Looking for events on specific dates? Click here to see our public calendar.
Spring O.W.L Outings
March 15: Winter Adaptations in Lubec, 12 - 3 pm. Register Here
April 19: Nature journaling on Tunk Mountain, 10 am - 2 pm.
May 17: Spring Observations at Tide Mill Creek, 1 - 4 pm.
OWL outings are for women ages 16+. Free to participate
Click here for more information on OWL and these outings. OWL is a collaborative project between Maine Outdoor School and Women for Healthy Rural Living.
HomeSchool Programs
with Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA) and Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Tuesday, March 11 - The Carbon Cycle
Tuesday, April 1 - The Role of Humans and Land Trusts in the Ecosystem
Tuesday, May 13 - Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration
Tuesday, June 3 - Soil Science and Decomposition
This program series is designed for the Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA) of homeschoolers. For more information and to register, email independentdowneast@gmail.com.
Camping Skills & Secrets Workshop for Women and their Families
with Women for Healthy Rural Living
Saturday, 4/5/25, 2-5pm, Milbridge Commons
Are you curious about camping but unsure where to start? Or maybe your last trip left you wishing for a little more comfort and ease? Join Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark for a hands-on, interactive workshop designed to equip you with the essential skills and insider tips to make camping what it should be--a fun and inspiring way to connect with the outdoors and the people you choose to bring with you.
Participants will learn how to select an appropriate campsite and use a tent, learn about sleep systems and what to pack, animal-safe food storage, and planning your camping meals. Expect hands-on practice and plenty of time to ask questions. Have some camping equipment you'd like to practice with or learn about? Bring it along! Registration to come
Map & Compass Basics for Women and their Families
with Women for Healthy Rural Living
Knowing how to use a map and compass can be the difference between a fun outdoor adventure and a scary one. Your phone or GPS won’t always work, but a compass and your brain will—if you know how to use them! Learn how to use a compass, take bearings, and triangulate your location through this two-part course with Registered Maine Guide Hazel Stark.
Day one will be based at Milbridge Commons to learn the basics and get some hands-on practice on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10am-2pm.
Day two will be in the woods and on the shore out on Beals Island (a bridged island), where you’ll apply your new skills on Sunday, May 4, 2025 from 12-4pm.
Compasses will be available to borrow if you don't have your own. Registration to come
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
Annual New Year’s Eve Sunset Hike with Crabtree Neck Land Trust, Winter ‘24
OWL Outing Club for Women finding fungi, discovering mosses and mushrooms, and learning tips on winter plant identification with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Fall ‘24
“Take Any Subject Outside” Workshop at Dear Teacher Conference with Island Readers and Writers, Fall ‘24
Community Hike with the Natural Resources Council of Maine and Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Fall ‘24
Family Watershed Program with Beech Hill Pond Lake Association, Summer 24
Riverside Family Scientist Series with Ellsworth Public Library and Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Summer ‘24
Watershed Camp with Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Summer ‘24
Forest Camp with Downeast Coastal Conservancy, Summer ‘24
OWLette Girls Camp with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Summer ‘24