Every story needs a world to live in. This course explores the art of world-building, imagining other realms. Students will create maps, develop histories, and imagine cultures that make fictional universes feel alive. Hands-on projects will blend storytelling, design, illustration, and digital media, giving you tools to construct immersive environments for narratives, animation, illustration, interactive media, role-playing, or your own joy of playing with imagination.

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.

Discover why insects are the protein of the future in this hands-on cooking class! Learn about global traditions, explore sustainable insect-based ingredients, and get creative in the kitchen as you prepare and taste two dishes featuring both dried and fresh edible insects from Maine companies. All materials and recipes provided. *Those with shellfish allergies may also be allergic to insects. Presented by Sara Gross of Maine Tasting Center.

In this class, open to all levels, students will learn to paint trees with strong form, texture, and movement. We’ll study values, color, and tree forms to capture depth and character. Open to all paint mediums. Upon registration a simple list of materials will be sent out.

Learn how to sharpen knives, axes, pruners, scissors, and other blade tools. Bring your own dull tools that need to be touched up, or come to practice sharpening on some of our tools and stones. We'll cover the basic theory behind sharpening edge tools, and practice using a variety of sharpening stones. Whetstones will also be available for purchase. *Program includes all required tools and materials.

Create a beautifully functional berry bowl just in time for strawberry season. We’ll explore hand-building techniques using slabs and coils, then shape and perforate the form so your freshly picked berries can rinse and drain right in the bowl. Add surface design with texture and underglaze to make it unmistakably yours. Glazing will be done later by Janna, and will be ready to pick up two weeks later. All materials included; $20 materials fee payable to the instructor. No experience necessary.

Paddle during our 3 hour sea kayak tour and learn about Maine's Aquaculture industry. We will learn about lobstering, clamming, fishing and we'll stop at Mere Point Oyster Company's strings to learn about oyster farming. We will head to an island to land for a break for snacks that you brought and to learn to shuck oysters before the complimentary tasting. Oyster sauces include lemon juice, chipotle Tabasco sauce and Alice's Famous Maine Blueberry Mignonette sauce.

Attention rainbow lovers! Design and string your own crystal suncatchers using glass beads, metal charms and faceted glass. All materials provided. Materials included are: 3 faceted crystals, and enough beads, wire, charms and hooks to create three, foot long suncatchers.