The College of the Atlantic campus is small and community-oriented, with a mix of rustic and green buildings. The ocean is always nearby, offering opportunities for recreation, research, and inspiration. The campus also features gardens, a whale skull, and a dining hall where students, faculty, and staff eat and talk together. The campus reflects the college's focus on human ecology, which is the study of the relationships between humans and their environments.

Bar Harbor is a resort town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population is 5,089. During the summer and fall seasons, it is a popular tourist destination. Bar Harbor has a variety of different birding opportunities, the AllTrips website has information on some of these which include whale watches, guided tours, and more.

Mount Desert Island in Hancock County is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of 108 square miles, it is the second-largest island on the Eastern Seaboard, behind Long Island and ahead of Martha's Vineyard. The island has a year-round population of over 10,000. Acadia National Park is located on the island and is visited by millions of tourists each year. The island is home to numerous well-known summer colonies such as Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor.