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Snowshoe & Literacy
with Augusta Adult & Community Education
Join us for a family literacy snowshoe adventure!
Wander through serene, snow-covered trails with ease using snowshoes and enjoy a story along the way!
Perfect for the whole family!
Sleds and snowshoes are available for use on a first come, first served basis.
About the Instructor
Collaborative Outdoor Education is led by Kelli M Gilzow Stowell, Outdoor Educator from Augusta Adult & Community Education. Family Literacy is appropriate for all ages, abilities, and can usually be modified for inclusivity!
Ice Fishing & Literacy
with Augusta Adult & Community Education
Experience the thrill of fishing at a frozen lake! Learn to use an auger, bait and set your trap!
Ice fishing equipment is available for use. Stay for a short while, set your own trap, and enjoy some time on the pond!
About the Instructor
Collaborative Outdoor Education is led by Kelli M Gilzow Stowell, Outdoor Educator from Augusta Adult & Community Education. Family Literacy is appropriate for all ages, abilities, and can usually be modified for inclusivity!
Help Weave the Willow Tunnel!
with Tracy Weber
Have you admired the enchanting willow tunnel at Viles Arboretum and thought, I’d love to create something like that? Now’s your chance! Join us for one—or both—of our willow weaving sessions, where you’ll help weave last year’s growth back into the tunnel. It’s a hands-on way to learn the art of creating and maintaining a willow tunnel while supporting the Arboretum in preserving this unique feature.
What to Expect
This activity involves a variety of physical tasks, including:
- Being outside, in the cold, for extended periods
- Standing for extended periods
- Climbing on a ladder to reach higher sections of the tunnel
- Using pruners to cut branches, on a ladder and at ground level
- Weaving long branches into the structure, holding them, and tying them with rubber ties
- Reaching above the head
If you have any questions about accessibility, feel free to reach out! We're happy to provide more details and work with you to make this event as accessible as possible.
How to be prepared:
- Experience: No prior experience with willow weaving is required - all skill levels are welcome! This project is suitable for ages 12 and up, when accompanied by an adult.
- Tools: Bring pruners and stepladders if you have them (a limited number will be available to borrow).
- Clothing: Dress for outdoor work, wear sturdy footwear, and gloves.
- Location: We'll meet at the Willow Tunnel, located just behind the barn.
- Weather: This project takes place outdoors, so dress accordingly. In the event of rain or snow, we will reschedule to the next day.
Soil & Seeds
with Augusta Adult & Community Education
Let's Dig In!
Soil is most important when introducing gardening - this workshop will introduce soil concepts for gardeners of any age!
About the Instructor
Collaborative Outdoor Education is led by Kelli M Gilzow Stowell, Outdoor Educator from Augusta Adult & Community Education. Family Literacy is appropriate for all ages, abilities, and can usually be modified for inclusivity!
Fishing Creel Basket Making
with Wood Thrush Wilderness
Learn to create your own creel basket in this hands-on workshop.
While this beautifully crafted basket is designed for fishing enthusiasts, it’s equally perfect for picnics, gathering fresh vegetables from the garden, or collecting treasures while foraging in the woods.
Each basket is approximately 13"W x 8"H x 8"D and features a thoughtfully designed lid, custom-cut to fit securely. The lid is attached with a durable piano hinge for smooth and reliable functionality. Whether you’re an angler, a nature lover, or someone who appreciates fine craftsmanship, this basket is a delightful and functional addition to your collection.
What to Expect in Class
- This is an 8-hour, hands-on workshop suitable for beginners and those with weaving experience
- You'll learn basket weaving techniques and create your own creel basket by the end of the session.
- All materials and tools are provided.
Accessibility Information
We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible:
- Location: The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms
- Seating and Workspace: Tables and chairs are provided
- Physical Effort: Participants will use their hands for weaving and light cutting. If you have mobility or dexterity concerns, please reach out to discuss more details.
- Visual Guidance: Instructions will be given verbally and demonstrated visually. Please let us know if additional support is needed.
About the Instructor
Wood Thrush Wilderness is an outdoor guiding and educational business that helps people connect more deeply with themselves and the natural world. As Licensed Recreation Maine Guides, we offer guided canoe expeditions throughout the state of Maine. We also offer classes and training in outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and traditional crafts such as basketry.
