Kindness is a superpower that every one of us has. We will explore how “intentional acts of kindness” can transform our friendships, relationships, families, workplaces, schools, and politics. We’ll look at the different forms that kindness can take and share our personal experiences with kindness. We’ll explore the creation of our own “personal kindness practices” as well as collective acts of community kindness that are fun, creative, and meaningful. Students will have the chance to experiment with their kindness practices between sessions. We’ll discuss ways to support each other in rising to our kindest selves, including introduction to a wide variety of inspiring readings, films, and talks. This program meets the first Tuesday of every month between March and August 2024. The workshop fee includes access to all monthly meetings. Attending every meeting is not mandatory; feel free to participate when you can.

BECOME A PREMIER MEMBER TODAY! Join the Merrymeeting PREMIERE Membership Club for only $25! *membership fee is annual.

Membership benefits include:

Early Access: Premier members receive our catalogs digitally prior to public distribution, for exclusive early access to class schedules and offerings (actual registration still limited to public release).

Loyalty Program: Premier members receive 25% off every 6th class they take with Merrymeeting (applies to all classes under $100, excluding certain programs).

Catalog Opportunity: Premier members may submit announcements in our future catalogs, as we are dedicating a page for announcements by our Merrymeeting Premiere members. (restrictions apply, contact us directly for details).

Discount Offer: Premier members receive a 10% discount on any Merrymeeting Youth & Family program (excluding DE and any program over $400; can only be used once annually).

Exclusive Media: Enjoy convenient video workshops, on topics ranging from cooking to meditation, with access to our growing library of media (media library will officially launch May 2023).

Subscription Service: Premier memberships include a free subscription to our latest Merrymeeting Premiere Magazine (exclusive annual online publication emailed directly to club members).

Special Invitations: Premier members will enjoy access to special workshops and events developed especially for them.

In this weekly discussion series, professional astrologer Laura Kenworthy will introduce the world of astrology for the curiously-minded. Discussion topics will focus on different themes every week. Laura Kenworthy has studied the astrological archetypes and been a practicing astrologer for over 40 years. She writes the weekly Magical Mexicali astrology blog for Mexicali Blues and sees private clients for readings.She retired to Maine from NYC where she ran the Rudolf Steiner Bookstore on West 15th Street.

A question that is often asked of writers is “where do you get your ideas from?” It is one thing to have an idea; it is another thing entirely to remember it when you sit down at your computer to write. Learn how to harness your writer’s imagination, avoid writer’s block and hone your writing skills by keeping a daily writer’s journal. Your instructor will share tips and techniques for setting up your journal as well as for finding inspiration even when you are not feeling particularly inspired. A blank notebook will be provided, please bring your own writing utensils. Can’t wait to see you there! Join your instructor, writer and author Stephanie Garrity, in taking your journaling practice to the next level.

Discover the difference between the original Maine wild blueberry and hybridized “grocery store” blueberries through a guided tasting experience showcasing a variety of blueberry products made by Mainers. The iconic wild blueberry's 10,000-year history as the original superfood of Maine is an age-old story packed with flavor - we'll leave you in good taste as you see for yourself what sets the Maine wild blueberry apart from the rest! In this class, attendees will learn about Maine's wild blueberry industry while sampling a wide variety of wild blueberry products made by Maine producers.

In this summer camp for beginners, kids ages 8-12 will learn the basics of fencing. Stance, footwork, and bladework will be introduced and explored, and these young fencers will enjoy time to test their skills against their classmates in real fencing bouts on electric pistes. We will take lots of water breaks, and enjoy fencing-related games during this week-long training session. All equipment will be provided. Please be sure each student arrives wearing long athletic pants (no shorts), has clean indoor athletic sneakers, a water bottle, and a packed lunch. En Garde!

Paint Night w/ Shirley! Have you ever wanted to paint on a wine glass? Come join us and paint a set of 4 (no stem) wine glasses with beautiful flowers. This class is designed for beginners. Shirley Anderson will lead you step by step through the process of creating a gorgeous set of wine glasses for yourself or as a special gift. This class has an additional materials fee for supplies of $20, payable to the instructor on the night of the workshop.

Are you interested in obtaining a USCG Captain’s License? Do you want to learn the differences between an Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) license and a Master 100GT license, and what experience the Coast Guard requires for each? These informational sessions will help answer these questions and others about the two licenses. Also discussed will be the different methods for completing the course requirements. We plan to offer both courses in Maine during the Fall of 2024, representing the Captain School Key West/Miami. This information session is free, but please register in advance, so the instructor knows how many individuals will be attending and can send login instructions.