Nature Adventure Camp (Ages 6-8) (Sold Out)

Monday, July 25-Friday, July 29

Our summer nature camps provide fun and enriching opportunities for young people to learn about the natural world. Exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate bugs, birds, food chains, amphibians, the water cycle, and so much more. Through observations, games, stories, experiments, and nature-related projects, campers will be well on their way to becoming young naturalists the end of the week! Karen Jones is the Camp Coordinator for the Gardens and first grade teacher at Hall-Dale Elementary; she brings over fifteen years of teaching experience working with children of all ages.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $140 / $175

Summer Discoveries: Butterflies (Ages 3-8)

Summertime is prime butterfly time! Join us to explore our Native Butterfly and Moth House, as well as other butterfly hot spots at the Gardens. We’ll learn about life cycles, special connections to plants, unique adaptations, and how to tell the difference between butterflies and moths. Students will leave with an even greater appreciation for—and understanding of—these lovely creatures. At the end of the program, participants will craft a colorful reminder of the butterfly life cycle to take home with them. This unique adult/child program is free for members and $10 in addition to admission for nonmembers

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: Free / $10

Garden Investigators Camp: Pollinators! (Ages 6-8)

Monday, August 8-Friday August 12

Campers will spend the week getting up close and personal with the amazing pollinators making all of our gardens possible. Through games, activities, observations, and visits to our Native Butterfly and Moth House, honeybee hives, and annual resident exhibition, The Caterpillar Lab, campers will learn the ins and outs of pollination. Each day will focus on a different pollinator and its unique adaptations.

Please note this class requires participants to show proof of having received all eligible Covid-19 vaccinations, as recommended for their age by the CDC, in order to participate. Because of the dynamic nature of this situation, we ask that you agree to abide by potential future changes in CMBG’s Covid-19 policy designed to address evolving public health recommendations.

Karen Jones is the Camp Coordinator for the Gardens and first grade teacher at Hall-Dale Elementary; she brings over fifteen years of teaching experience working with children of all ages.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $140 / $175

Marine Science: Where the Land Meets the Sea (Ages 9-15)

Tuesday, August 9, Wednesday, August 10 and Tuesday, August 16 | During this three-part, shore-based marine science course, participants will investigate how geology, weather, and climate change over time and how these changes impact the organisms and plant life living in local rivers and in the Gulf of Maine. Compare and contrast local rivers, and investigate and identify what lies between the surface and the seafloor.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center / Partner Locations
Instructor: Boothbay Sea and Science Center
Price: $45 / $56

Summer Discoveries: The Garden Habitat (Ages 3-8)

The Gardens is home to many (many!) plants. In turn, those plants become home to lots of interesting creatures! Come explore the Gardens as we look closely under leaves and up in the trees, aboveground, below, and in the pond for all sorts of signs of life. A scavenger hunt will help guide our search, and participants will leave having created their own portable habitat—a toad house—to take home with them. This unique adult/child program is free for members and $10 in addition to admission for nonmembers.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: Free / $10

Summer Discoveries: The Five Senses (Ages 3-8)

Discover all that you can see, smell, hear, feel, and even taste as we tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses together, experiencing nature and the Gardens in a whole new way. Participants will finish the program by potting up an herb to take with them, carrying forward and cultivating that sensory experience at home! This unique adult/child program is free for members and $10 in addition to admission for nonmembers

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: Free / $10

Summer Discoveries: Life of a Plant (Ages 3-8)

Learn about what happens as a seed becomes a full-grown plant, then starts the entire cycle all over again! We’ll talk everything plants: life cycle, adaptations, and overall importance. We’ll dissect different parts of a plant, learn about their functions, and explore our Learning Garden, testing (and tasting!) what we’ve learned. Participants will take a plant home as a reminder of their botanical experience. This unique adult/child program is free for members and $10 in addition to admission for nonmembers

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: Free / $10

Budding Naturalist: Monarch Investigations (Ages 8-14)

The famous and well-loved monarch is the inspiration for this program! Participants will learn all about this beautiful butterfly, from its anatomy to its life cycle, adaptations, migration, and the effects of climate change on these creatures. Participants will become community scientists as they help us tag monarchs at the Gardens for future monitoring on their autumnal journeys southward. Recently listed as an endangered species, monarchs need us to understand their importance now more than ever. Participants will leave with an appreciation for these creatures that they can share with others. Registration for this class includes Gardens admission for one child and one adult.

