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Demonstrations -
Events -
Home & Away - Monthly Homeschool Program Our homeschool sessions are scheduled for the second Friday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., through and including April. Sessions generally have two parts: one part for "in-the-classroom" Maine History (structured into groups for varying learning levels) hosted in the inspiring Hutchins Education Center and one part for a local field trip. The two sections will be separated by a break for lunch. Please be prepared with your own lunch and weather appropriate clothing. Sessions may vary and may not always follow this format. All ages are welcome. Please help us best serve you by letting us know EACH MONTH if you are planning to attend by calling 207-326-9247 or emailing info@wilsonmuseum.org. Information on this program is also available on our Home & Away event page on Facebook. Feel free to share the information on this program with other homeschool families. For more information on the education programs offered through the Wilson Museum, click HERE. While school is out for summer, keep the education flowing by attending our summer offerings. Check our Calendar of Events often as programs are added throughout the summer. From tours of the Perkins House and the Museum's main hall, as well as hands-on activities, the Wilson Museum has alot to offer!
Bead It - Just Bead It
This beading workshop for ages 10 and up will be held February 5, 7, and 8 from 3 - 5 p.m. each day in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. The cost for the three-day workshop is $35 per person which includes a beading kit with everything you'll need. What a great pre-Valentine's Day mother-daughter experience this could be! Rob Kufrovich is an artist and has been serving as a Special Education Technician at the Adams School in Castine for the past six year. In the 1980s, Mr. K worked as an underground mining geologist where many of his co-workers were from the Laguna-Acoma, Zuni, and Navajo tribes. From these co-workers he developed his love of Native American-style beadwork. Space is limited to 10 participants.
A special meeting and a special venue, the February meeting of the Castine Men's Club will be sponsored by the Wilson Museum and hosted at the Hutchins Education Center on Wednesday, February 13th. The evening will feature a delightful menu prepared by the Adams School Calvineers, a student club. It's also a celebration of Valentine's Day so the ladies are invited.
The social hour will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served promptly at 6:30. There will be no bar but BYOB can be accommodated. The cost is $25 per person and the menu will feature: garden salad, a variety of sauces and hot pasta, garlic bread, dessert, iced tea or coffee. Reservations are required and must be made no later than noon on Sunday, February 10th by calling the Museum at 326-9247. Alternatively you can e-mail your reservations to info@wilsonmuseum.org. Please make your dinner reservation NOW since the Education Center only seats 40!
Life Was Better at the Lake - February Vacation Day-Camp This year's camp is inspired by the Museum's diorama and exhibit on the Swiss Lake Dwellers, a people who lived 7,000 years ago and were just beginning to add agriculture to their hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Students will learn such things as what the Lake Dwellers ate, how food was preserved, and the importance of fire. Activities and hands-on projects will take place both inside and outside, so bring weather appropriate clothing. Snacks related to the lake dweller life-style will be provided by the Museum; please plan to bring your own lunch. As always, parents are invited to attend and participate. Cost per child to attend Life Was Better at the Lake is $15 for all four days or $5 per day for individual days. Space is limited. Be assured of a spot today, by downloading a registration form and returning it with the registration fee. Call 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org for more information.
Beekeeping with the Castine Garden Club
Sandra Beske gained an interest in bees from her beekeeper father when she was a child. She has had her own hives for over 10 years and is a past president of the Tri-County Beekeepers Club headquartered in Orland, an organization with 65-70 current members. Additionally, Sandra teaches a course for new beekeepers. The program is free and open to the public. Please let Ruth Anne Vagt know you will attend this meeting: 326-9244 or ruvagt@davidson.edu.
My Own Bag, One of a Kind Like Me
Marjorie Wheeler is a retired teacher from Connecticut with degrees in Home Economics and Vocational Education. She is a member of the Handweavers Guilds of America in both Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as a member of the Castine Woman's Club. This program is open to the public and free of charge.
Maja Trivia
Each school will compete in a semi-final competition sponsored by the town's respective historical society. Four finalists from each school will move on to compete at the Wilson Museum on June 5 from 9:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m. to determine the Maja Trivia champion! Competitions are free to attend, so join us for all three semi-finals and the Tournament of Champions. Support the students, and learn about the intriguing and often colorful histories of the three towns. Here is the complete schedule:
Maja Trivia was developed by the Wilson Museum in collaboration with the Brooksville, Castine, and Penobscot Historical Societies with new categories and questions added each year.
