Call Jane Thompson at 207-620-6942, or email at augustanatureclub@gmail.com, for more information.
ANC at Merryspring Nature Center
PROPOSED PROGRAMS AND FIELD TRIPS* 2026
April 22, 2026, Lilacs by horticulturist Corey Kotfila from McLaughlin Gardens in South Paris
May 27, 2026, Annual Meeting and Susan Cottle, Look Out For Loons
June 10, 2026, Wildflower Walk, Augusta Nature Center, meet at the CATC parking lot at 9:45 am.
June 24, 2026, Field Trip Gray Animal Park (more info see below)
July 8, 2026, Wildflower Walk, Augusta Nature Center, meet at the CATC parking lot at 9:45 am.
July 22, 2026, Field Trip SeaLyon Farm (more info see below)
August 12, 2026, Wildflower Walk, Augusta Nature Center, meet at the CATC parking lot at 9:45 am.
August 26, 2026, Field Trip Bethel Mineral and Gem Museum (more info see below)
September 23, 2026, An Unbelievably Brief history of Astronomy plus a Grand Tour Through Astronomy with Jim DellaPenna
October 28, 2026, Sturgeons with Jim and Marie Erskine
November 18, 2026, What’s New at Viles Arboreturm with Dave Greenham, Director
December 9 (date pending), 2026, Christmas Party
*All programing subject to change.
Summer 2026 Field Trips
Update as of 6-1-2026: Note, the van to the Gray Animal Park is full. The van to Bethel Gem and Mineral Museum has been cancelled. Travel will be carpooling via personal cars.
New this year, we have a very exciting collaboration with the city of Augusta. We have the option to travel with Senior Trips, a program organized by the Augusta Recreation Dept., in vans provided by the city. There will be six trips, two of which are specifically Nature Club trips. We are welcome Upto participate in any of the trips:
March 18 DiMillo’s Lunch (Portland)
April 15 Oxford Casino (Oxford)
May 13 Boothbay Harbor (Boothbay)
June 24 * Maine Wildlife Park (Gray)
July 22 Mystery Lunch(?)
August 26 * Maine Mineral and Gem Museum (Bethel)
*Augusta Nature Club sponsored
Cost is $25 per trip, payable at departure. Entrance fees and lunch are your responsibility. All trips leave from the Buker Community Center at 9:30 and return at approximately 3:30. Reserve your seat soon so we can request enough vans. Call Buker Community Center at 207-626-2350. Leave your name and phone #. You are welcome to take your own car and/or carpool if you prefer. Several Club members have traveled with Senior Trips and found them very enjoyable.
Questions? Call Jane at 207-620-6942 or augustanatureclub@gmail.com
A bit about the Nature Club trips:
Gray Animal Farm, June 24th, 2026
Admission is $12.00 per person, group of 20, $8.00 per person. A limited number of free passes are available at the Lithgow Library. Cash or checks only. There is an ATM on the premises. The park includes walking trails, a fish hatchery, snack shack, and picnic area.
Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, August 26th, 2026
Admission is $12.00 per person, a tour of 10 is $10.00 per person. Explore millions of years of mineralogic history from Maine to Mars; learn about meteorites, crystals, and gemstones!
REMINDER: If you wish to sign up for the van to Gray Animal Park, on June 24, and/or the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, Bethel, on August 26, contact Augusta Parks and Recreation at 207-626-2350 SOON!
SeaLyon Farm Trip, July 18th, 2026
Augusta Nature Club is going to SeaLyon Farm in Alna on Saturday, July 18th. There are two options.
Carpool to SeaLyon farm, 1788 Alna Road, Alna on Saturday, July 18, meeting up with the Nature Club folks riding the train, (see below), arriving at about 11:30 to: “Pick your own lavender, peruse a plethora of lavender-themed goods, dine on farm fresh food selected from local vendors, enjoy Maine-made beer and cider from six River Cider, take a horse-drawn wagon ride around the farm, and participate in other fun activities. “ Admission to the farm is free. Anything you wish to purchase, including lavender, is on your own.
OR
Board a WWF narrow gauge train at Sheepscot Station, 97 Cross Road, Alna, on July 18. Tickets for the train are $27.75 for seniors. This includes the train ride and wagon ride to the farm. The train departs from the station at 11:00. The trip to the farm is 20 minutes. The train is met by a horse-drawn wagon, which completes the trip to SeaLyon Farm where we will meet Nature Club members who have driven to the farm to enjoy the activities listed above. There is an approximate 90-minute layover at the farm. The train continues back to the station by way of Trout Brook Preserve. Total trip time is 3 hours. Tickets for the train sell out quickly. Call Jane Thompson by April 15th if you are interested in this option. Feel free to invite a guest!
Questions or comments? Contact: Jane Thompson 207-620-6942 or augustanatureclub@gmail.com
