Outdoor Education
Explore all workshops in the Outdoor Education track below!
Exploring Maine’s Water Ecology
- Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 7
- 2:00 – 3:00 pm
- Open to all youth ages 9 and up
- Maximum 12 attendees
Are you a young scientist who wants to learn more about the ecology of Maine’s oceans? Want to know how microscopic algae are connected to whales and fishermen; or learn about the ecology of your own backyard? Sydney, a UMaine graduate student with an expertise in harmful algae and its community impact will share her research and field observations alongside us and we explore Maine’s natural environment together.
In five engaging virtual sessions, you’ll learn how to design experiments, collect data, and share your observations with your group. Participants must be prepared to get outside between sessions to collect observations locally. Access to a digital camera will be helpful, but is not required.
This workshop is proudly supported by Maine EPSCoR at the University of Maine, and supplies will be mailed to registered attendees’ homes. Join us and unleash your inner scientist as we discover the fascinating ecology of Maine together. Register by June 24.
Fun in the Forest
- Thursday, August 1
- 10:00 – 11:30 am
- Open to all youth ages 9 – 11
- Maximum 15 attendees
What’s in your woods? In this class we will explore native tree species in Maine, why they are important and special, and finish with some forestry arts and crafts! Take a walk through the woods and collect some fun and interesting leaves leading up to this class and we will learn how to press leaves and make leaf etchings all while learning how to identify the trees we see around us. Register by July 18.
Rockhounding
- Mondays July 8, 15, 22, 29, and August 5
- 2:00 – 3:30 pm
- Open to Maine youth ages 9 and up
- Maximum 15 attendees
Do you pick up rocks when you are out walking and collect them? Do you want to spend time with others who do too? Do you want to be able to identify the rocks you find and explore Nature? Join us on a treasure hunt in your own backyard with the added bonus of playing in the dirt. You never know what you might find! We will be discussing and practicing ways to identify different types of rocks found in Maine, finding and sharing rocks in our area, and recording what we find. Optional in-person meet-up at Maine 4-H Days for a session. Optional meeting in Augusta for the Gem and Mineral Show in late August. Possibility of a meet-up at a mineral mine in Western Maine. Register by June 24.
Sun-Sational Science & Crafts
- Wednesdays, July 17, 24, 31, and August 7
- 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Open to all youth ages 5 – 8
- Maximum 10 attendees
Using the bright summer sun, we will work together to create incredible art, and conduct experiments using only solar power (and a few other things)! Harnessing the natural power of sunlight to create unique art pieces such as sun-printing, and sunscreen painting, we will get to watch how the sun works up close! (while also learning about sun safety!) Not only will we be creating art, but we’ll also be learning about the sun and all it does! So get ready to soak up the sun with this fun, and oh-so ‘sun-sational’ workshop! Register by July 3.
Tick Trackers
- Thursdays, July 11, 18, 25
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Open to all Maine youth
- Maximum 10 households (siblings can share materials and screens)
Join the mission to monitor and study ticks in your community! Join Carla and Becca from the 4-H Tick Project for an interactive exploration of ticks in Maine. This workshop will explore ticks by collecting and preserving your own, identifying species, investigating where ticks are found in Maine, taking safety precautions when outdoors, and more. Participants will conduct tick drags to collect tick specimens in their local area. Specimens will be returned to Hancock County 4-H and then submitted to the UMaine Diagnostic Research Laboratory Tick Lab for identification and disease testing, which contributes to the lab’s Tick Surveillance program. Youth data also contribute to a community science (aka “citizen science”) project called the Maine Forest Tick Survey, which is a multiyear, multidisciplinary research project established to determine how forest land management practices impact tick populations and disease risk across Maine. The project provides youth an opportunity to explore ticks and tick-borne diseases, which is a connected story of climate, ecosystem change, and public health.
All materials will be provided and will be available for pick up at your local county Extension office prior to the first meeting. Register by June 17.