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.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $8 / $10

Budding Naturalist: Maine Wildlife Walk (Ages 8-14)

In this active field study class, students will explore the Gardens’ many habitats, learning how to identify signs of animals in their natural environment. We’ll focus on what animals do to prepare for the upcoming winter, covering topics such as food sources and acquisition, den preparation, hibernation and migration. We hope to spot as many as our native animals as possible, ending the session exploring the life in our ponds. Registration for this class includes Gardens admission for one child and one adult.

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.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Tyler Pascocello
Price: $8 / $10

Budding Naturalist: Fall Wildflowers (Ages 8-14)

Does your child love nature and want to expand their identification skills? During this session, participants will expand their botany skills as they learn to identify fall wildflowers. Skills acquired during this session will help participants to identify plants on their own in the future. Registration for this class includes Gardens admission for one child and one adult.

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.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $8 / $10

Budding Naturalist: Maine Tree Walk & Fall Foliage Suncatcher (Ages 8-14)

During this session, participants will learn handy tricks for remembering both the coniferous and deciduous trees of the Maine woods. Participants will also gain an understanding of the science behind fall foliage and collect a variety of fall leaves along their walk to create a colorful suncatcher that captures the essence of fall. Registration for this class includes Gardens admission for one child and one adult.

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.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12

Create a Succulent Garden Planter (Ages 8+)

This family-friendly, hands-on workshop will have you exploring your gardening creativity in a whole new way! Bring a part of the garden inside this fall as we take cuttings from our succulent plants and arrange them together in a planter to grow at home. Participants will learn how to grow, propagate, and care for their succulent arrangement. All materials provided.

This class is open to both children and their parents, both of whom can make their own planter, but must register separately to do so. Registration includes Gardens admission, so please feel free to come earlier in the day to walk the Gardens before class. Class will take place entirely outside, so please dress for the elements.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $30 / $45

Homeschool Days: Pollinators (Ages 5-12)

Friday, May 19, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., noon-1:30 p.m., & 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

We’ll introduce students to our different pollinators and their flower preferences, knowledge that will be reinforced through observations together in the Gardens. Students will also have the opportunity to dissect a flower to understand its parts, gaining a better understanding of the process of pollination and the critical role pollinators play in a plant’s life cycle. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Spring Blooms Watercolor Workshop for Ages 8-13 (Sold Out)

We’ll begin by walking through the Gardens to select spring blooms like tulips, daffodils, and azaleas, making them the subject of this watercolor workshop. Once back in the classroom, we’ll work on painting larger-than-life flowers, focusing on observation techniques and 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. Whether new to watercolor, or working on refining your skills, this class is appropriate for all skill levels. All art supplies will be included.

Erica Qualey lives in Maine and works as a watercolor artist and illustrator. She is an award-winning member of the New England Watercolor Society and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Teaching students of all ages to draw and paint has become another passion for Erica in recent years. Her youth programming through the Skidompha Library is very popular, and she has also worked with children through visiting artists programs. She was recently awarded a grant from the Maine Arts Association supporting her work as a virtual art educator.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erica Qualey
Price: $55 / $69

Homeschool Days: Pollinator ID Walk (Ages 9-18)

Monday, May 22, 10-11:30 a.m. & Monday, June 5, 2-3:30 p.m.

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 the different types of pollinators they come across. 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. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Zac Smith-Hess
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Decomposers (Ages 5-12)

Monday, May 22, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & noon-1:30 p.m.

Students will investigate life underground, discovering 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. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Sense of Wonder (Ages 5-13)

Tuesday, May 9, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. & Monday, May 22, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Students will explore the web of life in our forest ecosystem through the lens of author, marine biologist, conservationist, and seasonal Maine resident, Rachel Carson. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Spring Wildflowers (Ages 9-18)

Friday, May 19 & Monday, May 22, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Students will practice thinking like a botanist as they learn about different plant characteristics and how to use a key to identify the spring wildflowers they discover. The skills they acquire will help them identify plants on their own in the future. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Birds (Ages 8-18)

Tuesday, May 9 & Monday, June 5, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Join us on a walk to identify migrating birds as well as those that spend the season nesting and raising their young here in Maine. Students will learn to identify birds by their calls and identifying features. Binoculars will be available to borrow. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Bridget VerVaet
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Bees (Ages 5-18)

Tuesday, May 9 & Monday, June 5, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & noon-1:30 p.m.