A Spring Garden of Poetry
This program is free and open to the public.
from Daffodils by William Wordsworth
Maine Island Trail
The Maine Island Trail Association, formed in 1988, provides a guide for these sites and sponsors stewardship programs and summer activities for members. The program is free and open to the public.
Perkins Family Reunion
A Gathering of Traditional Small Boats
No, it's a ribbon-cutting! No, it's a program with speakers! No, it's a yummy food event! Actually, it's ALL OF THE ABOVE! The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association is pleased to sponsor the dedication of the Wilson Museum's new Antique Boat Exhibit and Boat Shop on July 3, 2019 beginning mid-morning. This will be a great opportunity to see a wide variety of small boats and chat with their knowledgeable and enthusiastic owners. At 11 a.m. Penobscot Marine Museum Curator, Ben Fuller, will give a talk entitled On Matinicus It's a Double-Ender about small peapods. The aromas from the outdoor bake oven will entice attendees across the street at noon to sample Museum-made bean-hole beans, pulled pork, blueberry buckle, as well as a variety of smoked fish (mackerel, alewives, or smelt) from the Downeast Salmon Federation's smoker.
This event is free and open to the public! It's a boat-enthusiast's dream day - don't miss it!
Holbrook Island Boat Tours
Plan to meet a Museum representative and MMA crew about 15 minutes early (8:45 a.m.) at MMA Waterfront for pre-boarding and safety check. Trips will leave promptly at 9 a.m. Each passenger should provide his/her own personal flotation device for the trip, if possible; a limited number are available through MMA. There is a closed shoe requirement (not just a closed toes but the whole thing!). No sandals or flip-flops allowed. Sneakers are best. This program is free and open to the public. Due to the popularity of these trips, reservations are a MUST. Deadlines are July 3 for the July 9 trip and July 24 for the July 30 trip. Space is limited and fills quickly - call 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org. If you need to cancel a reservation, please let us know as soon as possible to allow others the chance to participate in a trip. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There are no "bad weather" dates.
Castine Has Been Invaded
Professor and author Marjorie Peronto is an expert on native and invasive plants in the Northeastern United States. She teaches courses in fruit and vegetable gardening, ecological landscaping, and pruning. She also oversees the popular Downeast Maine Master Gardener program. This program is free and open to the public.
Fireside Cooking
Though it won't be early in the morning, the aroma of baking bread will be a major draw on July 10, July 24, and August 14 from 2 - 5 p.m. at the John & Phebe Perkins House as Fireside Cooking is demonstrated (part of a guided tour) on the hearth. Tour visitors may enjoy some tasty morsels from the day's fare as they learn about the Perkins family and how meals were prepared in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The John & Phebe Perkins House is located at 111 Perkins Street in Castine and is part of the Wilson Museum campus. Guided tours of the Perkins House begin on the hour and are $5 per person. Should you miss our special Fireside Cooking demonstrations you can still tour the Perkins House any Wednesday or Sunday from 2 - 5 p.m. throughout July and August or by appointment. Also, check out our Outdoor Cooking demonstrations on July 31, August 21, and September 11.
Basket Workshop
Preregistration is required by Monday, July 8 and registrants will be given a list of equipment to bring with them to the workshop. For 34 years, Pamela Rackliffe Capurso was a florist and horticulturist before she sold her business in 2006 and moved with her husband to Goodnight Farm in Brooksville, where they grow a variety of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. She began weaving simple baskets to sell at local farmer's markets. As she has grown more proficient at basketry, Pamela has continued to develop the form and function of her baskets. She sells her baskets online, at the local farmer's market, and at the Wilson Museum Store. You can visit her website at www.basketsofmaine.com.
