Spring Explorations: Grow a Garden with Us! (Ages 4-10)

Does your child love to grow things and explore the outdoors? Interested in learning how to garden as a family? Join us as we combine gardening and learning in a fun new program for homeschoolers and remote/hybrid learners. This parent-led program will guide participants ages 4-10 through growing a garden through explorations and investigations at the Gardens, plus lessons, games, and experiments at home. Lessons combine gardening with science, math, English, art, social studies, and history. Beginning the week of May 3, participants can visit the Visitor Center to pick up their first week’s activities and supplies (packed in accordance with CDC guidelines for COVID safety). Every week after, new activities will be made available each Monday for a total of six weeks. Families are welcome to join the program at any time this spring. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $35
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Young Birders Club (Ages 10-18)

Inviting all young and aspiring birders to join us for our first ever Gardens birding club! Youth ages 10 and up can join our resident birders every other week this spring to identify birds migrating through Maine as well as those spending the season nesting and raising their young here. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Andy Brand
Price: $10
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Meet the Artist: Thomas Dambo and his Trolls (Ages 10-18)

Do you have a young artist or woodworker who would like to learn from a world-renowned sculpture artist? Danish artist Thomas Dambo, who is building five trolls at the Gardens, all constructed from salvaged wood and other recycled materials, will offer a tour of these larger-than-life sculptures and a discussion of his design and building process.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Thomas Dambo
Price: $10
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Budding Naturalist: Wild Edibles | SOLD OUT

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 in search of edible greens, tasty weeds and 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. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Nikaline Iacano
Price: $10

Budding Naturalist: Macroinvertebrates (Ages 10-14)

Calling all bug lovers! Let’s delve into macroinvertebrates and get our hands dirty, catching and identifying some of the smallest members of the animal kingdom. As we explore garden, forest, and fresh/saltwater habitats, we’ll discover that macroinvertebrates encompass a lot more than just insects; some can even be used as indicators of pollution. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10
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Young Birders Club (Ages 10-18)

Inviting all young and aspiring birders to join us for our first ever Gardens birding club! Youth ages 10 and up can join our resident birders every other week this spring to identify birds migrating through Maine as well as those spending the season nesting and raising their young here. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Andy Brand
Price: $10
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CMBG Summer Camp Club: Animal Kingdom (Ages 4-9)

CMBG’s Summer Camp Club is back! Summer camp club runs from July 26-Aug. 20 and covers a different topic every week. Since these are self-guided activities, you can sign up for the camp’s entirety at any time. Starting any day the week of June 28, campers can pick-up their first week of “Animal Kingdom” camp activities exploring the relationships between the flora and fauna of Maine. A new week of activities will be made available each Monday for a total of four weeks. Activities will include secret stashes, scavenger hunts, games, experiments, art projects, recipes and more. Campers will be invited to attend small-group outdoor learning sessions with CMBG staff throughout the summer based on camp themes. Each camper will receive a special bag to keep filled with tools for investigation and discovery as well as a camp hat. Families who sign up a child for both sessions of Summer Camp Club (“Animal Kingdom” and “Minibeasts!”), will receive a 15% discount at checkout. For further essential program information before registering, click Learn More.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Price: $80
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Summer Naturalist: Forest Bathing (SOLD OUT)

"Forest bathing" is the act of using your senses to take in your surroundings while slowly moving through the woods. Enhance your happiness, creativity, and wellbeing during this easy walk that covers less than one mile in 1 hour.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Tracey Hall
Price: $10 / $12

Summer Naturalist: Medicinal Plants, Session 1 (Ages 10-17)

In this session, CMBG horticulturalist Lesley Paxson will show participants which plants in our gardens and surrounding woodlands can be used safely to treat headaches, colds, upset stomach, stress, anxiety, and so much more. Participants will learn some herbal folklore as well as how to make a flower essence.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Lesley Paxson
Price: $10 / $12
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Nature Illustration Camp: Aquatic Life (Ages 7-11)

Young artists will study, explore, and compare the fresh and saltwater habitats at the Gardens. Participants will develop a strong foundation in observation, drawing, and painting skills using pencil, pen and ink, colored pencil, and watercolor. By the end of the week, students will have a portfolio of drawings and paintings based on daily discoveries.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens 105 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hillary Parker
Price: $235 / $295
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Summer Naturalist: Marine Life | SOLD OUT

During this two-part, shore-based marine science program, participants will investigate how geology, climate, and weather change over time and how these changes impact the organisms living in the Back River and the Damariscotta River. They will perform net tows and, using secchi discs, refractometers, and other scientific equipment, gain a better understanding of the marine life that makes its home in these rivers.

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Location: Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens / Boothbay Sea and Science Center Boothbay
Instructor: Boothbay Sea and Science Center
Price: $30 / $38