Partners in Island Education

10/06/2026

Our young clowns had a blast learning new skills, challenging themselves, and building their confidence! From balancing and lyra to tight wire and more, the week was filled with laughter, fun, and plenty of circus magic with Circus Splendiferous.

We just love watching our campers step outside of their comfort zones and take on such a unique opportunity. There was so much energy and enthusiasm surrounding this camp from start to finish!

10/02/2026

09/24/2026

Our youngest artists had a wonderful time at PIE’s Art Camp this summer! Designed for ages 5–7, campers spent the week getting creative, trying out different art materials and techniques, and letting their imaginations run wild.

From colorful creations to plenty of messy, hands-on fun, it was a great week of exploring, creating, and celebrating each camper’s unique artistic style!

09/22/2026

Our young paleontologists had a ROAR-some time at Dino Camp! Over the course of a week, campers ages 5–7 explored the fascinating world of dinosaurs through hands-on activities, crafts, games, experiments, and plenty of dinosaur fun.

From learning about different dinosaurs and how they lived to creating their own prehistoric projects, our campers got to dig into the world of paleontology and let their imaginations run wild!

09/17/2026

PIE’s Dance & Theater Camp was a grand time! Campers spent half of the week exploring jazz, ballet, and hip-hop, and the other half diving into theater with Vinalhaven School’s new theater teacher, AnnMarie Lowerie. It was a wonderful week filled with movement, performance, and lots of fun!

09/15/2026

Every year the summer seems to go by so quickly. Here we are in the last few days of true summer reminiscing on the last few months. This summer we were once again serenaded by the amazing talents of the Cassatt Quartet with this year's music celebrating all that is uniquely American. They started off the night showcasing Aaron Copland's Hoedown from Rodeo, a lively Western piece that started the night off with some pep. Then we enjoyed a beautiful folk farewell that was both heartwarming and poignant. Next we were treated to well-loved classic folk songs like Oh My Darlin’ Clementine.The night was ended with a few classical pieces by the whole quartet . We are so thankful for the Cassatt Quartet and Seal Bay Festival for donating their time and talents for the good of PIE!

09/13/2026

Only a couple of weeks left for the next deadline!

09/11/2026

This week we have been featuring our new board members. Next up is our second new board member, Delvinee Dillingham.

Many of you may already know Delvinee from Camden National Bank, but you may also recognize her from our Human Slot Machine game on the 4th (yes, she was volunteering and also made pies!), or from our booth at the flea market.

Delvinee moved to Vinalhaven in January 2026 from Alaska. Her family moved to Alaska in 2006 and while there she worked with many of the rural villages as a Regional Director for a medevac company. Delvinee has spent many a summer visiting Vinalhaven, where her mom has lived for over 20 years. Delvinee knew that if she ever left Alaska, it would be to move to Vinalhaven. Delvinee brings to the table an understanding or rural community life, substance living, and the love of the water. Her professional experience with budgets, grant writing, and community involvement will enhance and add to what the Vinalhaven community offers.

She brings with her a wonderful mix of rural community experience, knowledge of subsistence living, a deep love of the water, and plenty of professional skills—including budgets, grant writing, and community involvement. All things that will be incredibly useful to PIE!

09/10/2026

With the start of the new school year it is also a great time to introduce our new board members. First up is Mary Lou Upton.

Mary Lou was born in Bangor, Maine and grew up in Augusta. She graduated from Wheelock College in Boston with a degree in Elementary Education and a masters degree in Creative Arts from Lesley University. She came to Vinalhaven on the schooner Mary Day in the summer of 1978 as a galley girl and met her husband. They ran a fish buying mothership together out in Alaska for two years before returning to Maine to start their family. They built a house in Old Harbor and for the past 43 years have enjoyed summers with their two kids and now their grandchildren.

Mary Lou taught elementary school for 32 years in Camden, ME, and Bainbridge Is, WA where they live now. As a second and third grade teacher her students performed many plays for the school to enhance the curriculum. She retired in 2017 and volunteers in the communities where she lives. She has been on the Programs committee for a number of years and now is on the Development committee. She finds these committees deeply satisfying and loves the energy of the committee members. She still enjoys being on the water, kayaking, sailing, as well as biking, tennis, and skiing.