Bastille Day Activities at the Wilson Museum
2 - 5 p.m. Visit the Museum and view French Paleolithic artifacts made 450,000 to 10,000 years ago. Dr. J. Howard Wilson's study trips to France led to a prehistoric collection of extraordinary quality. What a mind-blowingly old and rare treat right here in Castine! 2 - 4 p.m. Here's another treat that's literally even cooler - hand-cranked French vanilla ice cream. Stop by the Hutchins Education Center to help crank and enjoy a scoop. Also 2 - 4 p.m. Mid-coast Maine fiddler and storyteller Jennifer Armstrong will entertain with French-Canadian fiddle music and storytelling on the porch of the Hutchins Education Center. Hear the influence our French ancestors had on folks just across the Gulf of Maine. It's sure to be a very cool and lively afternoon for the whole family! Click here for a complete schedule of all the Bastille Day events happening in Castine.
Workshop: Make a Paddle in Three Days
Leather Belt Workshop
Preregistration is required by Monday, July 8. Space is limited to a maximum of 10 participants and a minimum of six. Mira Brown has been studying, doing, and teaching traditional hand leather work for over a decade. Her studies began in Williamsburg, Virginia learning from harness makers and saddlers. She has since made all manner of leather goods from harnesses for possums, chickens, goats, and horses to shoes, boots, bark and leather baskets, leather buckets, home tanned leather, and a myriad of other more common leather items.
Castine Harbor and Lower Bagaduce River Boat Tours
Plan to meet a Museum representative and MMA crew about 15 minutes early (9:45 a.m.) at MMA Waterfront for pre-boarding and safety check. Trips will leave promptly at 10 a.m. Each passenger should provide his/her own personal flotation device for the trip, if possible; a limited number are available through MMA. There is a closed shoe requirement (not just a closed toes but the whole thing!). No sandals or flip-flops allowed. Sneakers are best. This program is free and open to the public. Due to the popularity of these trips, reservations are a MUST. Deadlines are July 10 for the July 16 trip and July 31 for the August 6 trip. Space is limited and fills quickly - call 207-326-9247 or email info@wilsonmuseum.org. If you need to cancel a reservation, please let us know as soon as possible to allow others the chance to participate in a trip. Children must be accompanied by an adult. There are no "bad weather" dates.
Abigail by Gail: Two Colonial Programs in Castine
For those who enjoy lively conversation, tea, and being steeped in history, meet Abigail Whitney, a colonist knowledgeable about tea, traditions, and trade in 18th century New England. Abigail will be portrayed by Gail Hamel in Abigail Whitney Invites You for Tea in her Hometown of Castine at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center at 112 Perkins Street. Abigail and her husband Samuel settled in Castine in 1793 and built a grand home with its hospitable doors ever open, hosting their Castine neighbors to many a festivity, ball, party, dance, and frolic. Learn about what Abigail used in her tea service, and investigate why tea was so important on an economic, political, and social level in the 18th century. Between programs would be a great time to visit the Castine Historical Society's exhibit Risky Business: Square-Rigged Ships and Salted Fish to learn about how the Whitney family and other Castine families prospered in the maritime trades in Castine and made their fortunes. See portraits of Abigail's seafaring son, Captain Henry Whitney and his wife Lucy, while learning about Castine's booming ship building and international trade. At 5 p.m. in the Witherle Memorial Library located at 41 School Street, Gail Hamel returns to give a scholarly presentation entitled Abigail Whitney Returns Home to Castine: Rendezvous with Gail about the Life and Legacy of Abigail. Learn about the profound affect Abigail Whitney and her husband Samuel had on their families and on America as it gained its independence. Gail will cite unique primary sources that document the journey of the Whitney family, their homes, their possessions, and their passions. For information about these programs, contact either the Wilson Museum at 207-326-9247 or info@wilsonmuseum.org, or the Witherle Memorial Library at 207-326-4375 or refdesk@witherle.lib.me.us. For information on other Colonial Programs and Tours with Gail Hamel, visit: www.abigailbygail.com.
High Tea with Emily Dickinson Benefit
It's high summer and time for High Tea with Emily Dickinson on Sunday, July 28, at 4 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center on Perkins Street. This event is co-sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine and the Wilson Museum and will feature Johanna Sweet bringing to life a scene from the Belle of Amherst, while E.H. Gerard will do the same for The Scandal of Amherst. High tea will include tea sandwiches, biscuits, pastries, etc., as well as tea, of course. Wear your favorite bonnet - gloves optional! Prizes for the prettiest hat, most original hat, oldest, fanciest or other hat categories to be determined. Admission is $15.00 per person and proceeds from the event will benefit the education of children in Aquino, Philippines. Call or text 207-206-5292 for a reservation to THE delicious, literary event of the season.
