Our gardens are always evolving! To learn more about our ongoing garden refresh projects, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Bug lovers unite as we scour the garden, woods, and ponds in search of the Gardens' tiniest residents. Campers will learn about insect life cycles, their role in nature, and the secrets of their survival through activities, observations, and a special visit with our resident entomologist. We'll also spend time investigating the lives of caterpillars, butterflies, and bees in our on-site exhibits. Creepy crawly fanatics will love this camp! Extended Explorations aftercare is available as an add-on. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
Join us for an immersive poetry workshop with Wolastoqiyik writer and artist Mihku Paul. Poetry and art are great pathways to learning about nature. In this workshop, we'll explore new perspectives on our insect world through fun writing exercises. From direct observations in the garden and time with our entomologist, participants will document insects they encounter, collecting ideas, sketches, and pictures that will then become the basis for writing a poem or prose. Examples and templates will be provided to aid as a jumping-off place. Students will also be introduced to the Indigenous perspective on nature and learn some Passamaquoddy vocabulary as part of the instruction.
//
Instructor bio:
Mihku Paul is a Wolastoqey writer and visual artist who has spent decades presenting Waponahki curriculum enrichment in Portland Public Schools. She is a graduate of the Stonecoast MFA Program in Creative Writing and has produced a one-woman mixed media installation at the Abbe Museum. This installation is also shown at USM's Glickman Library. Her poetry has been published internationally and translated to Spanish and French. Recent work includes Atlantic Vernacular (NB, Canada) and an experimental film short, Putep Qotatokot-te Elwestaq, "The Whale was Speaking." Mihku lives and works in Portland.
Monday-Wednesday, August 19-21, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Learn the art of visual storytelling by creating an accordion book from drawings made throughout our gardens and woodlands. Students ages 9-13 will join Joy Grannis, botanical illustrator, as she teaches students how to create a composition from what they observe, calling out details as they make sketches and notes to add to their final piece. Students will also learn how to translate the colors they see in nature to their artwork and how to use collage to enhance their artistic book. Mediums such as graphite, colored pencils, acrylic markers, watercolor pencils, and pen will be used. All materials provided.
Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. To request an application, please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org.
//
Educator Bio:
Joy Grannis is a freelance botanical illustrator, artist, and designer from Portland, Maine. Grannis earned her BA in environmental planning and policy from the University of Southern Maine and later earned a graduate certificate in scientific illustration from California State University at Monterey Bay. Grannis combines her expertise to illustrate the natural world in support of education and environmental conservation. Grannis primarily works in watercolor and digital media, creating pieces for botanical gardens, environmental organizations, interior designers, and retail establishments.
Come and explore the Native Butterfly House at the Gardens! Students will be introduced to butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle and their role in the food web. We will also discover the differences between butterflies and moths and their unique adaptations for survival. Meet the important plants that provide nectar and those that host these amazing creatures. 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.
Gardens horticultural therapists will lead customized, interactive plant-based exercises to help strengthen interpersonal skills, hand-eye coordination, math and science problem-solving, and applied critical thinking. This educational and mindful activity session is designed to be inclusive of all abilities and learning levels and adapted to each participant. After planting a succulent bowl or fern terrarium to take home, students will tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, where they will use all of their available senses to explore the biodiversity demonstrated inside this universally accessible garden. Parents/guardians are asked to attend this session with their homeschoolers.
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.
Come and explore the Native Butterfly House at the Gardens! Students will be introduced to butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle and their role in the food web. We will also discover the differences between butterflies and moths and their unique adaptations for survival. Meet the important plants that provide nectar and those that host these amazing creatures. 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.
Investigate life underground and discover the important role decomposers play in helping our gardens grow. Students will learn to identify these living organisms, learn about the anatomy of a worm, and understand how decomposition works. 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.
Ancient Egyptians used willow and myrtle to treat pain and fevers, and Mayans used the papaya tree for many herbal remedies including digestion. Plants have been used as medicine from the beginning of our existence, and hundreds of modern-day medicines have been inspired by plants. In this session, participants will explore which plants in our gardens and surrounding woodlands can be used to treat colds, upset stomachs, stress, anxiety and so much more. The session will end by making an herbal tea from cuttings collected during the session. 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.
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 our resident entomologist, Zac Smith-Hess, as he shows students how to identify different types of pollinators. Students will also learn some fun facts about flowers and their relationship with these amazing creatures. 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.
