Join us for a guided, nature walk that will encourage you to slow down and reconnect with nature. During each forest bathing walk you'll be invited to engage in activities like silent observation, mindful breathing, and guided reflection, designed to promote relaxation and rejuvenation. 

These walks are designed for everyone, regardless of fitness level, and no prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to embrace the calming and grounding benefits of nature. Walks are 15+ unless indicated that it is a family walk. Children over the age of 4 must be registered.

Location: Meet at the Trail Map Kiosk

About the Instructor

Constance Woodworth is a certified Forest Therapy Guide from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Program based in California and is currently studying to become a Maine Master Naturalist.

Project Wild K-12 Terrestrial Guide Training

Join us for a walk on the wild side and learn about Project Wild.

Project WILD is an activity based, experiential learning, curriculum guide. It provides wildlife-based environmental education activities that are hands-on, easy to use, and fun. This award-winning curriculum teaches the fundamentals of wildlife ecology, conservation, and ecological issues. While also developing natural science knowledge and critical thinking skills across several different discipline areas. The activities complement existing curricula, Maine state standards, and national academic standards.

This workshop is great for classroom teachers, homeschoolers, scout leaders, nature center educators, conservation leaders, and more.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including a lunch break. Lunch will be provided and is included in the registration price. (Please note your dietary needs on the registration form.) 

Workshop participants will...

- Be introduced to activities that focus on Maine-specific wildlife and habitats.

- Try example activities from the Project Wild K-12 Terrestrial Guide.

- Receive a copy of the Project WILD K-12 Terrestrial Curriculum & Activity Guide (only available through workshops).

- Receive teacher professional development credit hours.

This event will be held both inside and outside so dress for the weather.

Learn more on the Maine Project Wild website or the national website at www.projectwild.org

Check out these two videos to learn more about Project Wild.

Project WILD in the Classroom

Outdoor Learning with Project WILD

Growing Up Wild

Join us for a walk and a ramble through the pre-K world of Growing Up Wild.

Growing Up Wild (GUW) is an activity based, experiential learning curriculum guide. Designed for exploring nature with young children, GUW is an early childhood education program that builds on a child’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them. There are over 20 activities that are specifically designed for children ages 3-7. These lessons can be used in pre-schools, child development centers, and kindergarten classrooms.

The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a lunch break. Lunch will be provided and is included in the registration price. (Please note your dietary needs on the registration form.) 

Growing Up Wild:

• Is written especially for early childhood educators of children ages 3-7.
• Features 27 field-tested, hands-on, nature-based, ready-made thematic units and over 400 experiences in a full-color activity guide.
• Includes outdoor explorations, scientific inquiry, art projects, music and movement, conservation activities, reading and math connections and "Healthy Me" extensions.
• Involves social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive domains to help foster learning and development in all areas.
• Supports developmentally appropriate practice allowing children to learn at levels that are individually, socially, and culturally appropriate.
• Is correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains

 This workshop is great for classroom teachers, homeschoolers, scout leaders, nature center educators, conservation leaders, and more.

Workshop participants will...

• Be introduced to activities that focus on Maine-specific wildlife and habitats.
• Try example activities from the Growing Up Wild.
• Receive a copy of the Growing Up Wild book.
• Receive teacher professional development credit hours.
• This event will be held both inside and outside so dress for the weather.

Learn more on the Maine Project Wild website or the national website at www.projectwild.org

Join Pat Friedman of Fearless-Foodies (www.Fearless-Foodies.com) for a fun afternoon of prepping and cooking 

$125 per person includes take-home recipes, all ingredients needed for preparation, tools and equipment. 

This lively workshop will feature a local August-season bounty of tomatoes, cukes, peppers, kale, celery, corn, zucchini, green beans, herbs, and edible flowers. We'll also share growing and harvesting ideas, while expanding our culinary horizons with renewed flair for serving great food on a budget.

The meal includes:

• Awesome Appetizer ~ Zesty salsa with homemade tortilla chips and taco seasoning.

• Standout Salad ~ Featuring unique vegetable cuts, herbs and edible flowers along with a homemade herbed vinaigrette.

• Tuscan Kale Soup ~ A creamy and delicious, gluten-free, simply made soup with veggies, beans and herbs. We’ll also make a quick no-yeast focaccia to dip in the soup.

The class includes tasty add-ons such as adding seasonal fruits to the salsa, quick pickling, and ways to prepare the soup that will appeal to both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. 

Accessibility Information

We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible:

• Viles Arboretum is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms. • Tables and chairs are provided

• Participants will be standing and moving around, with some light lifting and handling of equipment. Please reach out if you have mobility concerns or need accommodations.

• Instructions will be provided verbally and visually.

NOTE: Please include any dietary restrictions and allergies in advance, at the time of registration, so your needs can be met. Thank you.

