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.
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.
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.
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.
Horticultural Therapist will lead 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. Students will participate in a take-home succulent planting activity and then head out on a tour of the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses (weather permitting), where they will use all of their available senses to explore the biodiversity demonstrated inside this accessible garden. Parents/guardians are asked to attend this session with their homeschoolers, and the admission price includes one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
Deepen your understanding of Wabanaki values and traditions on a special garden walk with Passamaquoddy educator Sandra Bassett. Sandra will share her personal story, demonstrate singing and drumming, and teach us a sampling of Passamaquoddy words. Participants will learn about the significance of the four “R’s”-Reciprocity, Relationship, Respect, and Responsibility- in relation to Wabanaki values and the traditional uses of some of our native plants. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.
Wednesday, May 14, noon-1:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 22, 10-11:30 a.m.
Learn how to identify common Maine mosses and lichens found in your own backyard. Students will practice using a hand lens to look up close at these green beauties to learn about their identifying features and get the scoop on the symbiotic relationship happening within lichens. Participants will make a small memento to take home. 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.
Students will explore the web of life in our forest ecosystem through the lens of Rachel Carson, author, marine biologist, conservationist, and seasonal Maine resident. Together, we will appreciate the ecology and natural history of the Maine woods. 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.
Fun for the whole family with our mobile art class. Explore the natural world by creating a garden mobile from recycled and natural objects supplied by the Gardens. These eye-catching mobiles can add whimsy and natural music to any garden as they catch the wind. Students are welcome to bring their own found, repurposed, or natural objects like driftwood, to incorporate into their garden mobiles. Parents/Caregivers/Grandparents are encouraged to work with their child to craft a mobile together. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. To request an application, please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org.
Putting our five senses to work, we'll wind our way through the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, experiencing the garden in a whole new way. Participants will be encouraged to sample different herbs and edible flowers that may be new to them. The session will end with an herb planting activity to take home.
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.
Horticultural Therapist will lead 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. Students will participate in a take-home succulent planting activity and then head out on a tour of the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses (weather permitting), where they will use all of their available senses to explore the biodiversity demonstrated inside this accessible garden. Parents/guardians are asked to attend this session with their homeschoolers, and the admission price includes one child and one adult. Families who register multiple children or for multiple programs, will receive a discount at checkout.
Venture into the woods with us as we look for signs of life amongst the trees. We may not always see who’s residing in our woods, but there are many clues we can look and listen for to tell us who lives there. Together we will appreciate the ecology and natural history of the Maine woods. A scavenger hunt activity will help guide our search. The session will end with a craft to help us remember what we learned. 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.
Thursday, May 22, 2-3:30 p.m. & Monday, June 2, 2-3:30 p.m.
This kid-friendly gardening class will delve into the unique adaptations of our native pollinators and their special flower preferences. After reviewing the process of pollination through a flower dissection, we will head out on a garden walk to discover some of the best flower choices for a diverse pollinator garden. Students will also pot up a pollinator plant to grow on at home. 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.
Meet the real hungry caterpillars as young nature enthusiasts take an exploratory walk with the staff of The Caterpillar Lab, learning how to track and spot spring caterpillars. This walk will help develop observational skills and demonstrate how to look closely so we can uncover the special lives of caterpillars on the plants around us. Program participants can expect to spend time exploring out in the Gardens as well as returning indoors to look at the caterpillars more closely under a microscope. This family-friendly walk is intended for children with an adult chaperone. Registration includes admission to the Gardens. Financial Aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.
Monday, June 2, 10-11 a.m. & noon-1 p.m.
Chewonki’s Traveling Natural History Program is back at the Gardens! Webbed feet, camouflaged fur, or spines on their backs are all amazing ways that animals use adaptations to survive in the wild every day. In this fun-filled hour, students will learn about adaptations, try on fun costumes, and see firsthand how three live, non-releasable animals have adaptations that help them thrive in their specific habitats, including our local marine habitat. 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.
Monday, June 2, 10-11 a.m. & noon-1 p.m.
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.
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Chewonki’s Traveling Natural History Program is back at the Gardens! Webbed feet, camouflaged fur, or spines on their backs are all amazing ways that animals use adaptations to survive in the wild every day. In this fun-filled hour, students will learn about adaptations, try on fun costumes, and see firsthand how three live, non-releasable animals have adaptations that help them thrive in their specific habitats, including our local marine habitat. 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.
Monday, June 2, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
Our ponds are teaming with amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic insects. Come and explore the pond with us as we identify the critters living in this freshwater habitat. Students will gain an understanding of the life cycles of the pond residents and learn about their unique adaptations that they depend on for their survival. The session will end with a fun, froggy craft. Be prepared for footwear to get wet while catching frogs. 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.
Monday, June 2, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.
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.