Outdoor Cooking
Also, check out our Fireside Cooking demonstrations as part of a Perkins House tour on July 10, July 24, and August 14.
Concert: Castine Town Band In the late nineteenth century Castine's Town Band was a proud contributor to patriotic events and summer evening entertainments. Revived in 1998 by a group of like-minded musicians, by 2004, the Band was recognized as one of the top four municipal bands in Maine. Membership in the Band is open to players of all ages and talent. It is a fine blend of locals, retirees and summer people who have a common interest - playing in the Town Band. As an agent for connecting the past to the present, the Museum is proud to host this annual Castine Town Band concert. In case of rain, concert will be at Emerson Hall, Court Street.
Collecting Castine 2019
This is a fundraising event with a twist! Attendees will enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres and an open bar, and view an outstanding exhibit of artwork created by living artists either from Castine or with a long association to Castine. They will also have the opportunity to purchase an original piece of artwork, and -- here's the twist -- cast a vote for the People's Choice work of art to be added to the Wilson Museum's collection. Following the People's Choice award, all other artwork will be available for purchase, silent-auction style. Proceeds from the event go to support the Wilson Museum's collections and programs. Collecting Castine 2019 marks the fourth year for this event. In past years we have honored an individual artist for their work and legacy; this year we celebrate our entire community of fabulous artists. They work in various mediums from oil painting to watercolor, bronze sculpture to woodturning, as well as jewelry design, encaustic, felting, mixed media, and more. Some of the artists participating this year have been part of the event from the beginning, and some are new faces joining for the first time. All take in the beauty that surrounds us, the experiences of life in this unique place, the people who are rooted here and those who are drawn here from all over, and create works that evoke the spirit of the place and the people. A donation of $100 per person received before August 1 will reserve your place at this year's Collecting Castine fundraising event. And, if you're looking for a way to further support the Museum's collections and programs, we have added NEW sponsorship levels of giving. A $300 donation at the Supporter level will include 1 complementary reservation; a $500 donation at the Sustainer level will include 2 reservations; a $750 donation at the Patron level will include 3 reservations; and a $1,000 donation at the Benefactor level will include 4 reservations. Sponsorships will be recognized in publicity and at the event. (Sponsors may also remain anonymous.)
Many thanks to our lead sponsor who helped make this event possible:
With additional support from:
and
Women's Retreat, Holbrook Island 2019
Participants will need to provide bedding and pillow, towel, toiletries, flashlights, water bottles, sun protection, bug repellent, camp chair, and supplies for artwork (as desired) as well as an open attitude to community since groups of three will be responsible for "set-up and clean-up" of one of the four group meals. Registration for the three-day, two-night event is $70 for WM members; $90 for non-members (note: the additional fee will establish your individual Wilson Museum membership at a savings of $5; you may also choose to apply the $20 to a family membership of $40). Included in this program cost is transportation, accommodations, four meals, yoga workshop, and optional writing workshop. Space is limited to 14 participants. Reserve a spot by Monday, July 29. For your convenience, First, choose either Member or Non-member option from the dropdown menu below. Then, click on the event button to register.
Gordon Thomas Ward in Concert
Gordon Thomas Ward is a charting GRAMMY-balloted singer-songwriter and recording artist who tours as a solo performer and has worked with notable musicians such as Eric Troyer and Mik Kaminski of the Electric Light Orchestra and has shared the stage and billing with Natalie Merchant and Christine Lavin. Gordon's song stylings are influenced by the singer-songwriters of the late 1960s through the 1970s, yet his songs occupy a space all their own and fit into the contemporary folk rock, adult alternative, and Americana genres. Gordon's fans have dubbed him "the total package." Learn more about Gordon and hear music samples at www.gordonthomasward.com. This program is free and open to the public, with donations to the Wilson Museum welcomed.
Why Going Native Matters
Heather McCargo is the Founder and Executive Director of Wild Seed Project. She is an educator with 30 years of experience in plant propagation, landscape design, horticulture, and conservation. She has lectured nationally and is widely published in journals and magazines such as Brooklyn Botanical Garden's Growing from Seed, Horticulture, American Nurseryman, Ecological Landscape Alliance Newsletter, and many others. More locally, Heather designed the master plan for the medicinal gardens at Avena Botanicals in Rockport and was the creator of the Bay School Agricultural Arts program in Blue Hill. Heather has a BA in plant ecology from Hampshire College and an MA from the Conway School of Landscape Design. The program is free and open to the public.