Spring Hike & Nature Journaling
with Augusta Adult & Community Education
Experience spring through nature journaling!
Using a combination of approaches to reflect what we've seen; we will draw, use prompts to evoke and scavenge for delight! Journal will be provided!
About the Instructor
Collaborative Outdoor Education is led by Kelli M Gilzow Stowell, Outdoor Educator from Augusta Adult & Community Education. Family Literacy is appropriate for all ages, abilities, and can usually be modified for inclusivity!
Journaling Backyard Birds: A Creative Workshop
with Andrea Lani
This is a four-session workshop held on Tuesdays from 6:30-8pm. Session dates are April 1, 8, 15, and 22. Registration includes all four weeks.
Join us for a creative and inspiring workshop that combines birdwatching, writing, and art to deepen your connection to nature. In this four-session workshop, we’ll read and discuss select passages from The Backyard Bird Chronicles and use these as inspiration to create illustrated journals of our own bird observations.
Amy Tan’s delightful book The Backyard Bird Chronicles demonstrates how careful observation and recording of the activities of the feathered visitors to our yards and feeders can turn these mysterious wild creatures into familiar friends, each with its own story to tell.
Through in-class lessons and take-home exercises, participants will:
- Learn the basics of nature drawing and writing.
- Develop skills in observing and recording bird behavior.
- Cultivate a creative practice that fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world.
Each participant will receive a blank book for their backyard bird journal, and art supplies will be available for use during class. This workshop welcomes participants of all experience levels—no prior writing, art, or birdwatching skills are required.
To fully enjoy the workshop, participants should have access to:
- A place to observe wild birds outside of class.
- A copy of The Backyard Bird Chronicles.
- A field guide to birds.
- Basic art supplies (pencil, pen, and colored pencils) for at-home exercises.
Accessibility Information
We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible. Please reach out if you have accessibility concerns to see how we can accommodate.
- Location: The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms
- Seating and Workspace: Tables and chairs are provided
About the Instructor
Andrea Lani is the author of Uphill Both Ways: Hiking toward Happiness on the Colorado Trail (Bison Books 2022). Her writing has recently appeared in Still Point Arts Quarterly, Northern Woodlands, and Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology, among other publications, and she's a regular contributor to Green & Healthy Maine Magazine. She's been honored with two Hewnoaks Artist Residencies, has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and was a finalist in the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance 2024 CrimeFlash fiction contest. Andrea has degrees in human ecology and creative writing from College of The Atlantic and the Stonecoast MFA Program and was an editor at Literary Mama for nine years. As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, Andrea guides emerging writers in developing and revising novels and memoirs, and as a Maine Master Naturalist, she teaches nature writing and nature journaling workshops around the state. She lives in central Maine.
Website: www.andrealani.com
Fiddlehead Basket Making
with Wood Thrush Wilderness
Discover the perfect basket for your outdoor adventures! Whether you’re hiking through the forest or gathering treasures from your garden, this handwoven basket is ideal for fiddleheads, mushrooms, herbs, and other small finds.
With a compact yet functional design, this basket measures approximately 4"W x 8"H x 10"L, making it lightweight and easy to carry. Perfect for nature lovers, gardeners, and anyone who appreciates the art of basket weaving, this is a must-have addition to your collection.
What to Expect in Class
- This is a 5-hour hand-on workshop suitable for beginners and those with weaving experience.
- You'll learn basket weaving techniques and compelte your own foraging basket by the end of the session.
- All materials and tools are provided
Accessibility Information
We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible:
- Location: The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms.
- Seating and Workspace: Tables and chairs are provided
- Physical Effort: Participants will use their hands for weaving and light assembly. If you have mobility or dextrerity concerns, please reach out to discuss more details.
- Visual Guidance: Intructions will be provided verbally and visually.
About the Instructor
Wood Thrush Wilderness is an outdoor guiding and educational business that helps people connect more deeply with themselves and the natural world. As Licensed Recreation Maine Guides, we offer guided canoe expeditions throughout the state of Maine. We also offer classes and training in outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and traditional crafts such as basketry.