The Naturalist’s Notebook shop in Seal Harbor is under new ownership! Local entrepreneur and naturalist Michael Boland purchased The Naturalist’s Notebook shop at the start of the 2021 season. Michael is the proprietor or co-proprietor of several Island-favorite dining establishments, including Havana, Chocolatte, Copita, The Chart Room, and Islesford Dock Restaurant. Craig Neff, co-creator of the Naturalist’s Notebook, remains an essential part of the team from afar, and curates the Naturalist’s Notebook photo-sharing platform on Facebook. With Craig’s guidance, Jordan Chalfant has taken over management of the shop. After graduating from College of the Atlantic in 2012, Jordan worked for Pammie and Craig 2014-16, in between field work on Maine islands where she monitored breeding seabird populations and migrating songbirds and conducted botanical inventories with Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Maine Natural History Observatory. Jordan has also worked as a guide in Acadia National Park. She is an avid gardener with a mild dahlia obsession. Her paintings and other artwork have been featured by the Wendell Gilley Museum, Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Artemis Gallery, Island Arts Association, and the Dorr Museum of Natural History. Jordan is currently working on a field guide to seaweeds of Maine with Maine Natural History Observatory. Years of working as a field biologist and illustrator provide the perfect backdrop to curating the Naturalist’s Notebook. Jordan loves chatting with Notebook visitors who bring nature mysteries and book discoveries.

Since its inception, the Naturalist’s Notebook has been ever evolving, with fresh, creative, relevant exhibits added every year. Michael and Jordan are excited to continue Pammie and Craig’s work. New, upcoming displays include: Sugar Kelp, Cyanotypes by Anna Atkins, Book Nooks, Saturn’s Rings… and more! Check our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and our blog for updates!