ANTHONY: ACADIA IS ONE OF THIS COUNTRY’S MOST POPULAR NATIONAL PARKS, BUT THE SECTION OF THE PARK ON THE SCHOODIC PENINSULA IS OFTEN GIVEN A PASS BY VISITORS.
AN HOURS DRIVE FROM BAR HARBOR, THE SCHOODIC CAN SEEM LIKE A WILD, DISTANT PLACE WITH NO HOTELS OR BUSTLING TOURIST ORIENTED TALENTS.
NOW COMES SCHOODIC WOODS.
>> THE CAMPGROUND WAS BUILT IN 2015 THROUGH THE FUNDING OF AN IN ANONYMOUS DONOR, WHO WANTED TO CREATE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO SPEND MORE THAN JUST A DAY TRIP ON SCHOODIC.
ANTHONY: SCHOODIC WOODS HAS 100 CAMPSITES AND IS TIED INTO A NETWORK OF ABOUT EIGHT AND A HALF MILES OF BIKE TRAILS.
>> THIS PLACE IS A HIDDEN GEM.
ANTHONY: MUCH AS TONY LOMBARDO OF NEW JERSEY WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THIS GEM SECRET, HE CAN’T HELP BUT GROWING ABOUT HIS REMOTE 10 SITE IN THE WOODS.
>> IT IS THE HIGHEST SITE IN THE CAMPGROUND.
IT OVERLOOKS MOUNT DESERT ISLAND AND FRENCHMAN’S BAY AND HIS BEAUTIFUL.
> ANTHONY: THE SCHOODIC IS A HOME FOR RESEARCH.
>> AS WELL AS RECREATION IT IS A RESEARCHER’S PARADISE.
ANTHONY: HANNAH WEBER IS WITH THE SCHOODIC INSTITUTE, A NONPROFIT RESEARCH CENTER THAT HAS PARTNERED WITH ACADIA NATIONAL PARK.
TODAY WEBER AND HER TEAM ARE MEASURING ROCK WEED GROWTH IN THE INTERTIDAL ZONE.
>> THIS PART OF THE PENINSULA IS RELATIVELY PRISTINE BECAUSE FROM THE 30’S UNTIL RECENTLY, IT HAS BEEN UNTOUCHED.
ANTHONY: YOU CAN THANK THE U.S.
NAVY FOR THAT.
UNTIL RECENTLY THERE WAS A RADAR BASE ON THE PENINSULA.
THE SCHOODIC INSTITUTE MOVED IN WHEN THE NAVY SHIPPED OUT.
>> WE HAVE WORKED WITH GLAMOROUS, FISHERMEN, LOBSTERMEN, FORRESTER’S.
ANTHONY: DON KENT TELLS US CITIZEN SCIENCE IS AT THE HEART OF THE NONPROFIT’S MISSION.
STUDENT GROUPS AND CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.
>> AMAZING, THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.
YOU FEEL GOOD AT THE END OF THE DAY, SO IT IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE.
ANTHONY: SOME STUDENTS MAY BE A LITTLE TOO BUSY FOR CITIZEN SCIENCE.
>> I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I WAS FIVE.
ANTHONY: THE MOSERS AGES 13 AND 16 ARE THE KNOTTY BOYZ, THE ONLY KIDS AROUND WHO OWN THEIR OWN LOBSTER BOAT.
>> WE HAVE A FOUR YOUR PAYMENT AND WE HAVE PAID TWO OF THE YEARS.
ANTHONY: SIX GENERATION FISHERMAN’S, THE BOYS OWN 250 TRAPS.
COME FALL, MOM STILL MAKES THEM GO BACK TO SCHOOL, EVEN IF THE MATH DOES NOT ADD UP.
>> PROBABLY THIS YEAR WE WILL GROSS MORE THAN OUR TEACHERS WELL PROBABLY.
BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF PAYMENTS.
>> INSURANCE, THE BOAT.
>> TAXES.
>> BUOYS, ROPE.
ANTHONY: IT IS A WAY OF LIFE HOLDING STRONG ON THE SCHOODIC.
THE DOWN EAST PENINSULA THAT TIME AND TOURIST TRAFFIC SEEMED TO HAVE PASSED BY.
THEIR LOSS.
>> EVERYBODY THAT COMES HERE LOVES IT.
YOU DON’T HAVE THE BIG ROUTES, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY TRAFFIC TO BOTHER WITH.
>> THE WOMEN OVER THERE SAID TO ME THEY DO TAI CHI HERE.
THEY TOLD ME, MAKE SURE YOU DOWNPLAY SCHOODIC.
[LAUGHTER] TELL THEM IT IS SPECIAL, BUT NOT TOO SPECIAL.
ANTHONY: JOE YOUNG SEES IT TIME AND AGAIN AT HIS REMOTE DOCKSIDE FOOD JACK.
DAYTRIPPERS FROM MOUNT DESERT COMING TO THE SCHOODIC SEEKING A GREAT -- A BREAK FROM WHAT MIGHT BE DETERMINED VACATION RELATED STRESS DISORDER.
>> PEOPLE COME HERE FROM BAR HARBOR BECAUSE THE TRAFFIC IS GRIDLOCKED IN THE SUMMER.
THEY COME HERE AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR ON OUR VACATION.
SHAYNA: WHILE THERE ARE NO HOTELS ON THE SCHOODIC PENINSULA, THERE ARE PLENTY OF INNS AND B&B IS TO ENJOY.
ANTHONY: LOTS OF FERRIES FROM BAR HARBOR.
VERY LAID-BACK AND PEACEFUL.
FES CHRONICLE FOR TONIGHT.
SHAY