It's mid June, and two students, Tara Kennedy and Courtney Maloney, and I are all enjoying a week in Steuben, Maine for a short course in algae. We're learning how to sample, permanently mount slides, and identify freshwater algae. The course is held at the lovely Eagle Hill Humboldt Institute in Maine, and our instructor is Dr. Jeff Johansen from John Carroll University in Ohio. We've conducted multiple field trips to Acadia National Park and the Schoodic Peninsula, fantasitic views and interesting "bugs" to look at back in the lab. It's been an adventure! And the best part, funded through a grant! The goal is to help students learn techniques to develop their own independent research projects. But of course, we've had some fun too!