Summer Naturalist: Dragonflies (Ages 10-17)

Does your child love nature and want to expand their identification skills? In this special COVID-adapted program geared toward youth ages 10 and up, participants can join our experts for weekly, small-group outdoor sessions. Though programming will take place outdoors, participants are required to wear a face covering at all times.

Summer days spent by the water are often filled with the fleeting sight of beautiful dragonflies and damselflies. During this session, participants will get an up-close look at these two groups of insects and learn how to tell the difference between them, as well as how to identify a few specific species within the groups. The fun – and the life cycle – doesn’t stop there, though! Participants will also learn about the life stages of dragonflies and damselflies as they explore the ponds of CMBG in search of the inconspicuous larvae that transform into the adults we all know so well.

Please note: In an effort to keep the group size small, this is a drop-off program. If your child would be more comfortable with you nearby, please contact Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org before the session to discuss options. If this session is full, please call 207-633-8000 to be added to our waiting list.

Bridget VerVaet has been the Education Programs Assistant at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens since 2018, where she can most often be found leading youth groups and families on nature-based education programs. She holds a degree in biology and enjoys sharing in the wonders of natural world with Gardens guests of all ages.

Andy Brand is Curator of Living Collections at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. He is an avid naturalist and focuses on the interaction of the insects with native plants of New England.