Gardens horticultural therapists will lead customized, interactive plant-based exercises to help strengthen interpersonal skills, hand-eye coordination, math and science problem-solving, and applied critical thinking. This educational and mindful activity session is designed to be inclusive of all abilities and learning levels and adapted to each participant. After planting a succulent bowl or fern terrarium to take home, students will tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, where they will use all of their available senses to explore the biodiversity demonstrated inside this universally accessible garden. Parents/guardians are asked to attend this session with their homeschoolers.
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.
On this fall walk, we'll learn handy tricks for remembering Maine woods' coniferous and deciduous trees. Participants will gain an understanding of the ecology of native trees as well as the science behind fall foliage. 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.
This sweet session will introduce students to the botanical and cultural history of apples as they make apple cider with an old-fashioned press. 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.
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.
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.
Deepen your understanding of Wabanaki values and traditions on a special garden walk with Passamaquoddy educator Sandra Bassett. Sandra will introduce us to the newly planted Three Sisters Garden, demonstrate singing and drumming, and teach us a sampling of Passamaquoddy words. We will also spend some time learning about the significance of the four “R’s”-Reciprocity, Relationship, Respect, and Responsibility. The session will end with a birch bark etching activity.
Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or multiple programs receive a special discounted rate. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.
//
Instructor bio:
Sandra Bassett Peskotomuhkat graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2021 with a BSW and a Minor in Wabanaki Language and is the first to receive a Wabanaki Language Certificate from USM in 2022. She has been working on her Passamaquoddy language for years and is close to receiving a Language Teaching Certificate from the Department of Education. For over a decade, she has been working in corrections, bringing a solution and hope to the inmates. Sandra has a strong passion for the work she is doing and feels it is both an honor and a privilege. For the past two years, Sandra has discovered other passions including gardening and drumming. She enjoys sharing her traditional songs.
Come and enjoy one of the last open days of the season as we take in all that fall has to offer. We’ll investigate plant parts and their role in continuing a plant's life cycle, search for a variety of seedpods, harvest veggies and herbs from the Learning Garden, and cut a bouquet to take 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.
Identify migrating and resident birds on this fun, family-friendly walk. Learn 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 multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
Spring blooms like tulips, daffodils, and azaleas will become the subject as students work on painting larger-than-life flowers. We'll focus on observation techniques, learning how to scale, mix colors, apply masking techniques, and create large washes of watercolor. Students will work towards having a finished piece by the end of the day. A flower dissection will allow students to learn about flower anatomy to guide their work. Whether new to watercolor or working on refining your skills, this class is appropriate for all skill levels. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Humans have always relied on plants as medicine, and plants inspire hundreds of modern-day medicines. Come take a stroll through the Gardens and meet some of our favorite spring medicinal plants. We’ll use our senses to feel, touch, taste, and get to know some healing plants you can use in your everyday life to support various ailments such as upset stomachs, colds, anxiety, basic first aid, and so much more! The session will end with an herbal tea tasting. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
We’re sorry this class is not available. Occasionally, we have cancellations throughout the year. If you’d like to hear first when a spot opens, please fill out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/9CGdz6CeiB
This form does not guarantee a spot in the class.
//
Explore the Gardens with us as we work on our observation skills by looking closely for the details that tell us spring has arrived. We’ll look closely under leaves and up in the trees, above ground and below, and even in the pond. Along the way, we’ll learn the names of some of our spring blooms. A scavenger hunt activity will help guide our search. We’ll end the session by planting a spring flower to take home and care for. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
We’re sorry this class is not available. Occasionally, we have cancellations throughout the year. If you’d like to hear first when a spot opens, please fill out the form at this link: https://forms.office.com/r/9CGdz6CeiB
This form does not guarantee a spot in the class.
//
Spring is an important time for amphibians in Maine as they migrate to vernal pools to breed and lay eggs. During this class, participants will explore the many vernal pools at the Gardens in search of wood frog and spotted salamander eggs as well as other seasonal residents. Participants will learn how to tell the difference between frog and salamander eggs, learn what makes vernal pools unique, and gain an understanding of their important role in the forest ecosystem. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
Co-hosted with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Maine Sea Grant will offer in-person volunteer training for the Signs of the Seasons citizen science program. Participants will learn about the goals of the program, learn how to make scientific observations of phenology (the study of cyclic and seasonal changes of plants and animals), practice making phenology observations on the grounds of the Gardens, and leave with the tools and knowledge needed to set up their own site to observe and record changes in phenology in their own yard or community. Questions about this opportunity may be directed to Beth Bisson at beth.bisson@maine.edu or Keri Kaczor at keri.kaczor@maine.edu. The training is free, but registration is required. Click here for the link to register.
The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science.
Copyright 2025 Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