Do you know the difference between native and nonnative bees? Go behind the scenes at our Learning Apiary with our resident entomologist, Zac Smith-Hess, to take a peek inside a honeybee hive and get a glimpse into the life of these fascinating creatures. Then visit our native bee hub to learn about the differences between our native and nonnative bees and why both are crucial pollinators in our gardens. Please note that we’ll keep a safe distance from the active hives. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Zac Smith-Hess
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Maine Woods Walk (Ages 9-18)

Monday, June 5, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Students will learn how to identify common Maine trees and distinguish a conifer tree from a deciduous one. Students will also gain an understanding of the ecology and cultural history of our native trees. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Pollinator ID Walk (Ages 9-18) (Canceled)

Tuesday, June 13, 1-2:30 p.m.

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 the different types of pollinators they come across. 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. A discount will be given to families who register multiple children or for multiple programs.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Zac Smith-Hess
Price: $10 / $12

Nature Journaling Workshop for Ages 9-14

Wednesday-Friday, June 28-30, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Create a nature-journaling keepsake! During this three-day workshop, students will explore the Gardens and surrounding woodlands, learning how to make journal observations that combine words and imagery. Once back in the classroom, learn lettering techniques using ink and how to add color, detail, lines, and texture using watercolors and colored pencils. We’ll discuss journal page design and layout, and everyone will get to take a journal of completed works home, ready to house more of their nature observations in the future. All materials provided. Parents/Guardians are welcome to take this class alongside their young artist.

Erica Qualey lives in Maine and works as a watercolor artist and illustrator. She is an award-winning member of the New England Watercolor Society and has exhibited nationally and internationally. Teaching students of all ages to draw and paint has become another passion for Erica in recent years. Her youth programming through the Skidompha Library is very popular, and she has also worked with children through visiting artists programs. She was recently awarded a grant from the Maine Arts Association supporting her work as a virtual art educator.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erica Qualey
Price: $160 / $200

Introduction to Printmaking: Session I for Ages 8-12

Monday-Wednesday, July 10-12, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Does your child have an interest in learning printmaking? Join local artists Debra Arter and Kay Miller as they share their love of the art and various unique printing styles with young artists. Students will visit different parts of the Gardens each day, drawing inspiration and gathering natural materials to use for plant rubbings and botanical monotypes. Students will also experiment with gelli and collagraph plates to make cards, nature books, and framed work. All materials will be provided. Parents/Guardians are welcome to take this class alongside their young artist.

Debra Arter has earned a BA in art education and MFA in fine art. She has been teaching adults and children for over 30 years, both in Maine and internationally—but her favorite is printmaking. Her work will be featured in several curated shows this summer. When not teaching or traveling, she enjoys spending time in her own gardens in Damariscotta. She is a founding member of the Midcoast Printmakers.

Kay Miller's daily interactions with nature provide the starting point for her compositions. Using color and an array of natural materials she has picked and pressed, Kay is able to express how she feels about living on the coast of Maine. The process of monotype printing provides instant satisfaction, while offering a complexity in the layering and changing of form and color.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $160 / $200

Line & Form: Drawing the Trolls, Ages 7-11 (July)

Thursday & Friday, July 13 & 14, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Gardens’ five resident trolls are fabulous sketching subjects! In this two-day workshop, young artists will develop an understanding of shape and form as they create their own sketches of these giants. Students will draw both on-site and in the studio and become familiar with a variety of drawing media, including various pencils and an introduction to watercolor. After capturing the trolls, participants will apply their new skills to other subjects at the Gardens such as butterflies, flowers, and frogs. All materials provided. 

