Help Survey Snakes at Viles Arboretum! 

Join our MCC Steward for a hands-on wildlife survey as we take a closer look at the snakes that call Viles Arboretum home. During each survey, participants will learn more about local snakes, how to handle them, and how to record important data. 

Snakes are key indicators of a healthy ecosystem. Because they are both predators and prey, changes in snake populations can reveal shifts in habitat quality, biodiversity, and environmental health. By surveying snakes, we can track the presence and adundance of different species, monitor changes over time, and make informed decisions about conservation and land management.

No experience is needed
All ages are welcome (kids should come with a grown-up)
We'll be exploring around the pond, so please dress accordingly (waterproof shoes, etc.)

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

Join Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District and Viles Arboretum as we host Maine Forest Service District Forester Jared Gregory on a walk through Viles Arboretum to learn about some key species of Maine's forests.

We will learn what makes species unique, including:

• Distinctive features
• Ecological niches
• Cultural importance
• Insect and disease concerns
• Use as forest products
• Stewardship implications

All attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the "Forest Trees of MaineCentennial Edition - 1908 to 2008" guide to continue your tree identification journey.

Light refreshments will be provided before we head out and we explore the diverse treespecies of the arboretum.

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to enhance your knowledge of Maine's woodlandecology while enjoying the beautiful grounds of Viles Arboretum! Space is limited to 24 attendees, so register today.

You may call 207-626-7989 to register by phone, Wednesday through Saturday from 10:30am-4:30pm.

A Celebration of Maine's Pollinators & Honey Makers

Registrastion is free when you use promo code BUZZ at checkout - now until August 31st. After 8/31 and on the day of the event, registration is $5/person or $15/Household

Celebrate the essential role of bees, butterflies, and other pollinators through hands-on activities, educational exhibits, and sweet local treats. Learn how pollinators support Maine's ecosystems and food systems, get a look at beekeeping up close and talk with local beekeepers.

Explore a vibrant market featuring Maine-based vendors, artisans, and of course, honey makers and products!