Museum Description :With the mission to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations with every visit, the Abbe Museum values the importance of education, research, care, and investment in our strategic and operational goals.The Abbe Museum is planning a new exhibit, and we want your ideas.In recent years, the Abbe has grown from a small trailside museum, privately operated within Acadia National Park, to an exciting contemporary museum in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor.Visit the Abbe Musuem's blog to read about recent events at the Abbe, the Abbe Museum in the news, and the .. View More >>
Museum Description :With the mission to inspire new learning about the Wabanaki Nations with every visit, the Abbe Museum values the importance of education, research, care, and investment in our strategic and operational goals.The Abbe Museum is planning a new exhibit, and we want your ideas.In recent years, the Abbe has grown from a small trailside museum, privately operated within Acadia National Park, to an exciting contemporary museum in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor.Visit the Abbe Musuem's blog to read about recent events at the Abbe, the Abbe Museum in the news, and the Wabanaki in the news.At the Abbe's downtown museum, visitors find dynamic and stimulating exhibitions and activities interspersed with spaces for quiet reflection. The history and cultures of Maine's Native people, the Wabanaki, are showcased through changing exhibitions, special events, teacher workshops, archaeology field schools and craft workshops for children and adults.From spring through fall, the Abbe's historic trailside museum at Sieur de Monts Spring continues to offer visitors a step back in time to early 20th century presentations of Native American archaeology in Maine.The Abbe serves as an essential resource for helping teachers and students comply with new state legislation, known as "the Wabanaki Initiative," that requires the teaching of Wabanaki cultures and history in Maine schools. As Donna Loring, former Penobscot Nation Representative to the Maine Legislature and sponsor of the Wabanaki Initiative, has written, "With education will come understanding and with understanding will come respect...." Abbe staff members serve as facilitators and advisors for statewide programs to implement the legislation.To provide insight and ideas regarding the Abbe's strategic direction and operations, the Native Advisory Council was created and met for the first time in April 2012. The Abbe has frequently used Native advisory groups for projects and exhibits, but this is the first standing Council group, appointed by tribal leadership, in Abbe history.
Museum Admission :Age (18+) : $8Below (18) : $4Below (11) : Free
Museum Program :Public Programs at the Abbe Museum : The Abbe Museum offers a wide range of outreach programsfor adults. The staff at the Abbe Museum has expertise in a wide range of topics, from archaeology to contemporary issues and stereotyping. One to two hour lectures, often accompanied by artifacts and objects, can be given for historical societies, service organizations and clubs, and other interested groups. Abbe staff can come to you, or you can bring your group to the museum,and include a tour of the exhibits. Most programs can be tailoredto meet the interest of the group, or region in which the program is being hosted.
Contact : Jen Heindel for more information at 288-3519 or jen@abbemuseum.org.Fees : $50/hour, plus mileage and accommodations if necessarySome Recent Lecture Topics : • 12,000 Years of Maine Native History- power point, with objects and artifacts. Duration: 1 hour• Archaeology of the Sullivan and Sorrento Area- power point with artifacts. Duration: 1 hour• Basic Collections Care Workshop- hands-on, power point with collections. Duration 2-4 hours• Federal Indian Policy and the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act- power point. Duration 1.5 hoursFor information about other adult programming, including workshops, lectures and films, visit our Calendar and discover all that we have to offer.Kid's Programs : The Abbe Museum offers many learning opportunities for children and families throughout the year. Homeschool groups, scout troops, after-school or daycare programs are some ofthe groups who have taken advantage of this opportunity. Groups can book an hour of storytelling and crafts for young kids, or choose from any of our school programs.Programs can also be created based on the interest, age, and skill level of the kids. Contact : Jen Heindel for more information at288-3519 or jen@abbemuseum.org.Fees : $3.00 per child, chaperones are free. Materials costs may be additional.Minimum fee : $50, plus mileage if necessary.Some Recent Kid’s Programs : • Camp Beech Cliff, Art in Nature Series Ash Trees Discussion & Woven Ash Bookmarks Activity• Harbor House, Storytelling & Scavenger Hunt• Blue Hill Public Library, Wabanaki Story & Craft• Dig it Girls! Archaeology Exploration for Girl ScoutsSchool Programs at the Abbe MuseumSchool Programs Public Programs Educator ResourcesInternshipsSchool Programs at the Abbe MuseumAbbe : Education : School ProgramsSchool ProgramsImagine holding a bone tool made over 5,000 years ago, running your hands through the fur of a bear, or examining the finely made decorations on a 3,000 year old clay pottery shard. The Abbe Museum specializes in the use of objects and student guided exploration to create memorable experiences to enhance student learning about the Wabanaki tribes of Maine, past and present. In 2001, the Maine state legislature passed a law requiring all teachers in Maine, kindergarten through graduation, to incorporate Wabanaki Studies into Social Studies content. In 2007, this unfunded mandate was integrated into the social studies Parameters for Essential Instruction (PEI).Abbe Museum educators are well versed in this mandate, and have created a slate of school programs that will meet the PEIs in Social Studies, as well as English Language Arts, Science and Technology, and Visual and Performing Arts.The programs are interactive and fun, objects-based and hands-on. Programs at the Abbe include free time in the exhibits, as well as focused time with one of our educators. Each program is designed to stand alone, or to be taken in succession to build on student knowledge over time. All programs can be adjusted for a variety of age groups, and special programs can be arranged by request.Visiting the Abbe : School programs at the Abbe offer students the opportunity to learn from the exhibits, as well as with objects. School programs are available year-round at the Abbe’s downtown Bar Harbor location, and seasonally at our trailside location in Acadia National Park. Fees : $5 per student• Includes a 1-hour hands-on and/or interactive program and a 1-hour museum tour.• We ask that you provide at least one chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones are free.• We can accommodate up to 50 students at one time; larger groups can be arranged with staggered start times.• We ask that you make reservations for school programs at least two weeks in advance.• There may be additional charges for custom programs.Minimum Fee : $50Abbe In Your ClassroomIf you cannot bring your class to the Abbe Museum, we can come to you. Museum educators can deliver most of our programs in the classroom, and we have developed additional programs that can be presented to larger groups such as school assemblies.Fees : $50 per hour of programming, plus round-trip mileage. There may be additional charges for custom programs.If the program is multi-day, or a full day at more than 2 hours travel time from the Abbe Museum, per diem and overnight lodging may be charged, at rates agreed upon in advance.Mount Desert Island schools: Mileage not applicable.For more information, contact Jen Heindel, Museum Educator at (207)288-3519 or jen@abbemuseum.org.Self-Guided Student Groups• $3 per student grades 6-12, free for students grades K-5, adults with group $4, at least one chaperone for every 5 children required for discounted rate, May-October• During November through April, during regular open hours (Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 am – 4 pm), there is no admission charge, but we ask that you have at least one chaperone for every 5 children << View Less