Hélène Farrar has taught and worked in the visual arts for twenty years while actively exhibiting in commercial, nonprofit, and university galleries in New England, New York City, Pennsylvania, Italy, and England. Farrar has a BA in studio art from the University of Maine and an MFA in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College in Vermont. Hélène currently owns and operates her own private art school in Maine out of her “Farmhouse” studio, where she holds a variety of workshops and classes for children and adults.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $100 / $125

Summer Discovery Walk: Pollinators

Tuesdays July 18 & August 29; Friday, August 4

Join us as we search the flowers of the Gardens for the pollinators that make this place possible! Participants will learn about the process of pollination, who qualifies as a pollinator, the differences between them, and the kinds of flowers each loves best. Participants will discover reasons to appreciate pollinators and all they do to sustain the life cycles of so many plants. This free program is intended for children ages 3-8 with an adult caregiver. Please register ONLY for the number of children in your group. Registration is strongly suggested, but walk-ins are welcome even if registration is full. To join the walk, please meet at the entrance of the Alfond Children’s Garden.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay
Instructor: Education Staff
Price: Free

Nature Adventure Camp for Ages 6-8 (Sold Out)

Monday-Friday, July 24-28 | Our summer nature camps provide fun and enriching opportunities for young people to learn about the natural world. Exploration-filled activities will take us on adventures throughout the Gardens and surrounding forests as we investigate bugs, birds, food chains, mammals, sun power, and much 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! Plus, new for 2023, aftercare will be available for campers participating in this camp through our Extended Explorations.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $150 / $187

Summer Discovery Walk: Woodlands

Thursdays, July 27 & August 24

Have you ever looked closely at a tree stump or wondered who might be living in the holes left by woodpeckers? Venture into the woods with us as we investigate the plants and animals that live there and discover how they are all connected. Together we will appreciate the ecology and natural history of the Maine woods. This free program is intended for children ages 3-8 with an adult caregiver. Please register ONLY for the number of children in your group. Registration is strongly suggested, but walk-ins are welcome even if registration is full. To join the walk, please meet at the entrance of the Alfond Children’s Garden.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay
Instructor: Education Staff
Price: Free

Garden Investigators Camp: Wild Wetlands for Ages 6-8 (Sold Out)

Monday-Friday, July 31-August 4 | The Gardens is full of beauty and wonder thriving above ground, but there’s plenty to discover below the surface too! Our many ponds are teeming with life, and campers will spend the week exploring them, catching frogs, salamanders, and aquatic bugs while learning all about their life cycles in the process. Campers will also discover the unique adaptations of the plants and animals that depend on these diverse habitats for their survival. Plus, new for 2023, aftercare will be available for campers participating in this camp through our Extended Explorations.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Karen Jones
Price: $150 / $187

Summer Discovery Walk: Signs of Life in the Garden

Friday, July 14; Thursday, August 10

The Gardens is home to many plants and, in turn, those plants become home to many interesting creatures. Explore the Gardens with us as we look closely for all sorts of signs of life—under leaves and up in the trees, above-ground and below, and even in the pond! A scavenger hunt activity will help guide our search. This free program is intended for children ages 3-8 with an adult caregiver. Please register ONLY for the number of children in your group. Registration is strongly suggested, but walk-ins are welcome even if registration is full. To join the walk, please meet at the entrance of the Alfond Children’s Garden.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay
Instructor: Education Staff
Price: Free

Introduction to Printmaking: Session II for Ages 9-14

Wednesday-Friday, August 16-18, 9:30-a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Using gelatin/glycerin soft plates, brayers, and printing inks, young artists will use cuttings from the Gardens to make multi-layered botanical print sheets and learn how to layer plant forms to get vibrant patterns and compositions. Students will use these prints over the next two days in multiple fun and crafty applications, including collage, simple accordion book-making, and card-making. Students may choose their desired projects from a number of examples and materials. All materials provided. Parents/Guardians are welcome to take this class alongside their young artist.

Mary Beth began making in art in childhood, later discovering watercolors with Stan Keirstead, a regional landscape painter. She has explored printmaking, clay work, painting, collage, gallery ownership, teaching, and collaborations. She currently serves with the Pastel Society of Maine, exhibits her work at Art Space Gallery, and teaches classes in her studio in New Sharon, Maine.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Mary Beth Morrison
Price: $160 / $200

Line & Form: Drawing the Trolls, Aug. (Ages 7-11) (Sold Out)

Monday & Tuesday, August 21 & 22, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Gardens’ five resident trolls are fabulous sketching subjects! In this two-day workshop, young artists will develop an understanding of shape and form as they create their own sketches of these giants. Students will draw both on-site and in the studio and become familiar with a variety of drawing media, including various pencils and an introduction to watercolor. After capturing the trolls, participants will apply their new skills to other subjects at the Gardens such as butterflies, flowers, and frogs. All materials provided.

