Delta Institute of Natural History
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The Delta Institute of Natural History (DINH) is a school for small group instruction on a diversity of natural history topics, with focus on plant taxonomy and primitive technologies. The school was founded by Thomas Vining, owner of V.F. Thomas Company (a natural and cultural history book store). It is now owned and managed by Arthur Haines and will continue to operate with many of the same ideals originally set forth by the founder. Some of those ideals are discussed below under "Philosphy" and "Purpose". To summarize those paragraphs, the intent of the DINH is to offer highly credentialed instruction in an approachable and organized manner in a setting that recognizes the importance of our surrounding landscape. Many different organizations use the premises for instructions and meetings, including the New England Wild Flower Society and Maine Primitive Skills School, who offer joint lectures, workshops, and field trips with the DINH. Programs offered by other organizations will be run with those organization's requirements for instructor credentials, goals for student growth, and ideals for professional development/community improvement. |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS | The Delta Institute is committed to operating in an environmentally conscientious manner. Similar to many other ecosensitive home owners, the directors (past and present) of the Delta Institute have attempted to reduce their impact to the landscape within the parameters of a pre-existing home that was designed and built by another party. They take these actions because they believe this is how people ought to live—with recognition that our life style practices have consequences to other organisms (i.e., not as an advertising ploy). They have also come to realize that many actions can be taken with little or no adjustments to our current modes of living (i.e., without diminishing our enjoyment of life). The current owners of the institute hope that this announcement might beneficially influence other people to make what changes they can (i.e., this message is not intended to criticize other life styles or sound self-righteous). Click here for a list of ecofriendly items practiced by the Delta Institute. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
Delta Institute of Natural History 219 Dead River Road Bowdoin, ME 04287
email:
phone: 207-837-4920 |
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PHILOSOPHY |
Our enjoyment in the outdoors is enhanced when we ●
understand what is around us, both the living and the non-living, both
the near and the sometimes very far away, plus the interactions among these
diverse entities, and |
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PURPOSE |
To provide courses, trips, and presentations
covering a variety of natural history topics and outdoor skills that are: |
| LAND | The property includes 29 acres in the town of Bowdoin, (located in midcoast Maine), with a variety of natural communities, including mixed evergreen-deciduous forests, forested and shrub swamps, a low-order tannic stream, and an open wet-mesic field. Gardens on the property comprise a "living collection" and will be developed to have a strong emphasis on native and/or useful plants (e.g., food, medicine, fiber). |
| BUILDINGS | There are two buildings on the property. The educational building houses a lecture/lab area, herbarium, library, and a bookstore. The house contains the office and is the setting for some overnight accommodations and informal gatherings. |
| ACCOMMODATIONS | A 7-room house on the property can accommodate overnight guests (one double-occupancy room with twin beds), and tenting is available. Course participants that have made prior arrangements may have kitchen privileges and use of the bathroom's tub/shower. An anonymous donation (one donation envelope for everyone) for overnight accommodations is appreciated but not required. Other housing is available in the area. |
| LECTURE/LAB AREA | The lecture/lab area is equipped with 5 boom-arm dissecting scopes, a digital projector, and a traditional slide projector. A large white board enables instructors to illustrate their points, and a corkboard provides space for more illustrative material. The area is well lighted, and participants appreciate the padded chairs. |
| HERBARIUM | The herbarium focuses on New England tracheophytes and houses approximately 15,000 specimens. It is recognized (with acronym DINH) by Index Herbariorum, a joint project of the International Association for Plant Taxonomy and The New York Botanical Garden. The index is a detailed directory of over 3000 public herbaria of the world and the almost 10,000 staff members associated with them. Herbarium work sessions are held approximately once a month starting at 6:30 pm on an evening during the week. This is an opportunity to learn the techniques of herbarium curation and to get together with others who enjoy plants. During the course of the monthly work parties, you will learn the principles of collecting, pressing, mounting, labeling, and filing plants that will be available for future study by a wide variety of researchers. At the end of each session, volunteers are treated to local food (often deserts) or a mini-workshop on plant identification (led by Arthur Haines). If you are interested in participating in the herbarium work sessions or would like to visit the herbarium for research, call or email for further information. |
| DIRECTIONS | From Interstate 295 (formerly called 95), take exit 43 (Richmond exit, formerly exit 26). Go west on Route 197 (turn left at end of exit ramp for northbound travel; turn right at end of exit ramp for southbound travel), away from Richmond Village, and drive approximately one mile to the intersection of Route 201 at a blinking red light. Drive straight through the intersection (i.e., stay on Route 197 west) and travel another mile. At this point, Route 197 makes a broad, sweeping curve to the right. Do not follow Route 197, rather continue driving straight (by making a left hand turn part way through that curve on Route 197) onto Dead River Road. Drive approximately 3 miles to a gravel driveway on the left (219 Dead River Road), the last driveway on the left prior to the Academy Road (which is about 0.2 miles beyond on the right). If you get lost, please call 207-837-4920 and I will help you navigate your way to the institute. Click here for a map. |
| COURSE and EVENT SCHEDULE | Courses, workshops, and field trips are added throughout the year so be sure to check the link below from time to time. For descriptions and dates of courses (including past events that have been offered at the Delta Institute of Natural History) please click here. |
| COURSE REGISTRATION and PAYMENT | To register for a course, note who the course
is offered in conjunction with and follow the link (or use the telephone
number provided) to register with that program's registration office.
For programs offered exclusively by the Delta Institute of Natural History,
call 207-837-4920 or email
 to
receive directions on how to register. |