The Ghosts of Cape Horn
This program is free and open to the public.
Home & Away
Reservations are required ($10 per child) in advance of each session and space is limited. Registration opens three weeks before each month's session and ends one week before the session. Make reservations by calling 207-326-9247 or emailing info@wilsonmuseum.org. Home & Away will occur on the second Friday of each month from October through April, EXCEPT November will be the third Friday of the month. Unless otherwise noted, sessions will begin in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center located at 112 Perkins Street, Castine, ME. Information on this program is also available on our Home & Away event page on Facebook. Feel free to share the information on this program with other homeschool families.
Turkish & Greek Cuisine Workshop
Hale Akin Asyali, born and raised in Izmir (Smyrna) on the coast of Aegean Sea, will share her experiences about cooking methods, eating habits, and culinary culture of people of the region. THIS CLASS IS FULL. If you wish to be placed on a waiting list, please contact Witherle Memorial Library.
Worldwide Community Bake Day
Visit the backyard of the historic John and Phebe Perkins House to sample biscuits, or pop in a batch of your own favorite bread-it's a big oven with room for several loaves-or a pie or two! Top off your treat with homemade crabapple jelly from the Museum's own apples.
This event is free and open to all, rain or shine. (We will move to the Museum's Hutchins Education Center in case of rain.)
History Convergence: Preparing for Maine's Bicentennial
The History Convergence will take place on Wednesday, October 30, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center at 112 Perkins Street. Here's a snapshot of the day's agenda:
Cost is $10 per person to help defray lunch expenses. Register by October 28 so we are able to have an accurate head count for lunch. You may pay by sending a check payable to the Wilson Museum, P.O. Box 196, Castine, ME 04421. Be sure to include name(s) of attendees and the organization you represent. For your convenience you may also register on-line by entering your organization and attendees, then clicking on the Event button below:
Book Launch - More by Eye than by Measure: The Maritime Life & Art of John Prior Gardner
This event is free and open to the public.
The Magic of Flower Arranging Flowers have the greatest talent in converting an ordinary place into a magical palace!
- Mehmet Murat ildan
A native of Maine, Cullen Schneider moved to the Blue Hill peninsula in high school. After pursuing other interests Cullen returned to the area in 2004, began working at Fairwinds and eventually purchased the business. With a background in art, dance, and photography, Cullen sees flowers as another expressive medium. She is a Maine Master Floral Designer, Certified Floral Designer and a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers. Cullen and her family live in Orland on a farm that provides a great deal of the flowers for her business. The program is open to the public and free of charge, though it is hoped that attendees will come prepared to bid on one or more of the beautiful flower arrangements displayed and created.
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| HOME | WILSON MUSEUM | JOHN PERKINS HOUSE | BLACKSMITH SHOP CEMETERY RESEARCH | WILSON MUSEUM BULLETIN | CALENDAR OF EVENTS | TREASURES OF THE PAST EDUCATION | MEMBERSHIP | SHOP |
| A non-profit organization, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) IRS Code 120 Perkins Street, PO Box 196, Castine Maine 04421 (207) 326-9247 info@wilsonmuseum.org |
Woodturning
If you are a homeschool family looking to bolster your lessons and make new connections, the Wilson Museum's free monthly Home & Away program is for you. During our sessions, we draw upon the Museum's world-wide collection and local history as well as the strength and support of our community's educational resources, all the while enjoying the natural beauty of Castine.
Does the gray of winter weather have you feeling all strung out? Surround yourself with color during our multi-day Native American-style beading workshop with local artis Rob Kufrovich (aka Mr. K). Across three afternoons, guests will be able to make their own creation while learning bead embroidery and flatwork beading.
Men's Club Whale of a Valentine's Meeting 
Not only will the Adams School Calvineers prepare the meal, but they will also inform the group about Calvin, a North Atlantic right whale and speak about their upcoming trip to Barcelona, Spain, where they will be attending the international meeting of 2 groups: the 23rd Biennial Marine Mammal Conference and the European Cetacean Society. Teacher Bill McWeeny has been involved with Right Whale research for over 36 years and he and the Calvineers will share their enthusiasm and research on the right whale. 
