richardson & Associates), who collaborate to share costs and innovating on our Living Building Challenge residential dormitory and dining commons.
Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) - Financed the purchase of River Bend Farm and has served as an important business plan advisor and provided project support through its Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems program.
Biodiversity, Ecology, and Sustainable Agriculture Advisory Group - Landscape ecologist Tom Wessels, The Ecology School Educator Alumni Andy Wood, Forest Management Consultant Harold Burrnett, UNE Professors, and Local & Organic Farmers help to oversee the design and implementation of our agroecology farm.
University of New England - Ongoing field ecology research, aided by student participation and done was on-site course work, includes planting 100 American Chestnut trees, tagging monarch butterflies, planting a native tree nursery, and more.
Maine Farmland Trust - Maine Farmland Trust holds the conservation easement on 96 acres of the River Bend Farm property.
Maine Old Cemetery Association - A small family cemetery is located on the property and will be maintained, restored, and researched with help from this partner.
Interested in Partnering?
Please contact Meg Edstrom Jones, Director of Educational Partnerships, at (207) 283-9951 or meg@theecologyschool.org.
Book Your Next Event at River Bend Farm!
A group's experience at River Bend Farm is completely customizable, created according to your needs. Our expert educational and programming guides are available to partner with your group to create a one-of-a-kind experience or we are happy to provide the idyllic setting for your prearranged program.
Please note River Bend Farm is available for multi-day rental only and we kindly require that all groups utilize our on-site lodging and food service to respect the valued mission of our organization.
For information or details regarding scheduling, lodging, food, the site, and more, please connect with Alex Grindle, our Director of Programs, using the form below.
Learn more & curate a custom experience for your organization.
For information or details regarding scheduling, lodging, food, the site, and more, please connect with Alex Grindle, our Director of Programs.