Family Education
Free Family Fridays, Ecology Walks & Summer Camps
Ecology for the whole family
Free Family Fridays, Ecology Walks and two Summer Camps provide a wide range of activities for people of all ages.
Bug Safari
July 19
Butterfly nets in hand with a bug examiner! Head out into the meadow!
Tree Identification
July 26
How many trees do you know? The forest is full! Come explore!
Wildlife Detective
August 2
We head out into the forest and meadows and look for signs of life! What are the animals up to?
Fairy Village
August 9
Populated with forts and fairy houses, the Village is a wonderful place to play and learn.
Exploring Owl Pellets
August 16
How many bones can you find and identify? Kids love owl pellets more than slugs!
Ecology Walks
We invite all ages to attend our free ecology walks. There is one per season on Fridays at 10am. The evening walk in August starts at 8pm. Walks are limited to 12 people and pre-registration is required.
Late Winter
Find out what is happening in nature as the days get longer. Who is awake and about?
Spring
The spring ecology walk in late April finds more birds passing through, snow melting, lots of animal tracks and maybe some early wild flowers.
Evening
The evening ecology walk is special! Starting at 8 pm, we will explore the meadows looking for bats, birds and the night sky.
Autumn
Our autumn walk focuses on the changes in the seasons. What are the trees and birds doing to prepare for winter? Where have the butterflies gone? How are flowers preparing?
Summer Ecology Camps
17Summer Ecology Camps offer exciting, outdoor nature experiences for young children. Registration is now open!
Through gardening, games, experiments, and observation, young campers enjoy an introduction to ecology and the natural world in these half-day camps. Activities include planting and maintaining a flower/vegetable garden, bug hunts, nature hikes, tree and animal identification, an ocean touch tank, and more.
These two weeks of Summer Ecology Camps include Eco-Explorers for children ages 7 to 9, and Little Sprouts for ages 4 to 6. Both camps allow developing minds to get up close and personal with plants, insects, animals, and natural systems they might find in their Maine backyard. Camp activities take place at Merryspring Nature Center, in a mostly outdoor setting.
Summer Ecology Camps are made possible through a partnership between Merryspring Nature Center and Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District.
Eco-Explorers (Ages 7 to 9)
For children ages 7 to 9 who are looking to explore the natural world, conduct experiments, and get up-close-and-personal with the plants, insects, and animals in their Maine backyards.
📅 June 23 – 28, 2024
🕐 8:45 am – 12:00 noon
✔️ Price TBD per camper
📍 Merryspring Nature Center
Little Sprouts (Ages 4 to 6)
For younger campers ages 4 to 6 who love to be outdoors, discover the world around them, play outdoor games, and get creative.
📅 July 7 – 11, 2024
🕐 9:00 am – 11:30 am
✔️ Price TBD per camper
📍 Merryspring Nature Center
Touch Tank
About Soil
Gardening
Fairy Village
Wildlife Detective
Nature Journaling