Take the old Maine saying"life is better at the lake" and throw in some time-travel back to 5000 BCE to get a sense of the Wilson Museum's 2019 February Vacation Day-Camp for grade 1 - 8, running from Tuesday, February 19, through Friday, February 22 (8:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.) at the Hutchins Education Center.
The Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center will be buzzing with activity on Tuesday, March 12 (4 p.m.), for Sandra Beske's talk on bees and beekeeping co-hosted by the Castine Garden Club and the Wilson Museum. Sandra will bring along equipment including an empty hive for interior viewing as she describes what keeps a hive healthy and what plants can be grown to make happy bees. Refreshments following the program will include a sampling of meads made from different nectar sources.
The Castine Woman's Club will meet Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. Bring a bag lunch and enjoy each other’s company after a long winter. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by a short business meeting at noon. At 12:30 p.m. Marjorie Wheeler will present My Own Bag, One of a Kind Like Me about a project in Connecticut to make bags for foster children in the state, Marjorie will show pictures and have examples of the bags that are to be donated to the Department of Children and Families in Connecticut. This may be a project the club or individuals will want to do for foster children in Maine. The bag is simple enough to be made in a day. At the very least, patterns and directions will be available so that participants can make their own designer bags.
It's tournament time! The seventh year of Maja Trivia, a game celebrating the rich history of the region once known as Majabigwaduce, now the towns of Brooksville, Castine, and Penobscot, will conclude with a spectacular Tournament of Champions on Wednesday, June 5. Throughout the school year, 5th - 8th grade students from Penobscot Community School, Brooksville Elementary School, and Castine's Adams School have been playing Maja Trivia practice rounds. Now it's time to test their knowledge!
A Spring Garden of Poetry, by Adams School students, for the community, sponsored by Compass Rose Books and Wilson Museum. Come listen, or bring your favorite poem to recite Tuesday, May 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. This will be a wonderful time to savor the spoken word and revel in the magic of spring and youth. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Johanna at 
I wandered lonely as a cloud
When we think of trails in Maine we often think of scenic land trails, but an equally scenic trail, from an entirely different perspective, is the Maine Island Trail. The Castine Woman's Club and the Wilson Museum are pleased to host a talk by Woman's Club member Jennifer St. Lawrence on Tuesday, June 4 (12:30 p.m.) at the Hutchins Education Center. Jennifer will add this 375 mile water trail along the coast of Maine to our mental map. With over 200 islands and mainland sites available for day use and overnight camping, the Maine Island Trail is well worth exploring. 
Calling all Perkins family descendants! Mark your calendar and make plans to return to your roots this summer at the family homestead on the shores of beautiful Castine Harbor. The Wilson Museum will host a Perkins Family Reunion on Saturday, June 29 from 1 - 4 p.m., at the historic John & Phebe Perkins House at 
It's a boat show!
At 2 p.m. take part in the Exhibit and Boat Shop ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony followed by Tom Jackson, Senior Editor for 
Maine Maritime Academy and the Wilson Museum are offering a unique way to visit Holbrook Island. Board the boat, an open launch, provided by MMA on July 9 or July 30 at 9 a.m. to return at 12 noon. A trip will take 45 minutes each way with about an hour to explore ashore. A Holbrook Sanctuary representative will offer a guided tour of the island or visitors may take advantage of swimming, fishing, or hiking along a network of old roads, paths, and animal trails leading visitors through a variety of coastal habitats. 
Yes, there are invasive plant species lurking in the yards of unsuspecting Castine homeowners. On July 9 at 10 a.m., learn more about these invaders and where they thrive, when the Castine Garden Club and the Wilson Museum co-sponsor an illustrated presentation by University of Maine Cooperative Extension Professor Marjorie Peronto at the Wilson Museum’s Hutchins Education Center. Images taken by Garden Club member Marty Tenney will reveal several of Castine’s invaders and where they have taken root in our midst. 
"This is the way we bake the bread, so early in the morning." 
