Imagine getting a guided tour of the Downeast Institute on Great Wass Island—home to the easternmost marine research laboratory in the United States. Come discover the innovative research, hands-on education, and industry-driven solutions that define the work being done by the Institute. We’ll explore their state-of-the-art shellfish hatchery, where they produce bivalve species such as soft-shell clams, blue mussels, eastern oysters, and surf clams.

From there, we will visit their education center and marine field station to learn how they are inspiring and training the next generation of marine scientists and ocean stewards. The tour concludes with a stop at their lobster hatchery, where we’ll see juvenile lobsters up close and learn how they are raised for critical research efforts.

Next, we’ll take a short drive to the nearby Three Islands Oyster farm, a working aquaculture operation affiliated with the Downeast Institute. Here, we’ll hear the story behind the farm, what makes it unique, and what it takes to grow a premium oyster in the cold, clean waters of Downeast Maine. We’ll wrap up with a live oyster shucking demonstration by Kyle, followed by an optional tasting. Fresh oysters will also be available for purchase to take home and enjoy. 

Instructor: Kyle Pepperman is the Executive Director of the Downeast Institute, a nonprofit marine research and education organization based on Great Wass Island in Beals, Maine. A lifelong advocate for Maine’s working waterfronts, he leads efforts to advance applied marine research, expand aquaculture innovation, and strengthen education and workforce development programs that connect people to the ocean. Under his leadership, the Institute supports shellfish growers across the Northeast through hatchery production and collaborative research while inspiring students and community members to engage with marine science. Pepperman is committed to ensuring that coastal communities remain resilient and economically vibrant by bridging science, industry, and education in service of the blue economy.

Class Information: This class will be held at Downeast Institute, 39 Wildflower Lane, Beals, Maine 04611, and Three Islands Oyster Farm.  It will be in person only with the presenter in-person. There are two short flights of stairs at the Downeast Institute and one at the oyster farm.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is Free to SSC members who have paid the $25.00 membership for our 2026-2027 term (6/1/26 to 5/31/27). This is also available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members for $5.00. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $10.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Sovereignty means the power to exercise lawful authority over lands, resources, and people. In the United States, sovereignty is exercised through a mix of national, state, county, municipal, and often overlooked, tribal governments. Join Jim Oberly as he helps us examine the history and current status of Native American sovereignty over five classes.

The classes are as follows:

Class #1—After the Seven Years War: King George III and treaty-making as the basis for tribal sovereignty

Class #2—Chief Justice Marshall and the 19th century constitutional place of “domestic dependent nations“

Class #3—The Indian New Deal of the 1930s and the Re-Assertion of Tribal Sovereignty

Class #4—Rectifying Past Encroachment on Tribal Sovereignty: from the Indian Claims Act of 1946 to The Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement of 1980

Class #5—Contested Tribal Sovereignty in the 21st century: casinos, cannabis, and control

Instructor: Jim Oberly had a joint appointment in the History Department and Native American Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and taught courses on tribal sovereignty over his career. He also served as an expert witness in state and federal court cases over disputed matters of tribal sovereignty, involving the Stockbridge-Munsee Community of Mohican Indians, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, the Lake Superior Chippewas of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom and this class will be recorded. The presenter will be in person. No class on September 23rd due to a prior commitment for the instructor.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                 IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

At 63, Jill Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death and battling cancer. What began as a voyage around the world became far more than a trip. In this lecture, Jill shares the story behind her memoir Packets of Hope, inviting participants to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into strength and global impact. Jill demonstrates how one person’s courage can create ripples that span continents. Participants are encouraged to read her memoir, available free at https://www.packetsofhope.com/, before the presentation.

Presenter: Jill Siegal Chalsty has devoted her life to the transformative power of education. As founder of Overcoming Obstacles, the nonprofit she launched in 1992, Jill pioneered life skills instruction that has now reached more than 180 million students worldwide. What began as a mission to help young people navigate life’s challenges has evolved into a global movement for youth empowerment. Following the profound loss of her husband and her own battles with cancer, Jill embarked on a voyage of healing and reflection. That journey inspired her memoir, Packets of Hope, an exploration of resilience, love, and finding meaning through service. She's made her book available for free at packetsofhope.com.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom and this class will be recorded. The instructor will teach this remotely on Zoom.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                  IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $15.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Art - a diverse range of human activities involving creative imagination to express technical proficiency, beauty, or emotional power.

In this course, Dr. Gerard NeCastro will take us on a journey where we will attempt to gain a deeper appreciation for visual art. To do this we will move from the elements of art (color, form, line, etc.) and the conventions (composition, spatial scale, illumination, etc.) to the more complex matters of history, biography, and tradition, including mythology, patronage, religion, social change, and art movements. Through a combination of lecture and discussion, Dr. NeCastro will help us to build confidence about "reading" art while experiencing some of the world's greatest art.

