Damariscotta River Association

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Home Who We Are Education Events/News History Project Volunteer Opportunities Salt Bay Farm Heritage Center Public Access Links	(updated 1/26/2010) The Damariscotta River Association’s Education Program, The School for Field Naturalists: Our goal is to enable students to make their own discoveries about the natural world. Engaging in this process of discovery is what connects them to nature. All programs are designed to teach basic concepts of ecology and integrate hands-on opportunities to learn scientific methods. Students learn to study, analyze, and interpret natural systems through intensive observation. In the tradition of the great American naturalists like Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson, we teach observation as a critical life skill and as a data-gathering process by which we can discover the natural world. Providing youth and the public with opportunities to better understand and experience the natural world also furthers the Damariscotta River Association’s (DRA) goal of “preserving and promoting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Damar-iscotta River watershed for the benefit of all.” Several programs are offered depending on the season. Click on the following links for more information. Jr. Naturalist After-School Program Wild Encounters – Homeschool & Group Programs Frogs and Pollywogs February Vacation Winter Camp (Grades 2 – 5) Natural History Programs for Groups School for Field Naturalist Programs Jr. Naturalist After-School Program: Inquiry-based, hands-on learning program in a safe outdoor environment for Grades 2-6. The DRA site is on a bus route from the local elementary school and near to Route 1. Fee: $40 members / $50 non-members (partial scholarships available). Meets Thursdays and Fridays (excluding Maine AOS 93 School Vacation days), from 3:15 – 4:45 pm. RSVP 563-1393 January 2010 – Winter Wildlife: tracks and signs, build a bird feeder, play games February – Winter Survival Skills: fire starting, shelter building, nature journaling (excluding the 15th-19th) March – Forests: explore the woods, core a tree, collect sap and cook it to syrup April – Birds! go bird watching, learn calls and songs, study migration (excluding the 19th-23rd) May – Great Salt Bay: salt marsh and estuary explorations Return to List of Programs Wild Encounters: A regular program for Homeschool Families and Groups – Join us from 10:00 am–12:00 noon the first Thursday of each month. Geared for ages 5 and up (younger may come) RSVP required. Fee: $3.00/child December 3 – Wilderness Survival Skills – emergency preparedness, fire-starting, shelter-building January 7, 2010 – The Forest in Winter – winter ecology, animal tracks and signs February 4, 2010 – Wetlands in Winter: drill through the ice and make discoveries March 4 – Maple Syruping: tap trees and taste sap, learn about trees April 1 – Budburst and Phenology: be a scientist and study timing in nature May 6 – Birds! observe birds in migration and learn to use binoculars and guides June 3 – Horseshoe Crabs: catch salt marsh critters (come prepared to wade) Return to List of Programs Frogs and Pollywogs: Preschool (ages 2-5) and their parents/guardians – Join us 9:30-10:30 the first Friday of each month. Hike included. RSVP required. Fee: $2.00/child December 4 – Beavers (and other Mammals) – learn all about Maine’s mammals January 8 – Who Goes There? – animal tracks and signs, make a plaster track to take home February 5 – Wetlands in Winter: drill through the ice and make discoveries March 5 – Maple Syruping: tap trees and taste sap, learn about trees April 2 – Forest Friends: visit the woods and make discoveries May 7 – What Makes A Bird, A Bird? View artifacts, make a field guide June 4 – Horseshoe Crabs: catch salt marsh critters (be prepared to wade) Return to List of Programs February Vacation Winter Camp (Grades 2 – 5): Feb 15th – 19th Nature/adventure camp during winter vacation. RSVP Times: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Fee: $165 member / $175 nonmember for four days (partial scholarships available) February 15th – 19th Winter Adventures: build quinzhees, explore wetlands, hikes & games, nature journaling, drill through the ice to investigate aquatic life, dog sledding (if snow permits), winter hikes, study animal tracks and signs and more! Return to List of Programs *Natural History Programs for Groups:* We offer many programs for formal groups (school classes, clubs, etc). A program on climate change began in 2008, and there are many additional topics to choose from including: forest ecology, insect adaptations, seeds and dispersal mechanisms, coastal ecology, and mammals of Maine. Programs are designed to work towards state learning results. More information is available here. Return to List of Programs Sarah Gladu, Education Coordinator Damariscotta River Association Phone: (207) 563-1393 FAX (207) 563-2639 dra@draclt.org Top
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(updated 1/26/2010)

