Looking for events on specific dates? Click here to see our public calendar.
Teaching That Moves: Outdoor Learning Made Easy
With the Washington County Education Consortium
Thursday, May 21st from 8:30am-2:30pm at the University of Maine at Machias
In this day-long workshop based inside and outside at UMM, Washington County teachers of any grade or subject will learn about the benefits of outdoor learning, experience several activities they can use with their students, and workshop with each other about how to make an indoor curriculum more outdoorsy. Whether you're new to outdoor education or have attended Maine Outdoor School workshops or programs before, you'll be sure to add something new to your teaching toolbox.
Prepare to have fun, connect with other teachers, feel inspired, and be ready to facilitate meaningful, standards-aligned, outdoor learning with your students tomorrow. This workshop will be led by Maine Outdoor School Owner, Naturalist Educator, and Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark in collaboration with the Washington County Education Consortium. Register Here
The Observant Explorer
1-hour Guided Outings with Maine Outdoor School
Sunday mornings from 10 -11 am at the Northeast Harbor Trails.
Sunday, June 14, Maine Nature Discovery: Birds
Sunday, June 28, Maine Nature Discovery: Plants
Sunday, July 12, Maine Nature Discovery: Birds
Sunday, July 26, Maine Nature Discovery: Plants
Sunday, August 9, Maine Nature Discovery: Birds
Learn to notice what most hikers miss with a Registered Maine Guide and Naturalist Educator. Train your eyes and ears while building confidence in identifying the living world around you.
For participants ages 18+. Cost $50/ participant. Register Here
Day Camp--for adults
Saturday, June 27th: Native Plants
Friday, July 3rd: Animals of Maine
9:30 am - 1:30 pm each day at Bangor Land Trust’s Walden-Parke Preserve
Are you an adult who misses summer camp? Here's your opportunity to make some new summer camp memories as an adult!
Summer camp opportunities to learn, have fun, and grow shouldn't just be for kids!
These one-day summer camps will dive deep into Maine’s natural world through games, exploration, and art with Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark. Camp is for participants 18+ and priced per participant.
Camp is $199/day. Register here
OWLette Adventure Camp with Women for Healthy Rural Living
Campers learn outdoor and naturalist skills in an inclusive, non-competitive environment.
Monday-Thursday, June 22-25. Monday and Tuesday: 9 am-3 pm. Wednesday-Thursday: 3 pm-overnight-1 pm. Based at Milbridge Commons Wellness Park and McClellan Park for the camping night. For girls ages 11-14. Free of charge. Registration closes 6/4. Register here
Bird Camp with Downeast Audubon and Birdsacre
Campers will be immersed in the world of birds through hands-on science, up-close sketching of bird ambassadors, and trail exploration.
Tuesday - Friday, July 21-24, 1:30-4:30 pm. Based at Birdsacre, Ellsworth. For youth ages 10-14. Free of charge. Registration closes 6/4. Register here
Watershed Camp with Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Campers will explore the landscape through canoeing, hiking, hands-on exploration, active nature games, and mindful journaling to build knowledge and skills for a lifetime of scientific learning.
Monday -Thursday, August 10-13, 9 am-3 pm. Based at Orange River Preserve, Whiting. For youth ages 10 - 13. Free of charge. Registration closes 6/4. Register here
Woods & Wetlands Camp with Bangor Land Trust
Campers will explore how water shapes the land, uncover the wildlife that depends on wetlands, and trace food webs that connect plants, animals, and people.
Tuesday - Friday, August 11-14, 9 am-3 pm. Based at Bangor Land Trust Preserves. For youth ages 10-13. Free of charge, but donations to Bangor Land Trust are welcome. Registration closes 6/4. Register here
Upcoming O.W.L. Outings
June 13th, 10 am - 2 pm: Long Pond Paddle.
July 16th, 5:30 - 7 pm: Milbridge Commons Wellness Park — Entomology 101
Rescheduled to Thursday, August 6th, 6:30 - 8 pm: Francis B. Wood Preserve — Crepuscular Crawl.Register here
September 19th, 12 - 4 pm: Narraguagus Paddle
Stay tuned for more 2026 outings!
Outdoor Women Lead (O.W.L.) Outings
OWL is a collaborative project between Maine Outdoor School & Women for Healthy Rural Living. OWL outings are for women ages 16+ and free to participate. Outings are led by a Registered Maine Guide with a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification. While all ability levels are welcome, please read the outing description to learn more about the trail and ensure this outing is suited to you. We offer outings of various difficulties throughout the year.
*To determine the difficulty level of outings, we use Maine TrailFinder's difficulty rating system. For more detailed information about these difficulty levels, including visual examples, explore the rating system here.
Spanish language interpreter service is available, as well as a gear library.
Click here for more information on OWL and these outings.
Homeschool Programs
With Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA)
Please stay tuned for future programs!
This program series is designed for the Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA) of homeschoolers. For more information and to register, email independentdowneast@gmail.com.
Summit for a Cause
With Women for Healthy Rural Living
Ten women will join Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark on July 31 – August 2, to experience the splendor and adventure of Katahdin.
This is a peer-to-peer fundraising event for Women for Healthy Rural Living’s Elaine Hill Memorial Nursing Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to Washington and Hancock Counties residents pursuing a post-secondary nursing education.
Custom Outdoor Experiences
Interested in a guided hike or other outdoor learning experience? Visit our Guiding page to schedule your own personalized event!
Virtual Programs
Check out the Outdoor Women Lead (OWL) series, which aims to teach outdoor and naturalist skills through videos, blog posts, and suggested backyard activities. Also visit our Virtual Programming site, which includes a variety of videos that aim to get you engaged in outdoor learning in your own backyard or at a local park or hiking trail.
Past Events
5th Annual New Year’s Eve Sunset Hike with Crabtree Neck Land Trust, Winter ‘25
OWL Outing Club for Women foraging, learning about unique organisms, and winter survival with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Winter ‘25
Community Hike with the Out in the Open and Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Fall ‘25
Little Cranberry Naturalist Camp with Islesford Boatworks, Summer ‘25
Riverside Family Scientist Series with Ellsworth Public Library, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and Woodlawn Museum, Summer ‘25
Forest Camp Day, thanks to community support, Summer ‘25
Watershed Camp with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Summer ‘25
OWLette Girls Camp with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Summer ‘25
Map & Compass Basics for Women and their Families wth Women for Healthy Rural Living, Spring ‘25
“Take Any Subject Outside” Workshop at Dear Teacher Conference with Island Readers and Writers, Fall ‘24