We welcome visits from all area schools and charge no fees for the many educational programs we offer. In addition to the following programs, we can also develop customized presentations to meet your curriculum needs with sufficient advance notice. A typical program involves a 15-20 minute slide/lecture introduction in the Ross Center, followed by 60-90 minutes of field work-hiking, observing, collecting, etc. --and a 30-60 minute work time back at the Ross Center, where students can identify their finds and create collages, posters, and other handworks as souvenirs of their trip. Programs are tailored to the specific age groups taking them. The listings below are grouped with the season most appropriate for each, but we are happy to offer any program whenever it works best for your curriculum. If transportation is a problems , we can even arrange a presentation at your school.

In the spring...
Eagle watch: Tours of nearby Fernald's Neck at Megunticook Lake, with Merryspring's telescope trained on a bald eagle nest
Geology: (can be combined with Eaglewatch) The basics of how continental collisions & glaciation have shaped the mid-coast
Seed Starting: Students get to use our greenhouse to start plants for their own gardens
Wetlands: Tours of the Goose River wetland in the Park- fiddleheads, returning birds, pollywogs and lost golf balls

In the fall...
Basic Woodcraft: Choosing a campsite, making a fire, and using a knife to make simple toys and tools.
All About Apples and Cider- An introduction to different varieties, and a change to use Merryspring's cider press
Camouflage in Nature: Examples, activities and games that show the range of this essential natural defense.
Native Trees and Shrubs: An introduction to the most important and common species found in mid-coast Maine.

In the winter...
Wildlife Detective: Tracking, observing, and solving animal mysteries from the clues they leave in fields and woods
Design in Nature: Studying how native animals and plants are designed to live in our climate.
Garden Design & Planning: Teaches the basics of designing a garden, and leads into our spring seed-starting course.
Handcrafted Gifts: Students collect natural materials and make wreaths, baskets, and centerpieces for holiday giving.