For rising 2nd - 5th grade students, Kennebec Explorers Day Camp will foster your child’s exploration of earth and ocean sciences through creative hands-on learning and fun.
Our historic shipyard on the banks of the Kennebec River serves as a delightful backdrop for a one-day class! The iconic Adirondack chair, built from lightweight and durable cedar, comes together quickly and easily under the supervision of Boatshop staff. Hundreds of these chairs have
been built at the museum by all ages and skill levels—no experience is necessary and all tools, jigs, and materials are provided! Bring a lunch or grab a bite from the Sail Shed. Don’t miss this popular summer workshop!
For rising 2nd - 5th grade students, Kennebec Explorers Day Camp will foster your child’s exploration of earth and ocean sciences through creative hands-on learning and fun.
Our three-legged fireside stool is simple, yet elegant, completed over two evenings. It’s a great introduction to woodworking—in fact, it is the first project every student undertakes in our Discovery Boatbuilding program. Comprised of three octagonal legs that are fastened with wedged, kerfed through-tenons, this stool is a great introduction to boatbuilding techniques on a smaller scale. It is perfect for sitting by the fire, working in the home shop, or a plant stand. No woodworking (or boatbuilding) experience necessary!
Our three-legged fireside stool is simple, yet elegant, completed over two evenings. It’s a great introduction to woodworking—in fact, it is the first project every student undertakes in our Discovery Boatbuilding program. Comprised of three octagonal legs that are fastened with wedged, kerfed through-tenons, this stool is a great introduction to boatbuilding techniques on a smaller scale. It is perfect for sitting by the fire, working in the home shop, or a plant stand. No woodworking (or boatbuilding) experience necessary!
July 27, 6:00 p.m. | Join Deborah Bronk, President and CEO of Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Science as she surveys the state of cutting edge research on marine ecosystems and climate change conducted at Bigelow labs.
For rising 2nd - 5th grade students, Kennebec Explorers Day Camp will foster your child’s exploration of earth and ocean sciences through creative hands-on learning and fun.
For rising 2nd - 5th grade students, Kennebec Explorers Day Camp will foster your child’s exploration of earth and ocean sciences through creative hands-on learning and fun.
Blacksmithing, coastal navigation, boatbuilding, sailing... There's more to a mariner than meets the eye. Give your child a chance of a lifetime to learn what it took to be a mariner in the Golden Age of Sail! August 7 – 11, 2023 Campers will work with professional boatbuilders to learn woodworking and blacksmithing in Maine Maritime Museum’s Boatshop and blacksmith forge, travel to Maine's First Ship to learn alongside the Virginia, visit the sites of Popham Colony and legendary local shipwrecks (along with some beach exploration!), and have opportunities to learn about Maine’s traditional craft on our historic waterways, all while embracing the truly magnificent maritime history of Midcoast Maine. Traditional skill lessons with experienced mariners will include rigging, blacksmithing, navigation, knot-tying, treenail making, sea shanties, and more. Campers will work together to hone their craft and build a sense of community, teamwork, and leadership, much like would have existed on a 19th century ship.2023 Prices: Members $330 // Non-Members $350 Age range: Rising 6 – 8 grade students. Timing: Camp runs from 9 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday. Early drop-off and late pick-up is available (8 am – 5:30 pm) for an additional $35. To Bring: Campers must bring a lunch. A mid-morning snack will be provided. Campers should be prepared for indoor and outdoor activities each day. For questions about Mariners' Adventure contact Kurt Spiridakis at boatshop@maritimeme.org
For rising 2nd - 5th grade students, Kennebec Explorers Day Camp will foster your child’s exploration of earth and ocean sciences through creative hands-on learning and fun.
We are pleased to announce we are piloting sensory-friendly sessions for individuals and families! On Wednesday, June 14, Thursday, July 27, and Sunday, August 20, we are offering a special, a quieter and more controlled environment within the Maritime History Building to welcome visitors with sensory sensitivities. Staff will adapt aspects of museum galleries to create more inclusive and welcoming environments, with modified lighting and volume levels and additional signage throughout galleries near high-level audio-visual areas, such as Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience. The museum will remain open to all members of the public, and staff look forward to hearing and learning from visitors to create more inclusive and accessible museum experiences. The museum will also have sensory bags available for both adults and children with items such as headphones and fidgets. The kits are part of the museum’s ongoing certification work with KultureCity, the nation’s “leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance for those with invisible disabilities.” The kits are free at the front desk and available during all open hours. Wednesday, June 14 (3:00 — 5:00 pm) Tuesday, July 20 (4:00 — 6:00 pm) Sunday, August 20 (9:30 — 11 am)
August 24, 6:00 p.m. | In this free panel discussion, we will learn about the importance of mental health care, especially individuals in coastal communities who are directly dealing with the impacts of climate change.
October 19, 6:00 p.m. | In this free panel discussion, experts explore the Wabanaki approach to environmental conservation and initiatives related to land reclamation.
Our three-legged fireside stool is simple, yet elegant, completed over two evenings. It’s a great introduction to woodworking—in fact, it is the first project every student undertakes in our Discovery Boatbuilding program. Comprised of three octagonal legs that are fastened with wedged, kerfed through-tenons, this stool is a great introduction to boatbuilding techniques on a smaller scale. It is perfect for sitting by the fire, working in the home shop, or a plant stand. No woodworking (or boatbuilding) experience necessary!
Our three-legged fireside stool is simple, yet elegant, completed over two evenings. It’s a great introduction to woodworking—in fact, it is the first project every student undertakes in our Discovery Boatbuilding program. Comprised of three octagonal legs that are fastened with wedged, kerfed through-tenons, this stool is a great introduction to boatbuilding techniques on a smaller scale. It is perfect for sitting by the fire, working in the home shop, or a plant stand. No woodworking (or boatbuilding) experience necessary!
November 16, 6:00 p.m. | Join local ecology experts in a free panel discussion about how changing waters are impacting Maine's fishing communities.
The Shakers are renowned for their traditional and simple furniture design and practical inventions. We build nesting Shaker boxes in the Boatshop because they are beautiful, handy, and employ small boatbuilding techniques like steam bending and clinch nailing. Two evenings are all it takes to build three boxes from cherry and cedar. Students have built over 500 boxes over the past 15 years in this accessible, yet challenging, class. All materials are provided and no experience is necessary.
The Shakers are renowned for their traditional and simple furniture design and practical inventions. We build nesting Shaker boxes in the Boatshop because they are beautiful, handy, and employ small boatbuilding techniques like steam bending and clinch nailing. Two evenings are all it takes to build three boxes from cherry and cedar. Students have built over 500 boxes over the past 15 years in this accessible, yet challenging, class. All materials are provided and no experience is necessary.
Join Dr. Graham Sherwood, Researcher at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, for a free, in-person discussion of Cashes Ledge, the underwater mountain range in the Gulf of Maine, and its relationship to food-web ecologies.
Back by popular demand, this winter, join us in the Boatshop for two weekends to build your own classic wooden toboggan! This class is open to five total groups of up to three people per group. Each group will build an eight-foot toboggan using boatbuilding techniques like steam bending, riveting, and ropework. No experience is required and all materials provided. Note: this design meets specifications of the U.S. National Toboggan Championships held annually in Camden.
Back by popular demand, this winter, join us in the Boatshop for two weekends to build your own classic wooden toboggan! This class is open to five total groups of up to three people per group. Each group will build an eight-foot toboggan using boatbuilding techniques like steam bending, riveting, and ropework. No experience is required and all materials provided. Note: this design meets specifications of the U.S. National Toboggan Championships held annually in Camden.
