Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century.

All meals are included in the workshop fee, as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private concert by award-winning Celtic Fiddle player, Katherine Moller, in the Victorian parlor of Hubbard House.

Register for the retreat, then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park.

Feedback from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“Mary is a wonderful guide and a gifted teacher.”  “Very helpful watercolor instruction."

This is the 6 hour recertification exam for the CRMA whose certificate is still current. It includes a brief review, presented by the instructor. Plan to study on your own to ensure successful relicensing. Current CRMA holders must provide copy of valid certificate. Call 596-7752 extension 104 to register.

This is a beautiful, educational, & ecological tour to the farthest reaches of Messalonskee Lake aboard the Snowdrifter II--a 25' Godfrey Sanpan Limited Edition Luxury Cruiser. Students will see firsthand the invasive milfoil as it passes alongside the boat just inches below the lake surface. Learn about statewide eradication efforts while enjoying the natural beauty of Messalonskee Lake. Search for Sandhill Cranes and endangered Least Bittern and Black Tern as we travel through the 1300-acre emergent wetland known as the Messalonskee Lake Marsh. The North American Bald Eagles may make their presence known, and you will learn about the history of the area and lake. Captain Gary is a Registered Maine Guide and licensed commercial boat operator. A Rain date will be scheduled, if needed. The boat is handicap accessible for standard-size wheelchairs. Students between the ages of 10-17 years old must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian. Bathrooms will be available on shore. Please mark your calendar and register by June 9th. There will be no refunds after Sunday, June 9th. The class requires a total of 8 students to run.

The third in a yearlong series of five classes offering an introduction to Chinese medicine’s cycle of the Five Elements and Seasons. Stay tuned for additional classes throughout the year as Meret will be covering all of the seasons! Take one or all!

Explore tools for wellness, including self-acupressure, movement, guided meditation, diet and lifestyle guidelines. Summer is the season of the Fire element, of fullness, joy and play. Yang energy, the heart and small intestine meridians, and staying cool and balanced on a heating planet are among the topics we’ll cover. Each session will end with a circle of feedback and closing.

Note: Students new to this series (i.e., did not attend Winter session) should arrive by 8:30 AM so Meret can get you up to speed on general concepts like Qi, Yin & Yang and the Five elements.

Required: Proof of registration, dress comfortably and bring a yoga mat or blanket.

Meret Bainbridge, L.Ac. is the owner of Acupuncture by Meret in Saco. She has been practicing acupressure, acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine since 1996.

Humans have been hunting with bows and arrows for, at least, 60,000 years - six times longer than we have been building cities. Archery is surely a [nearly] global, ancient human skill, and humans have made bows out of wood, bamboo, horn, and other materials throughout the years. Learn to make a bundle bow! The bundle bow is a useful quick bow that can be made largely without the use of knives. All you need are a few sticks and some string to tie ‘em together. Bundle bows can be made to be very strong and accurate! We’ll cover arrow-making, in theory; everyone in the class will receive one factory-made arrow. ***Each child registered must be accompanied by an adult on the day of the workshop. Workshop fee is per child; accompanying adults have free entry.

What is a high-bush cranberry? Is it possible to wash my hair with sidewalk flowers? How can I use invasive plants for good? Be delighted by all that is growing in the city itself, located on beautiful Wabanaki land. Nature is prolific and will pop up through the cracks in the sidewalks and on the edges of the street. We will look closely at what is growing and meet many native and invasive plants, as well as learn about what unique gifts city plants give us. Learn to look closely and learn to identify midsummer plants that you may have in your own backyard. This walk will mostly be on sidewalks, but nearer to the river there is a section with many stairs. The section with stairs will take 15-20 minutes and those who want to skip that part will have access to benches to wait upon. Rain date 7/14.

Meet at the benches between the Saco Post Office and Saco Scoops.  Walk starts promptly at 10:30 AM.

Note: Please communicate any accessibility concerns at registration and we will ask Laura to contact you to discuss any needed accommodations.

Required: Proof of registration. Bring binoculars if you want to see what birds and animals are about. Wear comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, sunscreen, and an optional brimmed hat or cap (which helps with both sun and bugs).

Laura Grover is a plant and bird hobbyist, botanical illustrator for Fedco Seeds, and a mindfulness ambassador. She has led many plant identification and mindful foraging walks for people of all ages. She enjoys bringing people together to look closely in nature, practice mindfulness outside, and be a sensory animal in the woods.

Is Pickleball for you?

Join us for the basics for those new to the game and absolute beginners. Learn the rules of scoring, court basics, the non-volley zone, common terms, faults, hot tips, and serving—the most significant difference from tennis. Students will be notified of weather location change the morning of class.

Required: Proof of registration, pickleball paddle and ball (approx. $15–$40 on Amazon, deals for packs of 2 paddles), active wear, weather-appropriate clothing, tennis shoes, and water.

Andra Yanchenko specializes in fitness, functional movement, and racquet sports. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Health Coach, USTA, USPTA, PTR Coach, and YogaFit Instructor.

Is Pickleball for you?

Join us for the basics for those new to the game and absolute beginners. Learn the rules of scoring, court basics, the non-volley zone, common terms, faults, hot tips, and serving—the most significant difference from tennis. Students will be notified of weather location change the morning of class.

Required: Proof of registration, pickleball paddle and ball (approx. $15–$40 on Amazon, deals for packs of 2 paddles), active wear, weather-appropriate clothing, tennis shoes, and water.

Andra Yanchenko specializes in fitness, functional movement, and racquet sports. She is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, ACE Health Coach, USTA, USPTA, PTR Coach, and YogaFit Instructor.