Hélène Farrar has taught and worked in the visual arts for twenty years while actively exhibiting in commercial, nonprofit, and university galleries in New England, New York City, Pennsylvania, Italy, and England. Farrar has a BA in studio art from the University of Maine and an MFA in interdisciplinary arts from Goddard College in Vermont. Hélène currently owns and operates her own private art school in Maine out of her “Farmhouse” studio, where she holds a variety of workshops and classes for children and adults.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Hélène Farrar
Price: $100 / $125

Summer Discovery Walk: The Five Senses

Monday, July 3; Saturday, July 29; Tuesday, August 15; Thursday, August 31

Discover all that you can see, smell, hear, feel, and even taste as we tour the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses together, experiencing the Gardens in new ways as you focus on each of your senses. This free program is intended for children ages 3-8 with an adult caregiver. Please register ONLY for the number of children in your group. Registration is strongly suggested, but walk-ins are welcome even if registration is full. To join the walk, please meet at the entrance of the Alfond Children’s Garden.

Location: Alfond Children's Garden Boothbay
Instructor: Education Staff
Price: Free

Homeschool Days: Life of a Butterfly (Ages 9-18)

We'll introduce students to native butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle as we visit our Native Butterfly House. Participants will learn about the unique adaptations of these insects, their role in the food web, and their key differences. We'll also discuss how to grow a garden to support these pollinators. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Pollinator ID Walk (Ages 9-18)

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 resident entomologist Zac Smith-Hess as he shows students how to identify any pollinators we come across. Students will also learn fun facts about flowers and their relationship with these amazing creatures. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

Learn More
Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Zac Smith-Hess
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Life of a Butterfly (Ages 5-10)

A native Maine butterfly sits on a smiling child's cheek.Tuesday, September 19, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
Monday, September 25, 2-3:30 p.m.

We'll introduce students to native butterflies and moths in all stages of their life cycle as we visit our Native Butterfly House. Participants will learn about the unique adaptations of these insects, their role in the food web, and their key differences. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for more than one Homeschool Days program or register more than one child for the same program receive a special discounted rate at checkout.

Erika Huber is the Youth and Family Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She holds degrees in forestry and horticulture and has over fifteen years of experience working with children in environmental and gardening education.

Bridget VerVaet is the Youth Programs Educator and has worked at the Gardens since 2018; you can most often find her leading youth groups and families in nature-based education programs. She holds a degree in biology and enjoys sharing the wonders of the natural world with guests of all ages.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Apple Cider Pressing (Ages 4-12)

Students will learn about the botanical and cultural history of apples as they participate in making apple cider with an old-fashioned press. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: All About Seeds (Ages 4-9)

[caption id="attachment_30928" align="alignleft" width="225"]Homeschool Days All About Seeds Homeschool Days All About Seeds[/caption]

Tuesday, September 19, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.
Monday, September 25, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; noon-1:30 p.m
Thursday, October 5, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Students will discover the wonders held within a seed, then go garden-exploring to see how plants spread their seeds in the fall. We'll dissect a bean seed, review the life cycle of a plant, learn about the importance of seeds in nature, and explore how seeds have adapted for survival over time. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult. Families who register for more than one Homeschool Days program or register more than one child for the same program receive a special discounted rate at checkout.

Erika Huber is the Youth and Family Program Manager at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. She holds degrees in forestry and horticulture and has over fifteen years of experience working with children in environmental and gardening education.

Bridget VerVaet is the Youth Programs Educator and has worked at the Gardens since 2018; you can most often find her leading youth groups and families in nature-based education programs. She holds a degree in biology and enjoys sharing the wonders of the natural world with guests of all ages.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Erika Huber
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Plant Adaptations (Ages 9-15)

Understand plant adaptions by learning about Earth’s biomes. Through in-depth classroom investigations and field explorations, students will be able to identify the physical traits that help plants survive in nature. Registration for this program includes admission for one child and one adult.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12

Homeschool Days: Maine Woods Walk (Ages 9-18)

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.

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Location: Bosarge Family Education Center Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay
Instructor: Multiple Instructors
Price: $10 / $12