Garden Explorers Camp for Ages 4-7 (Sold Out)

Monday-Friday, August 14-18 | Budding gardeners will spend the week digging, planting, watering, and harvesting fruits and veggies in our Learning Garden. Campers will investigate the inner workings of the garden from the ground up and get the real “dirt” on plants, life cycles, composting, garden critters, and more! Join us for a week filled with games, explorations, snack making from the garden, and take-home garden projects. Plus, new for 2023, aftercare will be available for campers participating in this camp through our Extended Explorations.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $150 / $187

Introduction to Printmaking: Session II for Ages 9-14

Wednesday-Friday, August 16-18, 9:30-a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Using gelatin/glycerin soft plates, brayers, and printing inks, young artists will use cuttings from the Gardens to make multi-layered botanical print sheets and learn how to layer plant forms to get vibrant patterns and compositions. Students will use these prints over the next two days in multiple fun and crafty applications, including collage, simple accordion book-making, and card-making. Students may choose their desired projects from a number of examples and materials. All materials provided. Parents/Guardians are welcome to take this class alongside their young artist.

Mary Beth began making in art in childhood, later discovering watercolors with Stan Keirstead, a regional landscape painter. She has explored printmaking, clay work, painting, collage, gallery ownership, teaching, and collaborations. She currently serves with the Pastel Society of Maine, exhibits her work at Art Space Gallery, and teaches classes in her studio in New Sharon, Maine.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Mary Beth Morrison
Price: $160 / $200
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Line & Form: Drawing the Trolls, Aug. (Ages 7-11) (Sold Out)

Monday & Tuesday, August 21 & 22, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Gardens’ five resident trolls are fabulous sketching subjects! In this two-day workshop, young artists will develop an understanding of shape and form as they create their own sketches of these giants. Students will draw both on-site and in the studio and become familiar with a variety of drawing media, including various pencils and an introduction to watercolor. After capturing the trolls, participants will apply their new skills to other subjects at the Gardens such as butterflies, flowers, and frogs. All materials provided.

Hélène Farrar has taught and worked in the visual arts for twenty years while actively exhibiting in commercial, nonprofit, and university galleries in New England, New York City, Pennsylvania, Italy, and England. Farrar has a BA in studio art from the University of Maine and an MFA in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College in Vermont. Hélène currently owns and operates her own private art school in Maine out of her “Farmhouse” studio, where she holds a variety of workshops and classes for children and adults.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $100 / $125

Chewonki @ the Gardens: Bats of the World

Chewonki is coming to the Gardens for four single-day naturalist residency programs, free to all guests with admission. Drop in anytime during your visit between 10 am to 2 pm. This is the fourth of four days, all focusing on animals and their amazing adaptations.

Bats comprise nearly one-quarter of the world’s approximately 4,000 mammal species, yet humans continue to fear and misunderstand them. Bats do so much to help us survive, but now they need our help. This interactive demonstration will introduce participants to the role bats play in ecosystems ranging from the Maine woods to the South American rainforests, to help dispel common myths about these flying mammals. Participants leave the program with an appreciation for the tremendous diversity of bats in the world and for their irreplaceable niche in natural ecosystem. Drop-in anytime between 10 am to 2 pm. 

 

Location: Seagull Pavilion
Instructor: Chewonki Science Educator
Price: Free

Summer Discovery Walk: The Five Senses

Monday, July 3; Saturday, July 29; Tuesday, August 15; Thursday, August 31

Discover all that you can see, smell, hear, feel, and even taste as we tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses together, experiencing the Gardens in new ways as you focus on each of your senses. This free program is intended for children ages 3-8 with an adult caregiver. Please register ONLY for the number of children in your group. Registration is strongly suggested, but walk-ins are welcome even if registration is full. To join the walk, please meet at the entrance of the Alfond Children’s Garden.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay
Instructor: Education Staff
Price: Free
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Homeschool Days: Life of a Butterfly (Ages 9-18)

We'll introduce students to native butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle as we visit our Native Butterfly House. Participants will learn about the unique adaptations of these insects, their role in the food web, and their key differences. We'll also discuss how to grow a garden to support these pollinators. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Pollinator ID Walk (Ages 9-18)

Can you tell the difference between a rusty-patched and a two-spotted bumble bee? Did you know that some types of wasps and flies are pollinators? Join us on an exploratory walk with resident entomologist Zac Smith-Hess as he shows students how to identify any pollinators we come across. Students will also learn fun facts about flowers and their relationship with these amazing creatures. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Zac Smith-Hess
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Life of a Butterfly (Ages 5-10)

A native Maine butterfly sits on a smiling child's cheek.Tuesday, September 19, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Monday, September 25, 2-3:30 p.m.

