Acorns, or oak nuts, have remained an important and nutritious food source for many animals, including humans, around the world for hundreds of thousands of years. The oak tree has sustained human civilization since its inception in countless ways. Why have we in our modern culture nearly forgotten how to harvest, process, honor and eat this incredible food? Learn to identify, harvest, process, store, and use acorns in the kitchen. We’ll cover the whole process: identification, gathering, storage, processing, leaching and cooking. Homemade acorn bread, acorn muffins and other acorn-based snacks will be available as free samples.

Interested in the night sky? Join us for an enchanted evening of star-gazing! Hosted by members of Southern Maine Astronomers (SMA), these ‘star parties’ include naked eye, binocular, telescopic, or electronically-aided telescopic viewing with the support of trained volunteers, as well as brief talks or demonstrations focused on the how-to's of observing. SMA is a community of folks interested in astronomy, a few of us even do that as a job. We learn and exchange ideas at meetings that include an astronomy talk and open mic discussions of recent observing experiences or other astro-bites. The tone is light, we're in this for fun. We look at (or photograph) stuff in the sky at our star parties, talk about the objects we see, share views and information about our gear. *Rain/Cloud Date: 10/17.

Join seasoned forager David Spahr on an immersive mushroom hunt, exploring habitats, structures, and safe foraging practices. Uncover surprises in each walk, shaped by season and location. Suitable for all ages (8-15 with a registered parent), this moderate-difficulty hike promises an exciting, educational adventure. Supply List: Notebook and pen to take notes, sensible clothing and footwear, water, snack and bug repellant. A basket or bags are optional. NOTE: This class will start with an outdoor talk at the waterfront followed by the walking portion.

We’ll be outside practicing how to follow and set bearings and navigation tricks of the trade in the light and in the dark! A compass never runs out of batteries or fails to connect with a satellite. *Students should have taken Map & Compass Level 1 or have experience using compasses with maps. **Students must have a headlamp, a flashlight and a 2-degree baseplate compass.

Crave the forest's bounty? Join David (65+ years of experience!) for an immersive foraging adventure. Learn to identify edible treasures, from berries to mushrooms, and uncover the secrets of plant ecology. This isn't just a walk, it's a transformative experience that fills your basket and your soul! Limited spots, register today! David is a member of the Maine Mycological Assoc. NOTE: This class will start with an outdoor talk at the waterfront followed by the walking portion.

Learn to identify, regeneratively gather and harvest, properly store and process, and weave with pine needles. We'll cover the basics of coiled basketry, which is a global, ancient human skill, and create a wonderful pine-needle basket. All tools and materials will be provided. *Program includes all required tools and materials.

Learn the basics of coastal navigation using local charts, parallel ruler, and dividers. Learn what the symbols mean, how to determine safe and dangerous routes, create courses, learn rules of the “road”, what aids to navigation look like and do, plan for emergencies and more. For kayakers, sailors, powerboaters, and future Registered Maine Guides. There is homework to complete between classes and students will have access to an online textbook. Students will need either a Casco Bay Chart or Penobscot Bay Chart, parallel ruler and dividers. This course is offered via Zoom over two sessions. This is a LEVEL 1 program.

Learn how to sharpen knives, axes, pruners, scissors, and other blade tools. Bring your own dull tools that need to be touched up, or come to practice sharpening on some of our tools and stones. We'll cover the basic theory behind sharpening edge tools, and practice using a variety of sharpening stones. Whetstones will also be available for purchase. *Program includes all required tools and materials.