Nature Program: Nocturnal Elver (Eel) Walk

Photo credit: The Elversphere 

Calling all eel lovers and the eel-curious! Come learn about the great migrations of the mysterious and awe-inspiring American eel as they arrive in the Camden harbor after being born in the Sargasso Sea over 1,000 miles away. This event is timed with the nocturnal high tide, to facilitate the best elver (young eel)-viewing experience. 

Participants will have the opportunity to see elvers from multiple angles within the park/falls area, guided by local eel enthusiasts Michele Christle, Eli Kao, and Alison McKellar. We’ll talk about the life cycle of the American eel, eel biology, eel stories, the elver fishery, conservation, the long history of Wabanaki-eel relations, what eels have taught us about ourselves, and more.

This event will be documented (film and photography) as part of The Elversphere documentary. If you do not want to be filmed, please note this when you register.

All ages welcome. 

Registration: This event is currently FULL.  Email Rosie (Rosieh@coastalmountains.org) with any questions. 

Where to meet: We’ll gather here at the Camden Amphitheater before making our way down to the Camden Harbor Park/ Megunticook Falls area.  

Bring/wear: Flashlights, grippy shoes, and walking sticks if you use them. Binoculars optional. 

Accessibility: Pathways through Camden Harbor Park are paved and gently sloped.  That said, there will be opportunities for participants to get up close to elvers on rougher, rocky terrain. Accessing the rough, rocky terrain will be optional. The walk itself will be under a quarter mile.

About the Guides:

Michele Christle is a writer and communications professional whose work explores culture, ecology, history, and place. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Kenyon Review, Down East, and Cultural Survival Quarterly, and she has worked with organizations such as Maine Sea Grant, Maine Audubon, and StoryCorps. She is currently working on a longform writing and documentary project (with filmmaker Eli Kao!) about eels.

Eli Kao is a documentary filmmaker with over two decades of experience, including work with National Geographic Channel and Discovery Networks in Asia. His film Hualien Earthquake Decoded won a 2019 Asian Academy Creative Award, and he has received support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the LEF Foundation. He is currently working on a documentary project (with writer Michele Christle!) about eels.

Alison McKellar is a writer, mother, and river restoration advocate who has served nine years on the Camden Select Board. A dedicated nature photographer and video maker, Alison has spent hundreds if not thousands of hours over nearly a decade documenting and observing the migration and struggles of American eels and other migratory fish at the outlet of the Megunticook River in Camden Harbor.