We'll introduce students to native butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle as we visit our Native Butterfly House. Participants will learn about the unique adaptations of these insects, their role in the food web, and their key differences. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for more than one Homeschool Days program or register more than one child for the same program receive a special discounted rate at checkout.

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Erika Huber is the Youth and Family Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She holds degrees in forestry and horticulture and has over fifteen years of experience working with children in environmental and gardening education.

Bridget VerVaet is the Youth Programs Educator and has worked at the Gardens since 2018; you can most often find her leading youth groups and families in nature-based education programs. She holds a degree in biology and enjoys sharing the wonders of the natural world with guests of all ages.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Apple Cider Pressing (Ages 4-12)

Students will learn about the botanical and cultural history of apples as they participate in making apple cider with an old-fashioned press. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: All About Seeds (Ages 4-9)

[caption id="attachment_30928" align="alignleft" width="225"]Homeschool Days All About Seeds Homeschool Days All About Seeds[/caption]

Tuesday, September 19, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Monday, September 25, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; noon-1:30 p.m
Thursday, October 5, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Students will discover the wonders held within a seed, then go garden-exploring to see how plants spread their seeds in the fall. We'll dissect a bean seed, review the life cycle of a plant, learn about the importance of seeds in nature, and explore how seeds have adapted for survival over time. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for more than one Homeschool Days program or register more than one child for the same program receive a special discounted rate at checkout.

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Erika Huber is the Youth and Family Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She holds degrees in forestry and horticulture and has over fifteen years of experience working with children in environmental and gardening education.

Bridget VerVaet is the Youth Programs Educator and has worked at the Gardens since 2018; you can most often find her leading youth groups and families in nature-based education programs. She holds a degree in biology and enjoys sharing the wonders of the natural world with guests of all ages.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Plant Adaptations (Ages 9-15)

Understand plant adaptions by learning about Earth’s biomes. Through in-depth classroom investigations and field explorations, students will be able to identify the physical traits that help plants survive in nature. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Maine Woods Walk (Ages 9-18)

Students will learn handy tricks for remembering the Maine woods' coniferous and deciduous trees during this session. Participants will also gain an understanding of the ecology of our native trees as well as the science behind fall foliage. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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White Pine Cone and Chick-a-Dee

Join us as we celebrate the Maine state bird, the Black-capped Chickadee, and the unique state flower, the White Pine Cone and Tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus). Learn about this tiny bird from egg to feather and its deciduous habitat as we explore anatomy and composition. By the end of the four-week online class, students will create an original painting of a Black-capped Chickadee on a White Pine tree branch with a pine cone! All levels are welcome. Suitable for teens 14+. Students can work in watercolor or colored pencil.

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Location: Online
Instructor: Mindy Lighthipe
Price: $180 / $260
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Homeschool Days: Life of a Plant (Ages 4-10)

Tuesday, May 7, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Monday, June 3, 10-11:30 a.m.

Explore a plant's life cycle from seed to fruit as we dissect a seed, learn about plant parts and functions, photosynthesis, the importance of plants, and their unique adaptations. We'll head out to the Learning Garden to sample different plant parts and pot up a plant to grow at home.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Wabanaki Traditions (Ages 8-18)

Join us for a special walk through our garden and woodlands with Passamaquoddy educator Sandra Bassett. Sandra will share her personal story, demonstrate singing and drumming, and teach a sampling of Passamaquoddy words. Participants will also learn about the traditional uses of some of our native plants. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Sandra Bassett
Price: $10 / $12
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Watercolor Batik with Erica Qualey

Watercolor and wax is an exciting combination, and when you add in a delicately textured rice paper, WOW! The results are fantastic and lovely, with rich, bold colors and soft textures created by the natural qualities of rice paper. Erica will lead you step by step through layering paint and wax, teaching you all the skills you need to know to start creating your watercolor batiks. We'll begin with how to choose a good reference photo, how to design a strong composition, and finally, where to apply wax and how to make corrections when you make a mistake. All levels of painters, from beginners to advanced, are encouraged to join the fun. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erica Qualey
Price: $235 / $325
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Trees of Maine: ID, Ecology & Management

Kick off Memorial Day weekend with this field-study class honoring our northeastern forests and learning more about their fragile ecosystems. Wabanahkik (Dawnland), the broader territory that includes the area now known as Maine, consists of a variety of climate conditions that host an assortment of deciduous and coniferous species valuable to thousands of living organisms. We'll discuss individual tree species, their ecological roles, and management practices that support the health of the living matrix. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $15 / $34
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Silk Painting in Bloom Family Program (Ages 9+)

Unleash your creativity in this family-friendly silk painting workshop lead by artist Erica Qualey. Inspired by the enchanting flowers and foliage gathered from the Gardens, participants will embark on a journey of artistic expression. Using resist and dyes, attendees will design their silk scarves, playing with vibrant colors and creating intricate patterns that capture the essence of the natural world. Parents/Caregivers are welcome to work with their young artist to craft a unique silk masterpiece together (adults do not need to register), or adults with a child taking the class may register separately to create their own wearable work of art. This workshop is a perfect opportunity for children and adults to bond over art. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erica Qualey
Price: $36 / $44
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Homeschool Days: Birds (Ages 8-18)

Tuesday, May 7, 10-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 30, 10-11:30 a.m.