//
Our ponds are teaming with amphibians, reptiles, and aquatic insects. Come and explore the pond with us as we identify the critters living in this freshwater habitat. Students will gain an understanding of the life cycles of the pond residents and learn about their unique adaptations that they depend on for their survival. The session will end with a fun, froggy craft. Be prepared for footwear to get wet while catching frogs. 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. | Do you have a story to tell? Or a character to share? Storytree's one-of-a-kind theatre camp offers students the opportunity to explore their imaginations, create, perform, and learn about theatre. Throughout the week, students develop performance techniques while engaging in movement, vocal and improvisational games that explore the fundamentals of theatre. Using the gardens for inspiration, students will create an original play and perform it for family and friends at the end of the week. Campers will spend the last hour of each day exploring the gardens and surrounding woodlands. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
Let’s dig into recycling and discover the artistic potential of discarded cardboard, egg crates, paper, and plastic containers. Students will explore, design, and construct imaginative critters inspired by the woods, ocean, and beyond. This hands-on workshop is perfect for young artists with abundant energy and imagination. Students will learn how to take unwanted items and turn them into exciting creations through ideation, sketching, construction, and painting. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
In this lively workshop, we'll play with color and patterns to represent symbiosis in the natural world. Students will tell a visual story of the interrelationships between plants, animals and their environment through the layering of materials, both handmade and found, combined with paint and pastels. Students will learn how to create botanical prints, an accordion book, and will be encouraged to make daily observations of the Gardens in a sketchbook. Scholarships are available for families with financial need.
Let’s dig into recycling and discover the artistic potential of discarded cardboard, egg crates, paper, and plastic containers. Students will explore, design, and construct imaginative critters inspired by the woods, ocean, and beyond. This hands-on workshop is perfect for young artists with abundant energy and imagination. Students will learn how to take unwanted items and turn them into exciting creations through ideation, sketching, construction, and painting. 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. New exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate food chains, adaptations, the water cycle, arthropods, pond life, and more. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and nature-related crafts, 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.
Advance your digital photography skills using your iPhone or iPad in this exciting and engaging workshop. Join artist and instructor Kimberly Post and her trusty assistant, Professor John, on photographic explorations through the Gardens as you learn to capture nature in creative and unique ways. Back in the classroom, work with a variety of editing apps to enhance your photos and create images as you build your own digital portfolio. The weekend culminates in a gallery-style exhibit for family and friends. Please contact the Gardens if you do not have an iOS device but are interested in taking this workshop. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
Deepen your understanding of Wabanaki values and traditions on this family-friendly walk. Passamaquoddy educator Sandra Bassett will share her personal story, demonstrate singing and drumming, and teach us a sampling of Passamaquoddy words. Participants will also learn about the indigenous uses of some of our native plants and the significance of the four “R’s”-Reciprocity, Relationship, Respect, and Responsibility in our Three Sisters Gardens. At the end of the session, participants will try their hand at birch bark etching and braiding sweetgrass. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. To request an application, please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org.
Ancient Egyptians used willow and myrtle to treat pain and fevers, and Mayans used the papaya tree for many herbal remedies. Plants have been used as medicine since our existence, and have inspired many modern-day medicines. In this session, participants will explore and sample plants in our gardens and surrounding woodlands that can be used for medical treatment for colds, upset stomachs, stress, anxiety, and so much more. The session will end by sampling a few herbal iced teas that participants can recreate at home or be inspired to create their own with their new knowledge. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
Come and spend a fun-filled day with us at the Gardens. We’ll spend the day doing hands-on activities, playing games, and checking out all of the cool caterpillars in our visiting Caterpillar Lab exhibit. We’ll also search for critters in our many ponds, take a hike to see some giant trolls, and decorate a t-shirt with plants to remember the day. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. To request an application, please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org.
Join us for an immersive insect-themed poetry workshop for ages 9-14 with Wolastoqiyik writer and artist Mihku Paul. Students will get a unique look into the lives of insects and draw inspiration for poetry from a special visit to the Caterpillar Lab living exhibit. Through observations in the garden with our entomologist, participants will document the insects they encounter, collecting ideas and sketches that will become the basis for writing a poem or prose. Examples and templates will be provided to support the work. Participants will also be introduced to the Indigenous perspective on nature and learn some Passamaquoddy vocabulary as part of the instruction. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Become the legend you knew you always were in a land full of magic and myths. What land? We don't know, you haven't written it yet! Storytree's one-of-a-kind theatre camp offers students the opportunity to explore their imaginations, create, perform, and learn about theatre. Throughout the week, students develop performance techniques while engaging in movement, vocal and improvisational games that explore the fundamentals of theatre. Using the gardens for inspiration, students will create an original play and perform it for family and friends at the end of the week. Campers will spend the last hour of each day exploring the gardens and surrounding woodlands. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
This class is sold out, but please click "Learn More" to join our waitlist. | Budding gardeners will spend the week digging, planting, watering, and harvesting fruits and vegetables in our learning garden. We'll 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! Sign your campers up for a week filled with games, explorations, garden snack-making, and take-home garden projects. 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. | How can a garden support so much life? We'll scour the gardens, ponds, and surrounding forests in search of animals who call this place home. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and crafts, campers will learn how native animals survive in their unique habitats and what a changing climate might mean for their future here in Maine. Extended Explorations aftercare is available as an add-on. Scholarships are available for families with a financial need.
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
