ACONS Webinars

A Celebration of Nantucket Sound (ACONS) Webinar Series

ACONS is an educational webinar series designed to celebrate Nantucket Sound’s exceptional environment, robust history, and cultural importance to the Cape and Islands. These webinars provide free, accessible, and fun learning opportunities for individuals and families in the safety of their own homes through Zoom. Since launching this series in 2020, we have presented over 35 webinars and have welcomed over 6,500 registrants.

Each webinar features a renowned expert in their field, presenting on one of the Sound’s unique values – and answering your questions in a live Q&A session to follow.

See what viewers are saying about our ACONS webinar series below.

Testimonials

Upcoming Webinars

From Cranberries to Coastal Connections

July 30, 2026

6:00 pm

Guest speaker Karen Beattie (Nantucket Conservation Foundation) shares the remarkable transformation of the Windswept Bog on Nantucket. Once used for cranberry farming, this landscape is now being carefully restored into a thriving natural wetland—bringing back native plants, creating habitat for wildlife, and improving water quality. Karen will take us behind the scenes of this large-scale restoration effort, from the science and planning to the exciting early results. We will learn how projects like this not only benefit local ecosystems, but also strengthen coastal resilience and help protect the waters connected to Nantucket Harbor and Nantucket Sound.

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Ospreys on Cape Cod & the Islands

September 17, 2026

6:00 pm

Drawing from his New York Times bestselling book Return of the Osprey (now celebrating its 25th year) and decades of observing and writing about the natural world, David Gessner will share the fascinating story of the osprey’s decline, recovery, and enduring connection to Cape Cod, the Islands, & Nantucket Sound. David will explore what makes these birds of prey so compelling and what their return tells us about the health and resilience of our coastal ecosystems.

“Return of the Osprey can…claim a place among the classics of American nature writing” — The Boston Globe
“A master essayist” – Booklist
“A naturalist’s jewel” — Publisher’s Weekly

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Winter Birds of Nantucket Sound

November 12, 2026

6:00 pm

Naturalist and educator John Hanlon will explore the remarkable winter bird species that migrate each year to Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound. From colorful waterfowl and diving ducks to loons, grebes, & other coastal birds, the Cape becomes a seasonal refuge for wildlife. Winter on the Cape is like Florida for them! John’s presentation will introduce us to the birds that transform our shores and waters during the colder months, while also offering insight into the habitats and ecosystems that make Nantucket Sound such an important winter sanctuary.

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Past Webinars

Coastal Treasures: Seashells & the Stories They Tell

June 4, 2026

Guest Speaker: Author & shellfish biologist Sandy Macfarlane explores the stories hidden within the shells we often admire along the beaches of Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound.

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A History of Land Conservation on Cape Cod

April 30, 2026

Guest Speaker: Longtime conservationist Mark H. Robinson (The Compact) presents a captivating overview of conservation history on Cape Cod, and a look to its future as well.

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Wildflowers & Wildlife of Our Coastal Grasslands

March 19, 2026

Guest Speaker: Dr. Sarah Bois (Linda Loring Nature Foundation) shares the botanical wonders of the coastal grassland ecosystems of Nantucket & the Sound.

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The Green Crab in Nantucket Sound & Beyond

January 22, 2026

Guest Speaker: Marine biologist Carolyn Tepolt (at WHOI) guides us through one of the most disruptive invasive species in our waters—the green crab.

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Organizations Represented

Behind every ACONS program is a network of respected voices and institutions committed to understanding and protecting Nantucket Sound. Our webinars feature distinguished experts—scientists, environmental leaders, historians, educators, authors, and artists—many of whom represent leading organizations across Cape Cod, the Islands, and beyond. Some of the organizations represented in our ACONS webinar series include the following: