June 2026 we will be heading to the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, a Colorado River Trip and so much more! 

To register for the trip you can go to worldstrides.com/register using Trip ID #223082.

Please Note: The date for this trip has changed. The new date is July 23, 2025. THIS SESSION IS NOW FULL - ANOTHER SESSION IS AVAILALBE ON AUGUST 20TH.PLEASE SEE ALICE'S SITE TO REGISTER.

Sea kayak to mysterious Malaga Island where indigenous people summer camped and where there was a colony in the late 1800’s that was evicted by the state of Maine. We’ll meet at 8:15am at a public boat launch, get outfitted for our paddling trip and go over safety rules and basic strokes. We’ll paddle 1.5 miles to Malaga Island. While paddling, be on the lookout for harbor seals, sea gulls, great blue herons, snowy egrets, sea ducks, osprey and possibly bald eagles. After landing we’ll hike the 1.2 mile trails of the island. We’ll have the lunch/snacks that you brought at the southern tip of the island. After finishing our hike, we’ll paddle back and return about 2pm. Kayaks, life jackets, and paddles are provided. You need to bring a very small backpack with your lunch, snacks, extra clothing layers, two 20 – 22 ounce bottles of water and possibly a change of shoes for your hike. If you are unable to walk unaided over tree roots and rocks, do not book this trip. All paddling gear is provided for this beginner friendly tour.

Are you interested in obtaining a USCG Captain's License? Do you want to learn the difference between an Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) license and a Master 100GT license, and what experience the Coast Guard requires for each?

This informational session will help answer these questions and others about the two licenses. The different methods for completing the course requirements will also be discussed.

We plan to offer both courses in Maine during the Fall 2025, representing the Captain School Key West / Miami.

This information session is free, but please register in advance, so the instructor knows how many individuals will attend and can send login instructions.

Enjoy a weekend with your instructor, Chris Toy, the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.   

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 be immersed in the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Only Acadian Arts Retreats participants will be allowed to reserve overnight accommodations in the park.

Please note:  Included in the registration is a $40 non-reffundable fee whould you have toi cancel.

Enjoy a weekend retreat with Mary Laury, 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'll 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 plus specially planned evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops. 

Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations.  Only Acadian Arts Retreats will be allowed to reserve overnight accommodations in the park.

​Please note: Included in the registration is a $40 non-refundable fee should you have to cancel.

Enjoy a weekend with your instructor, Chris Toy, the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created. 

Escape to a Grand Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artist, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy balloted sing-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordon Ward. Day students are welcome. For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/.  This is an in-person retreat.

Painting Flower Portraits in Watercolor

Paint flower portraits realistically. You will paint pictures of flowers in detail, but more painterly than a scientific illustration. We won’t count veins, but we will count petals! Painting flowers is a wonderful exercise in observation.

Learn brush stroke and value

White on white flowers

Leaves, long and short

Iris, narcissus, orchids, tulips, and other spring flowers.

 Materials list;

We will paint on smooth paper; Strathmore Series 500, one hundred percent cotton paper, either plate or vellum. This paper can be bought at Artist and Craftsman in Portland in large sheets, which we will cut up.

Bring a #2 round brush and a #6 round brush, pencil, palette, tube watercolors in the 3 primary colors and perhaps a green. Paper towels and water container. And bring a plant or flower specimen with no more than 9 petals. This is a slow and careful process and 9 petals and some leaves is enough happiness for us all.

Escape to a Grand Victorian Inn, the Harbor View House in Prospect Harbor on the coast of Maine, with an intimate group of artist, cooks and creatives! All meals are included in the workshop fee plus special activities to extend your learning from the day’s workshops, including a private house concert by Grammy balloted singer-songwriter, storyteller, and author Gordon Ward. Day students are welcome.

For more information about the workshop, call Mary at 207-632-2251. To book your stay at the inn call 207-963-9122 or visit https://harborviewhousellc.com/.  

Journey through spectacular mountain scenery and picturesque cities as you experience three Alpine countries. Spend four nights each in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bern and the charming Alpine city of Innsbruck. Get a taste of Switzerland when you meet a local alphorn maker & yodelers and enjoy a fondue lunch. Explore Lucerne, the "Swiss Paradise on the Lake." Visit Mozart's birthplace and the Mirabell Gardens, featured in The Sound of Music, during your time in Salzburg. The hills are alive on this enchanting journey across Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria.

Note: A deposit of $698 per person is due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first come, first served basis. Reservations made after the seat reduction date of October 16, 2025 are based upon availability.

Final payment due by January 15, 2026.

Deposits are refundable up until October 16, 2025.

Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Logan Intl Airport, Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges, Hotel Transfers.

Not included in price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $549 per person.

For bookings made after October 16, 2025 call Shelli Voigt, Off on Vacation Travel, 207-751-0208, shelli@offonvacationtravel.com

IMPORTANT CONDITIONS: Your price is guaranteed once deposit is received and booking confirmed by Collette. Your price is not subject to increase after the deposit is received and booking confirmed, except for charges resulting from increases in government-imposed taxes or fees.(See Collette's registration form for consent.)

For more information on extensions and options for this tour visit https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1324933

Collette Guided Travel treats you like their guest, and this is evident in their itinerary! Because it matters to you, every minute matters to them as well. This can be as a result of the fact that they are a family-run firm with a 100-year history. The advantages of using Collette will elevate your guided trip experience. With our all-inclusive excursions, you get more for your money and experience more of what makes travel unique.