L.C. Bates Museum, Good Will-Hinckley

Blowing bubbles through a red oak twig is amazing and fun! It proves that moisture/water can move through the roots, trunk, and limb of the tree and all the way to the leaves. Come try blowing tree bubbles and other activities on September 10 at the Fall Tree Walk.

Study the common regional insects and go on walk to discover the many insects found along the trails. For children, make an insect diorama and finger puppet.

Come explore the pond with nets in hand and celebrate all the lovely amphibians.

Children can explore a bird kit and make a small hummingbird feeder to take home. (This activity will take place outdoors. It is weather-dependent.)

Explore earth and space with NISE Activity Kits and games. Learn about the James Webb telescope and send up a stomp rocket.

Come try old time toys like hoops, graces, and tops.

Launching in mid-December, the James Webb Telescope will provide better images of the universe. Explore some earth and space activities including packing the James Webb for transport into space. All outdoor programs are dependent on the weather. Programs will be canceled, if it is rainy.

Roll a hoop, spin a top, and more. All outdoor programs are dependent on the weather. Programs will be canceled, if it is rainy.

To celebrate National Thrive Outside Day, the Museum will encourage families and friends to visit the trails. A 10 a.m. program will include providing Leaf Kits for children to use as they explore the forested Good Will-Hinckley Trails. The National Thrive Outside program is part of a nationwide group of networks and collaborations working to […]

Christopher, the Wonderful, Geometric Sculpture by John Raimondi is 50 Years Old. The L. C. Bates Museum will have an outdoor 50th Birthday party for Christopher on Saturday, August 28 at 1 PM. You are invited to come visit Christopher and learn about its history. If you are not familiar with Christopher, come learn about […]

Get a closer look at nature through hands on art activities. Get your hands dirty with both pond mud and paint as we are inspired by plants, animals, and the museum collections. Camp runs June 22 – 26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Please bring a lunch.) For ages 6–12. Cost is $110. CLICK TO […]

Mammal pelts, skulls, tracks and scat and of course the many mammal mounts in the museum will provide an engaging look at Maine’s popular mammals. Discover how the different mammals adapt to our wetland, forest and ocean habitats. Make a mammal track game and mammal craft. Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for children.

Explore the insect collections in the museum and learn about their special adaptations and life cycles. Try hands on activities to learn how insects walk with six legs, see with many lenses, pollinate flowers and camouflage. Examine invasive insects like the Emerald Ash Borer and learn about our local winter insects. Have fun making an […]

Have you ever wondered why the sky can appear to be clear blue one day, pink the next? How are clouds formed? And how do pollutants affect our atmosphere? At the end of this program, everyone gets to take home a copy of an awesome educational book from NASA! Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for […]

Use real shells try an old sailors tradition of making a valentine with seashells and small stones or make a picture using shells. All the materials will be provided just bring your ideas! Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for children.

In this guided tour, we will highlight some of the endangered, threatened and extinct species found in the museum’s collection. We also, happily, get to talk about some species that have made remarkable recoveries thanks to recent conservation efforts! Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for children.

National Squirrel Appreciation Day — it’s actually on January 21, but we will celebrate it on the preceding Saturday — is a day to learn about and celebrate the world’s cutest rodents. We might generally look at squirrels as being an unnecessary nuisance, but their existence is actually beneficial to the environment, and in urban […]

Join us in appreciating our remarkable visitor from the Arctic — the snowy owl! What adaptations does the snowy owl use to survive and thrive in frigid winter weather? Why do we see hundreds of snowy owls visiting Maine some winters, and fewer in other years? Plus, make & bring home a special owl craft! […]

Explore the museum to find and learn about sloth, baboon, duckbilled platypus, anteater, kudu, red panda, bontebok and other creatures that you don’t always notice when you visit. The collections include animals that have developed unique adaptations for living in different environments. Learn about some with horns, a mammal that lays eggs, a slow moving […]

Have you ever wondered why the sky can appear to be clear blue one day, pink the next? How are clouds formed? And how do pollutants affect our atmosphere? At the end of this program, everyone gets to take home a copy of an awesome educational book from NASA! Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for […]

Put on your wildlife biologist cap, and hone your observational skills, as we follow the clues we find in various birds’ beaks to learn about their lifestyles and behavior. Why do hummingbirds have long, skinny beaks, while the Red Crossbill has a unique, asymmetrical beak? Plus, make a bird craft to take home! Admission: $3 […]

In this guided tour, we will highlight some of the endangered, threatened and extinct species found in the museum’s collection. We also, happily, get to talk about some species that have made remarkable recoveries thanks to recent conservation efforts! Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for children.

Nothing rivals a unique, handmade holiday card. Learn the workings of our antique Adams letterpress and make your own card with an animal or holiday image to take home. Admission: $3 for adults, $1 for children.