The Damariscotta River Association’s Education Program,
The School for Field Naturalists: Our goal is to enable students to make their own discoveries about the natural world. Engaging in this process of discovery is what connects them to nature. All programs are designed to teach basic concepts of ecology and integrate hands-on opportunities to learn scientific methods. Students learn to study, analyze, and interpret natural systems through intensive observation. In the tradition of the great American naturalists like Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson, we teach observation as a critical life skill and as a data-gathering process by which we can Practicing Observation of Nature discover the natural world. Providing youth and the public with opportunities to better understand and experience the natural world also furthers the Damariscotta River Association’s (DRA) goal of “preserving and promoting the natural, cultural and historical heritage of the Damar-iscotta River watershed for the benefit of all.”

Several programs are offered depending on the season. Click on the following links for more information.

Jr. Naturalist After-School Program
Wild Encounters – Homeschool & Group Programs
Frogs and Pollywogs
February Vacation Winter Camp (Grades 2 – 5)
Natural History Programs for Groups

School for Field Naturalist Programs
Jr. Naturalist After-School Program: Inquiry-based, hands- Winter Wildlife Tracking Program on learning program in a safe outdoor environment for Grades 2-6. The DRA site is on a bus route from the local elementary school and near to Route 1. Fee: $40 members / $50 non-members (partial scholarships available). Meets Thursdays and Fridays (excluding Maine AOS 93 School Vacation days), from 3:15 – 4:45 pm. RSVP 563-1393

January 2010 – Winter Wildlife: tracks and signs, build a bird feeder, play games
February – Winter Survival Skills: fire starting, shelter building, nature journaling (excluding the 15th-19th)
March – Forests: explore the woods, core a tree, collect sap and cook it to syrup
April – Birds! go bird watching, learn calls and songs, study migration (excluding the 19th-23rd)
May – Great Salt Bay: salt marsh and estuary explorations

Return to List of Programs

Wild Encounters: A regular program for Homeschool Families and Groups – Join us from 10:00 am–12:00 noon the first Thursday of each month. Geared for ages 5 and up (younger may come) RSVP required. Fee: $3.00/child

December 3 – Wilderness Survival Skills – emergency preparedness, fire-starting, shelter-building
January 7, 2010 – The Forest in Winter – winter ecology, animal tracks and signs
February 4, 2010 – Wetlands in Winter: drill through the ice and make discoveries
March 4 – Maple Syruping: tap trees and taste sap, learn about trees
April 1 – Budburst and Phenology: be a scientist and study timing in nature
May 6 – Birds! observe birds in migration and learn to use binoculars and guides
June 3 – Horseshoe Crabs: catch salt marsh critters (come prepared to wade)

Return to List of Programs

Frogs and Pollywogs: Preschool (ages 2-5) and their parents/guardians – Join us 9:30-10:30 the first Friday of each month. Hike included. RSVP required. Fee: $2.00/child

December 4 – Beavers (and other Mammals) – learn all about Maine’s mammals
January 8 – Who Goes There? – animal tracks and signs, make a plaster track to take home
February 5 – Wetlands in Winter: drill through the ice and make discoveries
March 5 – Maple Syruping: tap trees and taste sap, learn about trees
April 2 – Forest Friends: visit the woods and make discoveries
May 7 – What Makes A Bird, A Bird? View artifacts, make a field guide
June 4 – Horseshoe Crabs: catch salt marsh critters (be prepared to wade)

Return to List of Programs

February Vacation Winter Camp (Grades 2 – 5): Feb 15th – 19th Nature/adventure camp during winter vacation. RSVP

Times: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Fee: $165 member / $175 nonmember for four days (partial scholarships available)
February 15th – 19th Winter Adventures: build quinzhees, explore wetlands, hikes & games, nature journaling, drill through the ice to investigate aquatic life, dog sledding (if snow permits), winter hikes, study animal tracks and signs and more!

Return to List of Programs

Natural History Programs for Groups: We offer many programs for formal groups (school classes, clubs, etc). A program on climate change began in 2008, and there are many additional topics to choose from including: forest ecology, insect adaptations, seeds and dispersal mechanisms, coastal ecology, and mammals of Maine. Programs are designed to work towards state learning results. More information is available here.

Return to List of Programs

Sarah Gladu, Education Coordinator
Damariscotta River Association
Phone: (207) 563-1393
FAX (207) 563-2639
dra@draclt.org

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