Spend an afternoon with Pamela Rackliffe Capurso and learn the art of basket-making. Each participant will go home with a beautiful and functional basket made by his or her own hands. The basket-making class will be held at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center on Friday, July 12 from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. The $65 course fee includes the materials needed to make a 21"x14"x7" market basket and each participant will be provided with a printed instruction sheet that can be used to create more baskets at home. 
As part of Castine's annual Bastille Day Celebration, Sunday, July 14, the Wilson Museum offers several cool ways to spend a tasty and educational July afternoon. 
Cut, carve, and personalize your own paddle in a three-part workshop led by David Wyman on July 14, 17, and 21 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Boat Shop. Each participant will go home with a beautiful and functional paddle made by his or her own hands. The $15 program fee includes all materials and tools. This program is available to all adults, children 12 to 18, and children 9 to 11 if accompanied by an adult. 
Learn to hand stitch and make yourself or a loved one a beautiful handmade leather belt with Mira Brown at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center on Monday, July 15 from 10:00 to 4:00 p.m. The $70 course fee includes the materials needed to make your belt. The class topics will include leather tanning, types of leather, tools and materials, hand stitching techniques, edge finishing, and examples of other techniques used to make a wide variety of leather goods. There will be a break for lunch, please bring your own. 
View Castine from another perspective. Maine Maritime Academy and the Wilson Museum are offering two exciting opportunities to explore Castine Harbor and the lower Bagaduce River. Board an open launch provided by MMA on July 16 or August 6, each beginning at 10 a.m. and returning about 11:30 a.m. Historical sites and stories of Castine Harbor and the lower Bagaduce River will be highlighted along the way. Sightings of seals, eagles, and other wildlife are possible so be sure to bring your camera.
Learn about colonial life in Castine through two colonial programs presented by Gail Hamel and provided by the Castine Historical Society, Wilson Museum, and Witherle Memorial Library on July 25. These programs are free and open to the public.
Nothing whets the appetite like an ocean breeze with the fragrance of wood smoke and baking bread wafting through the air. Visit the back yard of the John & Phebe Perkins House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 31, August 21 and September 11 as Director Patty Hutchins cooks up some treats using the outdoor bake oven, the fire pit, or a combination of the two. There might be bread or pizza, bean-hole-beans or stew, we're leaving it up to the weather and the whim of the cook. Mix up a batch of your own favorite bread and bring it down to pop into the oven - it's a big oven with room for several loaves (or a pie might be nice). Outdoor cooking tips are free of charge with impartial taste-testers always available. 
The picturesque grounds of the Wilson Museum on Perkins Street, on the shore of Castine Harbor, will be the location of an outdoor concert by the Castine Town Band, Friday, August 2, at 6 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy this free concert!
Mark your calendar for Collecting Castine 2019, a special one-night exhibit and sale of Castine fine art on Monday, August 5 (5 - 7 p.m.) at the Hutchins Education Center on the Wilson Museum campus.
Take a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of summer with a weekend Women's Retreat to Holbrook Island, a quiet, idyllic island that's part of Holbrook Island Sanctuary nestled off Castine's shore. Board an open launch from the Maine Maritime Academy waterfront and be transported to a serene island of meadows and beaches where views of Camden Hills, Islesboro, Belfast, Castine, and Brooksville are abundant. Donated to the Sanctuary by Anita Harris, the island was formerly home to Anita's sprawling homestead which included a 16-room cottage, farm house, bath house, boat house, ice house, green house, and buildings for horses, cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens. Today, the only remaining building is the horse barn which hosts rustic bunk-beds alongside a small kitchen. Oh, there is an outhouse, too. Did we mention the wonderful beaches? 
As a way to enjoy the natural beauty and calmness of Holbrook Island, the Wilson Museum will host its first-ever overnight Women's Retreat from August 9 at 6:30 p.m. to August 11 at 10:30 a.m. As an event for enrichment, reflection, and renewal, the weekend's focus will be on inner strength. An evening program about two remarkably strong island women, Anita Harris (former Holbrook Island owner and donor of 1,345 acres of land to Holbrook Island Sanctuary) and her friend Ellenore Doudiet (former Nautilus Island owner and Wilson Museum Director), will kick-off the weekend and be followed the next day by a two-hour yoga workshop and unstructured time to roam the grounds, enjoy the beaches, swim, read, and/or do artwork. 