Join us on a walk to identify migrating and resident birds. Learn more about their adaptations and nesting habits. Participants will learn to identify birds by their calls, plumage, and behavior. Binoculars will be available to borrow.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Climate Stories Tour (Ages 10-18)

Monday, May 13, 10-11:30 a.m.
Thursday, May 30, 10-11:30 a.m.

Explore how climate change is impacting the places we live and how we can come together to make our communities stronger. Join us on a walk through Slater Forest Pond and down the Haney Hillside to the Shoreland Trail; we will share stories about the natural world and practice observing the plants and animals around us. With the understanding of our relationship with our environment and how climate change impacts us all, we'll discuss how we can use our interests and talents to make those relationships more resilient to change. Enjoy sharing your perspectives and practicing problem-solving in this unique, conversational format.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children for one program or one child for multiple programs receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Five Senses Tour (Ages 4-8)

Monday, May 13, 2-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 30, noon-1:30 p.m.

Putting our five senses to work, we'll wind our way through the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, experiencing a garden in a whole new way. Participants will be encouraged to sample different herbs and edible flowers that may be new to them.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Ecosystems (Ages 8-14)

Tuesday, May 7, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 30, 2-3:30 p.m.

Explore the various examples of ecosystems held within the Gardens, from areas cultivated by humans to forested and tidal areas. Learn more about the plants and animals that find their habitat within these ecosystems and how they work together to make an ecosystem function. Topics covered include producers, consumers, decomposers, keystone species, food chains, nutrient cycling, and disturbances.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Life of a Plant (Ages 4-10) (Sold Out)

Tuesday, May 7, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Monday, June 3, 10-11:30 a.m.

Explore a plant's life cycle from seed to fruit as we dissect a seed, learn about plant parts and functions, photosynthesis, the importance of plants, and their unique adaptations. We'll head out to the Learning Garden to sample different plant parts and pot up a plant to grow at home.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Pond Life (Ages 4-10)

Monday, May 13, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Monday, June 3, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.

Learn to identify the aquatic creatures found in the Gardens’ ponds and understand their life cycles, gaining more knowledge about the food web and habitat of the pond in the process. With nets and buckets, participants will have time to explore life in the pond.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Wild Edibles (Ages 8-18)

Spring is a great time to forage for wild edibles; fresh shoots are readily available and tastier than their older counterparts. Local forager and restaurateur Nikaline Iacano will lead participants through the Gardens and surrounding woodlands, searching for edible greens, tasty weeds, shoots, mushrooms, flowers, roots, tubers, and even pine pollen. Bring your taste buds and a sense of adventure! We will end the session by making a tea with our collections. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Nikaline Iacano
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Meet a Horticulturalist (Ages 9-18)

Tuesday, May 7, 10-11:30 a.m.
Monday, June 3, 2-3:30 p.m.

Calling all green-thumbed youth looking to find out more about the field of horticulture! Participants will meet three Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens horticulturalists in their garden spaces. Through informal conversation, learn how and why they became horticulturalists, how they choose the plants for their garden spaces, what their favorite plants are, and some of the challenges they experience as a caretaker of plants.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12
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Homeschool Days: Pond Life (Ages 4-10) (Sold Out)

Monday, May 13, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Monday, June 3, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.

Learn to identify the aquatic creatures found in the Gardens’ ponds and understand their life cycles, gaining more knowledge about the food web and habitat of the pond in the process. With nets and buckets, participants will have time to explore life in the pond.

Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for multiple programs or register more than one child for the same program, receive a special discounted rate at checkout. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12

Plant Your Own Vertical Garden (Sold Out)

This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Leave with a beautiful vertical garden in this hands-on workshop. Designers Cheryl Tyler and Jen Dunlap will guide students through a step-by-step process of building and planting an 18"x 14" framed planter. The plant pallet of ferns, mosses, and lichens will be provided for outdoor and indoor applications. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $45 / $80

Wearable Art: Marquetry Jewelry with Polymer Clay

Build your own pin or pendant (or both) based on inspirations from the flowers and foliage in the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. From observational drawing or photography, develop a simple flower or leaf design based on a color palette of your choosing. Employing Bonnie's signature marquetry techniques for surface design, and construct your pendant before making a pin back or pendant bale using wire and clay for a beautiful and fun finish. Basic polymer skills will be helpful but not required. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bonnie Bishoff
Price: $235 / $325
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Plant A Succulent Container Garden (Sold Out)