About the Instructor

Pat Friedman was born into her family’s New York deli on Long Island. From the age of nine, when her family moved to the Poconos, she worked in their remote Pocono Mountains General Store. There she prepared and served from-scratch salads, bakery goods and deli favorites including specialty foods for the local Scandinavian community. Since moving to Maine, she has been the founder of Sout to Nuts Coffee House, an organic café in Waterville, and currently operates Fearless Foodies, an online cooking and healthy food focused business. A lifelong healthy gourmet chef and avid organic gardener, Pat is also the publisher of the digital Life Recipe Magazine and is writing an international foods cookbook.

Join herbalist, homeopath, and flower essence practitioner Debra Bluth for a guided walk through Viles Arboretum, where you'll meet a variety of medicinal plants and trees along the way. Discover key identifying features, folklore, and traditional uses of these plants from herbal, homeopathic, and flower essence perspectives. Ages 16+

Each walk will feature different plants, so you're welcome to join one or all three for a unique experience every time. Wear sturdy shoes that can handle a bit of dirt!

Potential Plants for Each Walk (subject to change):

Walk #1: Plantain, burdock, dandelion, sumac, yarrow, elder, lungwort, white oak, bloodroot, violet,Solomon seal

Walk #2: Red clover, ginkgo, iris, Japanese knotweed, hawthorn, rose, comfrey, horse chestnut, catalpa,poison ivy, lesser cinquefoil

Walk #3: elecampane, mugwort, lesser periwinkle, goldenrod, Queen Anne’s lace, boneset, gravel root,jewelweed, blue vervain, white cedar, white pine

Register for all 3 walks and use promo code THREE to save 10%

This class is FREE to attend! If you'd like to support future educational programming, you can make a $15 donation during registration.

Space is Limited - Registration Deadline: September 8, 2025

Join us for an engaging half-day workshop that combines classroom learning with hands-on field experience. We'll also include a brief introduction to the Maine Forest Service District Forester services with Jared Gregory, with a sign-up opportunity for those interested in learning more about available forestry assistance. 

This workshop will be led by Chad Hammer, Invasive Plant Biologist with the Maine Natural Areas Program (Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry). 

Morning Classroom Session (2 hours): Learn about invasive plant ecology, spread patterns, and environmental impacts. Discover the critical importance of Early Detection/Rapid Response (EDRR) and which species to prioritize. Master identification techniques for common invasive plants and explore effective management strategies. Get hands-on training with iMap Invasives, Maine's citizen science mapping platform that allows you to contribute valuable data to statewide conservation efforts. 

Lunch Break (30 minutes)

Afternoon Field Experience (60-90 minutes): Put your new knowledge to work during our Invasive Plant Walk & Talk! Explore the trails of the Arboretum while identifying invasive species in nature, learn to recognize environmental patterns that favor invasive establishment, and practice using the iMap Invasives mobile app to document your findings.

All attendees will recieve a free Maine Invasive Plants - Field Guide!

Before the workshop, attendees should register for a free iMapInvasives Account at: https://www.imapinvasives.org/ and download the mobile app if you are interested in learning more about mapping invasives. Click here for an information sheet on iMap

All participants must be 21 years or older. Valid ID is required at check-in.

Discover the ancient art of mead making and transform honey into a decadent, fermented beverage cherished throughout history. Mead, also known as honey wine, is the world’s oldest alcoholic drink. In this immersive workshop, you’ll explore its rich history, learn the basics of brewing and fermentation, and create your own one-gallon batch of mead to take home.

What to Expect

• History & Tasting: Learn about mead's origins and cultural significance while sampling a selection of meads and honeys from across the country. Enjoy about 4-8 ounces of mead throughout the class.
• Hands-On Learning: Step-by-step guidance through the mead-making process, from selecting ingredients to understanding fermentation.
• Tools & Techniques: Learn to measure sugar levels with a hydrometer, determine alcohol content, and practice sterilization and bottling techniques.

Every student will receive the following supplies to continue brewing at home:

• One-gallon glass carboy
• Airlock Hydrometer with a cylinder and brush
• 3-4 lbs. of raw honey and ingredients for a batch of mead
• Detailed directions and a materials list for bottling your finished mead

This class is perfect for beginners and hobbyists interested in home brewing, wine making, or fermentation. Whether you’re curious about mead or looking to refine your skills, this workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to the craft.

Accessibility Information

We aim to make this class as inclusive as possible. Please reach out if you have mobility concerns or need accommodations.

• Location: The venue is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms.
• Seating and Workspace: Tables and chairs are provided
• Physical Effort:Participants will be standing and moving around, with some light lifting and handling of equipment. 
• 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.

Website: https://www.woodthrushwilderness.com/