Experience the eloquent lyrics, musical storytelling, captivating rhythms, and enchanting voice of Gordon Thomas Ward on Thursday, August 22, during his acoustic performance from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. Called "one of the best singer-songwriters working in the Americana/indie scene today" by No Depression magazine, a concert with Gordon is the perfect note on which to end a summer evening in Castine. 
Native plants in our landscape are immensely important. In fact they are the foundation of the terrestrial food chain upon which all land-based creatures, including ourselves, ultimately depend. The Castine Garden Club and the Wilson Museum are pleased to bring Heather McCargo of Wild Seed Project to speak about Why Going Native Matters on Tuesday, September 10, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hutchins Education Center. Wild Seed Project is a non-profit organization founded in 2014 to ethically collect and sell seeds of wild and uncultivated forms of native plants and to educate the public.
In the heyday of full-rigged ships, before the advent of the railroad and the Panama Canal, the only way from the east coast of the United States to the west coast was around treacherous Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. On Wednesday, October 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Eduation Center, Sue Hazlett will give a presentation, The Ghosts of Cape Horn, on the history of seafaring around the infamous cape including modern cruise ship travel. This program is sponsored by the Castine Woman's Club and the Wilson Museum.
Sue Hazlett is an Alaskan who moved to Castine six years ago and teaches at Maine Maritime Academy. She spends her summers working for cruise lines such as Princess, P&O, and Cunard, and is fortunate enough to be able to travel extensively. Recent travels have taken her to Japan, Iceland, Ireland, Cuba, and around Cape Horn.
Back by popular demand, the Home & Away monthly homeschool program by the Wilson Museum will return on October 11, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Structured for ages 4 to 14, each three-hour session is inspired by the Museum's worldwide collection and local history as well as the community's educational resources. Included will be a break for lunch (please bring your own). Some sessions will include a local field trip and some sessions will include a guest presenter. 
This two-session, six-hour workshop will include discussion about authentic ingredients and techniques used in cooking dishes of the Aegean region of the Mediterranean Sea. Participants will work together to prepare, cook, serve, eat and enjoy the delicious, nutritious and healthy dishes. The event is co-sponsored by Castine Arts Associaiotn, Wilson Museum, and Witherle Memorial Library and will be held at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center on Tuesdays, October 15 and October 22 from 5 - 8 p.m.. Limited to 8 participants.
Nothing whets the appetite like an ocean breeze with the fragrance of wood smoke and baking biscuits wafting through the air. The Wilson Museum will fire up its outdoor oven on Wednesday, October 16, from 12 to 2 p.m. to bake a variety of sweet and savory biscuits, in connection with the Maine Grain Alliance's Worldwide Community Bake Day.
We know your town, museum, historical society or library wants to celebrate Maine's 200 years of statehood. Plan on attending this History Convergence Workshop to share what your organization is planning, learn what events others will hold, brainstorm new possibilities for the occasion, and discover how we can collaborate to make it the best Bicentennial ever! During the workshop we will also learn more about Maine's official entry into the United States and how to better interpret Native history.
Penobscot Bay Press and the Wilson Museum are pleased to announce the launch of Sandra Dinsmore's new book More by Eye than by Measure: The Maritime Life & Art of John Prior Gardner on Sunday, November 17, (2 to 4 p.m.) at the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. John Prior Gardner, a beloved Castine resident, is himself a storyteller, not only in the telling of a tale, but through the crafting of the incredible ship models he has brought to life over the years. Author Sandra Dinsmore is a journalist who has been writing about art, artists, and Maine's lobster-fishing community for almost 30 years. She will read from her work and sign copies of the newly released book, available for purchase at the event. Refreshments will be served.
Learn how to create magic with flower arrangements and take a little magic home with you on Tuesday, November 19 (10 a.m. - noon) in the Wilson Museum's Hutchins Education Center. At this event, co-sponsored by the Castine Garden Club and the Wilson Museum, Cullen Schneider from Blue Hill's Fairwinds Florist will demonstrate the theory of arranging flowers and also what to do to "refresh" an arrangement with new flowers or elements. Following the demonstration, these seasonally inspired arrangements will be auctioned off to the audience, proceeds to support both Garden Club and Museum programming.