This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Succulents provide the perfect plant for both seasoned and aspiring gardeners. These powerhouse low-maintenance plants add elegance and unique displays for small or large gardens. Join staff Horticulturist and container garden aficionado Brent McHale to show you what plants to use and how to plant your own shallow container garden that you'll take home to display and admire on your patio, deck, or balcony. All materials will be provided. Class Level: All Levels. Suitable for teens 14+.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Brent McHale
Price: $45 / $80

Watercolor Wonders in the Gardens (Ages 9-13)

Wednesday-Friday, June 26-28, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Explore the vibrant world of watercolor with artist Erica Qualey, in this workshop designed for creative minds aged 9-13. Dive into the basics of watercolor, from fundamental skills to mastering brushstrokes and layering washes. This hands-on experience will guide young artists through the enchanting process of field sketching with watercolor, offering a perfect blend of artistic exploration and skill-building. Participants will embark on exciting painting activities throughout the workshop, fostering a playful and enjoyable learning environment. The journey includes immersing in gardens to gather inspiration for their artwork and exploring new techniques to help capture what they see on paper. As the days progress, attendees will build upon their skills and principles, culminating in creating a final masterpiece on the last day. All materials provided. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erica Qualey
Price: $160 / $200
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Block Printing: Inspired by Nature (Ages 8-12)

Monday-Wednesday, July 1-3, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Join artist Jordan Kendall Parks for a playful introduction to planning, carving, and printing linoleum blocks by hand. Students will use the Gardens as inspiration to create their designs, which will be printed on paper and functional fabric items like tote bags and t-shirts. Participants will leave the workshop with an understanding of basic block printing techniques and multiple prints of their own designs. Students will take home their carved blocks and supplies to make more prints at home. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Jordan Parks
Price: $160 / $200
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Butterfly Investigations (Canceled)

This event is canceled and will return on July 16. Sorry for the inconvenience. | Meet us in the Native Butterfly House as we investigate the lives of the butterflies and moths. From egg to adult and everything in between, we’ll search for all stages of a butterfly’s life cycle while learning about their unique adaptations, their essential role in the food web, and how to identify key differences between butterflies and moths. Free with admission.

Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay

Nature Adventure Camp (Ages 4-6) (Sold Out)

This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Our summer nature camps provide fun and enriching opportunities for children to learn about the natural world. Exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate birds, food chains, mammals, pond life, and more. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and nature-related projects, campers will be well on their way to becoming young naturalists by the end of the week! Extended Explorations aftercare is available as an add-on. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $155 / $194

Butterfly Investigations

Meet us in the Native Butterfly House as we investigate the lives of the butterflies and moths. From egg to adult and everything in between, we’ll search for all stages of a butterfly’s life cycle while learning about their unique adaptations, their essential role in the food web, and how to identify key differences between butterflies and moths. Free with admission.

Location: Butterfly House

Drawing Maine’s Wildlife (Ages 7-11) (Sold Out)

This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Our summer nature camps provide fun and enriching opportunities for children to learn about the natural world. Exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate birds, food chains, mammals, pond life, and more. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and nature-related projects, campers will be well on their way to becoming young naturalists by the end of the week! Extended Explorations aftercare is available as an add-on. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $160 / $200

Pond Investigations

The pond in our Children’s Garden is teeming with life during the summer months. Drop in and discover which creatures call the water their home as we dip nets into the pond and look for signs of life. We’ll explore life cycles, food chains, differences between reptiles and amphibians, and the proper handling of our froggy friends. This is an open activity appropriate for all ages. Free with admission.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay

Nature Adventure Camp (Ages 6-9) (Sold Out)

This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Our summer nature camps provide fun and enriching opportunities for children to learn about the natural world. Exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate birds, food chains, mammals, pond life, and more. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and nature-related projects, campers will be well on their way to becoming young naturalists by the end of the week! Extended Explorations aftercare is available as an add-on. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $155 / $194

Drawing Maine’s Wildlife (Ages 9-13)

Wednesday-Friday, July 24-26 , 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Young artists aged 7-13 will study alongside Artist Helene Farrar as they draw Maine's wonderful wildlife! Animals such as chipmunks, foxes, owls, and turtles will come to life on paper as students explore their geometric forms and textures, working in pencil, watercolor, and more! We will also look to the Gardens to create imagined and real environments and observe wildlife up close with a visit from Chewonki's Traveling Natural History Program. Leave this workshop inspired and with the tools to draw Maine's wildlife. All materials provided. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $160 / $200
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Five Senses Family Tour

Putting our five senses to work, we'll wind our way through the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, experiencing this garden in a new way. Participants will be encouraged to sample different herbs and edible flowers that may be new to them. Free with admission.

Location: Lerner Garden