Orono Community Education

Invite budding naturalists to head outside for a walk to spot feathered friends - in the woods, a park, or right in their backyard. Backyard Explorer: Bird Watch leads kids through the basics of birding, from identifying common birds to learning about habitat and listening for bird songs. Includes activity ideas such as building a bird nest, matching games, and simple discovery about food chains/life cycle of birds. Build a wooden birdhouse, gelatin bird feeders and observe the wonders of the world outside with clipboard and working binoculars. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Can bubbles be different shapes? Why do bubbles pop? Head outside and get bubbling as you explore surface tension with hands-on science, 16 ounces of bubble solution and reusable bubble straws/connectors to make unlimited 2D and 3D geometric wands. Then delight your bubble explorer with giant bubbles big enough to fit in! Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Head outside and get the buzz on bugs! This kit is packed with educational prompts and activities to encourage junior naturalists to spot insects while on a walk in the woods, playing in a park, or searching right outside their front door. Interactive field guides help young seekers identify fliers, crawlers, and pollinators. Project ideas such as Weave a Web or Make a Bug Hotel, and cool bug facts, boost the insect intrigue. Includes a one-handed bug catcher with thumb operated trapping slider and 5x magnification, a perfect companion to catch the fastest specimens in a safe and humane way. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Explore the fascinating world of honey bees! This kit targets a deeper understanding and appreciation for these remarkable insects and their impact on our ecosystem. National Geographic Kids book with beautiful, engaging, and authentic photos, natural honeycomb, authentic bee pollen, and more support learning and captivate childrens’ intrigue. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Your best friend is having a birthday party. When it’s time for cake, everybody heads inside to the kitchen but the cake is nowhere to be found! Luckily, the thief left behind clues you can use to track them down and get the cake back. Solve the Case of the Missing Birthday Cake using forensic science to take fingerprints, analyze evidence and decode encrypted messages. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Two adventurous friends are planning a journey together to go spelunking in Sequoia National Park in California. They know this cave has magnificent crystal formations and a polished marble stream. However, they need your help to prepare for their trip by answering the following questions: 1. What are crystals? 2. How do crystals form? 3. What are crystals made of? Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Put Newton’s laws of motion into motion as you build things that move, zoom and fly! From gravity ziplines to balloon-powered cars, learn to build projects for speed, power and distance. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Use everyday craft supplies and other simple materials to create robots, bugs, beasts, vehicles, and whatever you can imagine using the Shake It board. When you flip the Shake It switch on, see where and how your creation moves. Can you design and engineer something that moves very quickly, straight forward, backward, or in circles? Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times..

Harness the power of the sun to develop your one-of-a-kind STEM art! Use hand-treated, sun-sensitive papers that undergo a chemical change when exposed to sunlight. Images appear within minutes and are permanent with a quick rinse of water. Safe and easy to use. A great summer science or art project for the entire family. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Use a hammer and nails to build a working dragster race car complete with fiery decals and a racetrack for launching! Get outside and race all summer long. Kit features hammer, hardware, paint, paintbrush, precut quality wood pieces with predrilled holes, full-color step-by-step instructions for ease of assembly. Makes one dragster and launching track. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Who can get the highest score? Build a fun game to play all summer. The Marble Drop Kit features predrilled wood, hammer and hardware to engineer a fun game. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

The Marshmallow Launcher is as fun to use as it is to build! Kit features hammer, hardware, paintbrush, paint, precut quality wood pieces with predrilled holes, full-color step-by-step instructions for ease of assembly. Once built, the fully functional launcher can be used all summer long. Makes one launcher. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.

Spin the propeller and watch it go! Build a racer that really moves with this interactive lesson in woodworking and physics. Construct and decorate the racer, then experiment to see what makes it go the farthest and fastest. The Propeller Racer features hammer, hardware, paint, paintbrush, stickers, precut quality wood pieces with predrilled holes, full-color step-by-step instructions for ease of assembly. Makes one propeller racer. Kit available to order through August 1. Kits will be available for pickup at Orono Community Education at Door E24 (705 N. Old Crystal Bay Rd.) beginning May 15. We will send an email reminder about pick-up dates and times.