Instructor: Dr. Gerard NeCastro taught Introduction to Humanities, which was about 50% art history and appreciation, for twenty-five years at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M). He also taught the two-semester Art History survey for six years at UM@M. Dr. NeCastro is a popular presenter who has taught a number of courses for SSC over the years.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom and this class will be recorded. The presenter will use a combination of in person and remote presentations. No class on October 12th – Indigenous Peoples Day.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                 IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Evolution is defined as the gradual, continuous process of change, growth, or development, particularly how species adapt and change over generations through mechanisms like natural selection.

Join us for a discussion on this topic with Dr. Mark Brown who, with his background in entomology, will use insects to provide examples. We will see amazing examples of adaptations between insects and the plants they feed on as well as the plants they pollinate, insect sociality, and how insects communicate with each other. Did you know that there is a beetle that feeds on ants in their nest by looking and smelling like the ant? Were you aware that there is a parasitic wasp that finds its host by smelling a chemical combined from the host insect saliva and the plant sap, and another parasitic wasp that feels the vibration of a beetle larva deep inside a tree trunk? How about an orchid in which the flower resembles and smells like a female bee and is pollinated when the male bee mates with the flower? There is a chemical war between plants and insects that eat them with plants making chemicals to repel insects and insects adapting to overcome those defenses.

Finally, Dr. Brown will offer examples of how far evolution can go to ensure the survival of insects and other organisms that exist with them.

Instructor: Dr. Mark Brown has a Master's Degree in Ecology, a Ph.D. in Entomology, and a 30-year career of research on insect ecology. He has taught several classes on entomology and evolution for the Sunrise Senior College.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom and this class will be recorded. The presenter will be in person.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                 IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Whether you are a crafty-type person or not, crafting your own ornaments and gifts can be fun to do - and it’s easy!  Hand-crafted items have more meaning because they were made by you and are great gifts for family and friends. Whether they’re glittery, colorful or simple scenes, each one is unique and reflects the joy with which they are made.  It is your chance to repurpose ornaments or decorations from wreaths, to use lace, buttons, ribbon, shells, dried flowers, pinecones, potpourri, glitter, paint, old man’s beard and/or lichen from trees, wooden forms, sticks and/or beads by working with scissors, paint brushes and glue. There is a comradery that develops as Ideas are shared between students and everyone helps each other. Give it a try, have fun – you’ll be surprised what you can do!  

Instructor:  Suzie O'Clair has been making different crafting ornaments and gifts for presents for family and friends for years.  She's done this while experimenting with different mediums – glass, plastic, felt and wood – using ribbons, glitter, acrylic paint, natural items such as pinecones and moss, and various other things found around her home.

Class Information:  This is an in-person only class - held in the Undercroft of St. Aidan’s Church, 36 Dublin Street, Machias, ME.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                    IMPORTANT:  See Below

This is a fee-based class and for this class only, Sunrise Senior College (SSC) will be purchasing the materials for all the students.  This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee. MSCN and Non-Members will be charged an additional fee for supplies.

Important:  If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class. 

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, the materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

The Trump Presidency and the 2026 Midterm Congressional Elections: Will the Democratic Party take control of both the House and the Senate?

The President's party tends to lose seats in congressional midterm elections thus, if history is any guide, the Democrats will gain seats in this year's fall elections. However, unpopular presidents tend to lose comparatively more seats and voter approval of President Trump's performance in office is, as of this writing, near the low point of his presidency. As a result, the Democrats are encouraged and claim that they will win enough seats in November to take control of both the House and Senate. Come join Dr. Robert Arseneau as he brings his objective analysis to what is happening today in the world of politics in 2 sessions before the mid-term elections and 1 follow-up after the elections.

Lecture 1 will explore how the Trump administration's handling of key issues -- including immigration, the economy, income inequality and "affordability," and the wars in Ukraine and Iran -- have affected voter approval of the President's performance in office.

Lecture 2 will cover additional likely determinants of this year's congressional elections including the reapportionment of House districts, voter turnout, and the role of money and media coverage. Special attention will be given to this year's U.S. Senate contest in Maine between Republican incumbent Susan Collins and her likely Democratic challenger Graham Platner. Additional attention will be given to the open House race in Maine's Second Congressional district between former Republican Governor Paul LePage and a yet to be determined Democrat.

Lecture 3 will present a post-election overview of the outcome of the House and Senate elections and then discuss the implications of the outcome for the relationship between the Trump Administration and the Congress moving forward.

Instructor: Robert B. Arseneau has a Ph.D. in Political Science from U.C. Berkeley, and has taught courses in American government at U.C. Davis, U.C. Berkeley, and Dartmouth College.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom and this class will be recorded. The presenter will use a combination of in person and remote presentations.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, when questioned about your membership make sure you select the response that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Sunrise Senior College wishes to thank you for your tax-exempt donation.  Your generosity enables us to continue providing the programs and activities that are so vital to our community.  In accordance with IRS regulations, we acknowledge that no goods or services were received in exchange for this gift.  Please save this email for your tax records.  

Thank you.

Merideth Harris

Treasurer, Sunrise Senior College