At Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, children can learn about plants and wildlife in spectacular settings including the two-acre Children’s Garden. We emphasize reading and offer memorable programs, many for the whole family. Scroll through the calendar on our homepage, and see below for a list of children’s and family activities, with links for more details and to preregister online.

FUN IN THE GARDEN YOUTH CLASSES

One way to  attend some of our youth classes (marked with * below) is by using our Gardens Activity Passport FOR KIDS! While anyone may attend and sign up in advance, Passport holders receive a discount and may attend without preregistration.

Green Thumbs I, II & III (ages 6 and up)  – different activities each day
Friday, June 28; Friday, July 26; Monday, August 19 (*preregister or use a Gardens Activity Passport)
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

Bug Safari (ages 4-7)
Tuesday, July 2; Monday, August 5 (*preregister or use a Gardens Activity Passport)
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

Fantastic Flowers (ages 7 and up)
Saturday, July 13, and Tuesday, August 6 (*preregister or use a Gardens Activity Passport)
Time: 10-11:30 a.m.

TREEmendous Trees I & II (ages 4-6 and ages 7 & up – see below for times) – different activities each day
Tuesday, July 22; Saturday, August 10 (*preregister or use a Gardens Activity Passport)
Times: ages 4-6, 10-11:30 a.m.; ages 7 and up, 1-2:30 p.m.

FAMILY PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Fridays in July and August are Fairy Fridays! Learn more.

Daily activities in the summer months are included with admission and include feeding the chickens, Storytime, Garden Puppet Theatre, and other delightful ways to learn and have fun. 

Free: Movie Night
On May 24, we’ll show the wonderful film “The Secret Garden.”

Artist-in-Residence
Susan Perrine, Expert-in-Residence, will present a series of kid-friendly programs from June 11-15, including a twig-jewelry class and a workshop where you can help build a twig tunnel. On the 15th, we’ll have a reception for the finished tunnel, too.

Little Diggers Gardening and Nature Series for Ages 3-5
(two separate six-part series with different programs)
Spring Series: Thursdays: March 21; April 4 & 18; May 2, 16 & 30
Summer Series: Thursdays, June 13 & 27; July 11 &  25; August 8 & 22
When:   9:30-11:30 a.m.
Where: Children’s Garden
Price:    Series – $70/per series members, $100/per series nonmembers; individual sessions $12/$17
(includes Gardens admission for one child and one adult – children must be accompanied)
In these parent-and-child sessions, preschoolers will have fun gardening and exploring nature through stories, crafts, sensory experiences, and planting activities. We’ll take time each session to explore the habitat of the Children’s Garden. 

SUMMER CAMPS

Monday-Friday, July 8-12
Nature Explorers Camp for Ages 9-11
When:   9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Where:    Education Center and grounds
Price:    $170 members, $200 nonmembers
Kids who love exploring the outdoors, learning new outdoor skills, and geocaching will love Nature Explorers Camp. Using the Gardens and its forests and shoreline, we’ll spend the week honing outdoor skills. As a final project, campers will create a series of caches for all Gardens guests to enjoy.

Monday-Friday, July 15-19 OR July 29-August 2
Nature Adventure Camp for Ages 4-5 & 6-8
When:   9:30 a.m.-noon (ages 4-5); 1:00-3:30 (ages 6-8)
Where:    Education Center and grounds
Price:    $105 members, $130 nonmembers
This fun-filled camp fully engages children in an outdoor setting, while encouraging imagination and creativity through garden walks, stories, games, arts-and-crafts and nature-related projects.

Monday-Friday, August 12-16
Garden Explorers Camp for Ages 4-5 & 6-8
When:   9:30 a.m.-noon (ages 4-5); 1:00-3:30 (ages 6-8)
Where: Education Center and grounds
Price:    $105 members, $130 nonmembers
Budding gardeners will spend the week digging, planting, watering and harvesting, as they learn how to care for our Learning Garden and greenhouse.  This is a week filled with observations, experiments, taste tests, games and take-home garden projects.