Programs & Camps

Our programs for children inspire lifelong connections to the natural world for all budding scientists, artists, gardeners, and nature lovers. Kids explore the science and wonder of the natural world through explorations, summer camps, or naturalist programs. There is always something at the Gardens to spark the imagination and add memories and magic to your visit.

Are you looking for more classes for teens (ages 14+)? Many of our “all levels” adult classes have youth pricing available. 

Scholarships are available for families with a financial need. To learn more or request an application, please contact ehuber@mainegardens.org.

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October 6

Homeschool Days: Sensational Seeds (Ages 4-10)

Tuesday, September 23, 2-3 p.m.
Monday, October 6, 10-11 a.m.

What are plants up to in the fall? Let's find out together! We'll look for interesting seeds and seedpods (including some you can eat!), learn about seed dispersal and the life cycle of a plant, and discover the importance of seeds and their many adaptations! Participants will also make wildflower seed bombs 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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:00am-11:00am

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $10–12

October 6

Homeschool Days: Fall Wildflowers (Ages 8 & up)

Tuesday, September 23, noon-1:30 p.m.
Monday, October 6, 10-11:30 a.m.

Learn beginner botany skills and put them to use as we explore and learn to identify fall wildflowers on a walk through our woodlands. Led by Dylan Dubay of our Plant Science and Collections team, this session includes a look inside our herbarium—a special place where dried plant specimens are stored for scientific study and research. Participants will leave with new skills and knowledge to help them identify plants on their own.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:00am-11:30am

Instructor: Dylan Dubay

Cost: $10–12

October 6

Homeschool Days: Fall Foliage (Ages 6 & up)

Wednesday, October 1, 2 -3 p.m.
Monday, October 6, noon-1 p.m.

Learn handy tricks for identifying (and remembering) coniferous and deciduous trees in the Maine woods. Participants will also gain an understanding of the science behind fall foliage and collect vibrant fall leaves to create a colorful suncatcher that captures the spirit of the season.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $10–12

October 6

Homeschool Days: Mushrooms & Ferns (Ages 8 & up)

Tuesday, September 23, 10-11:30 a.m.
Wednesday, October 1, 10-11:30 a.m.
Monday, October 6, noon-1:30 p.m.

Ferns and mushrooms may be easy to overlook, but both are important members of the forest ecosystem. Fall is the perfect time to wander through the woods to search for them—especially mushrooms, which love the season's damp, cool weather. Discover what makes ferns and mushrooms unique, the roles they play in the forest, and how to identify them.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Instructor: Multiple Instructors

Cost: $10–12

October 6

Homeschool Days: Mindful Gardening (Ages 5-12)

This interactive, plant-based session led by Gardens horticultural therapist Garron Dorr will help strengthen interpersonal skills, hand-eye coordination, math and science problem-solving, and applied critical thinking through engaging, hands-on activities. Designed to be inclusive of all abilities and learning levels, this session will be adapted to meet each participant's needs. Students will participate in a take-home activity and then head out on a guided exploration 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.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm

Instructor: Garron Dorr

Cost: $10–12

October 17

Homeschool Days: Harvest Day (Ages 4-10)

Celebrate one of the final days of the season as we take in the harvest and all that fall has to offer. We’ll investigate plant parts and their role in the life cycle, search for a variety of seed pods, 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 multiple children or for multiple programs will receive a discount at checkout. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:00am-11:00am

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $10–12

October 17

Homeschool Days: Finding Calm in Nature (Ages 6-10)

Tuesday, September 23, noon-1 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1, 10-11 a.m.
Friday, October 17, 10-11 a.m.

In this session, children will discover self-calming strategies that they can use while spending time outdoors. We'll explore nature-inspired yoga, practice using our senses to build mindfulness, and try simple activities that help cultivate a sense of awe and wonder. By bringing mindfulness and the natural world together, children gain tools to navigate big feelings and connect with their inner calm and joy.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:00am-1:00pm

Instructor: Beth Jarvis

Cost: $10–12

October 17

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

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/qpbuYg0PFK
This form does not guarantee a spot in the class
// 

This sweet session will introduce students to the botanical and cultural history of apples as they make apple cider with an old-fashioned press. This hands-on activity celebrates the flavors and traditions of fall while connecting learners with the plants behind the process.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm

Instructor: Education Staff

Cost: $10–12

October 17

Homeschool Days: Succulent Garden Planter (8 & up)

Friday, October 17, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.

This hands-on workshop will have kids exploring gardening and creativity in a whole new way! Bring the garden inside this fall by planting succulent cuttings into a container to nurture at home. Participants will learn how to grow, propagate, and care for their succulent arrangement.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 12:00pm-1:30pm

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $16–20

October 17

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

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/qpbuYg0PFK
This form does not guarantee a spot in the class
// 

This sweet session will introduce students to the botanical and cultural history of apples as they make apple cider with an old-fashioned press. This hands-on activity celebrates the flavors and traditions of fall while connecting learners with the plants behind the process.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm

Instructor: Education Staff

Cost: $10–12

October 17

Homeschool Days: Succulent Garden Planter (8 & up)

Friday, October 17, noon-1:30 p.m. & 2-3:30 p.m.

This hands-on workshop will have kids exploring gardening and creativity in a whole new way! Bring the garden inside this fall by planting succulent cuttings into a container to nurture at home. Participants will learn how to grow, propagate, and care for their succulent arrangement.

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. Financial aid is available. Please email Erika Huber at ehuber@mainegardens.org for an application.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 2:00pm-3:30pm

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $16–20

October 18

Decoupaged Pumpkins

Wow your neighbors and friends with these stunning decoupaged pumpkins. Gardens' Arts Coordinator Caroline Clare Davis will demonstate how to adorn your fall centerpiece with pressed garden flowers, grasses, and berries. Each participant will go home with one small pumpkin and one medium/large pumpkin. No tricks, only treats here! All levels are welcome. Suitable for teens 14+.

Learn More

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:00am-3:00pm

Instructor: Caroline Davis

Cost: $50–80

October 18

Create a Succulent Garden Planter (Ages 8 & up)

Create a Succulent Garden PlanterThis family-friendly, hands-on workshop will have you exploring your gardening creativity in a whole new way! Bring the garden inside this fall by planting succulent cuttings into a container to nurture at home. Participants will learn how to grow, propagate, and care for their succulent arrangement.

This class is open to both children and their parents. Both can make their own arrangements but must register separately. Registration includes Gardens admission. The class will take place entirely outside, so please dress for the elements.

Location: Bosarge Family Education Center

Time: 10:30am-12:00pm

Instructor: Erika Huber

Cost: $16–22