Grand Opening Celebrations at River Bend Farm

On April 22 and April 24, The Ecology School hosted two small gatherings to celebrate the grand opening of our new home at River Bend Farm!

After six years of visioning, planning, and construction (and 18+ years of dreaming!) the Dormitory and Poland Spring Education and Dining Commons—built to the rigorous specifications of the Living Building Challenge—are complete. Our campus, stretching over a historic 105-acre farm with views of the Saco River, is expected to be the first location in Maine, and among only 23 in the United States, to achieve the full International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Certification (LBC), the most comprehensive green building certification in the world.

“Today, The Ecology School campus takes its first inhale as a living, breathing example of what a sustainable future can look like. It is my greatest hope that children, adults, school leaders, business leaders, government leaders—everyone—will visit this campus and realize that living green is not only beautiful and elegant, but it’s fun and rewarding. What better time than Earth Day to join the cause for making our planet a safer home for a broad diversity of life.” - Drew Dumsch, Co-Founder, President & CEO of The Ecology School

The Ecology School is grateful to to the donors, friends, family, business partners, and community members who have come together to make this pioneering project a reality. Thank you!

Flip the Switch to a Carbon Neutral Future on Earth Day | April 22, 2021

On Earth Day, The Ecology School welcomed a small group of community partners to celebrate River Bend Farm as a model of a carbon neutral community.

A view from the Daniel E. Offutt III Dining Hall looking towards the Saco River.

Rhiannon Hampson, District Representative for Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (center), chats with two members of The Ecology School’s Board of Directors before the event.

The Ecology School Board member Cathy Goodwin (left) speaks with Alex Pelczar, State Office Representative for Senator Susan Collins, (right) before the event.

Drew Dusmch (right) greets Hannah Chamberlain from Maine Farmland Trust (left).

Drew Dumsch, The Ecology School’s co-founder, President & CEO, speaks during the event.

Since the solar panels were already officially on, Drew had guests mimic flipping a switch with their arms.

Attendees were given small tours of the new campus after the event.

A behind-the-scenes look at the solar panel array.

512 solar panels are placed on a hill beside the Dining Commons. The remaining 200 solar panels are on the Dining Commons roof.

The Ecology School’s Operations Manager, Rich O’Brien (right), shows off the combustion free kitchen to Board Member Abby Humphrey-Coit.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | April 24, 2021

In celebration of River Bend Farm’s grand opening, a private ceremony was held for donors and key stakeholders.

Video of Ribbon Cutting

Jeff Zachau (left) and Adam Routhier (right) chat with guests before the event. Zachau Construction is the construction manager for the project—an incredible team!

The Ecology School’s Director of Educational Partnerships, Meg Edstrom Jones, with her sons.

A ribbon cutting wouldn’t be complete without oversized scissors!

Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair, Corey Hascall, greets Speaker Ryan Fecteau.

An event for all ages! Board Member Abby Humphrey-Coit and her daughter join in the festivites.

Mary Martin, Board Chair of The Ecology School’s Board of Directors

Alex Grindle, The Ecology School’s Director of Prgorams

Corey Hascall, Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair

Tom Merrill, Board Member and Capital Campaign Co-Chair, is also the former owner of River Bend Farm.

Drew and Tom bump elbows.

Drew started off his speech with a rendition of Johnny Nash’s “I Can See Clearly Now.”

A welcomed interruption by two of The Ecology School’s Educators—Marvin Moose and Lucinda Lobster.

The Honorable Ryan Fecteau, Speaker, Maine House of Representatives who was a former student at The Ecology School!

The ribbon has been cut! From left to right: Amanda Beal (Commissioner of Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry), Kathryn Pratt (LL Bean), Mary Martin (The Ecology School Board Chair), Heather Printup (Poland Spring), Ryan Fecteau (Speaker, Maine House of Representatives), Drew Dumsch (The Ecology School), and Linda Boudreau (Board of Directors, Building Committee Chair)