Visit · Learn · Explore
Field Trips & Tours
Come discover the mysteries of the Desert of Maine and learn about ecology, geology and history.
On a visit
On a field trip or tour, you will learn about how the "desert" was created during the Ice Age and unearthed over 100 years ago through farming. We will also explore the Tuttle Farmhouse, different ecosystems on the landscape, including a vernal pool teeming with life, wild orchids, fly-eating plants, wild blueberries, and more.
Fill out one of the forms below and we'll reach out to schedule your trip, or contact us at mela@centerforartsandecology.org for more information.
Follow the route through the dunes — six stops on a guided walk.
The Tuttle Farmhouse
Begin with human influence on the land at this mid-1800s farmstead.
The Ecology Walk
An age-appropriate introduction to dune succession and recovery.
The Vernal Pool
A seasonal wetland teeming with amphibians, reptiles, and fairy shrimp.
Wild Orchids & Carnivores
Find wild orchids, fly-eating plants, and wild blueberries on the dunes.
The Queen Oak
Meet the showstopping Red Oak that anchors the recovering landscape.
Home Base
A place to leave your things and eat lunch between explorations.
Schools & Camps
Field Trips for Schools & Camps
A docent-led visit to Desert of Maine will give your group a window into the history, geology, and ecology of this unique destination. Your group will learn about human influence on the land, starting with the Tuttle Farmhouse, followed by an age-appropriate introduction to the Ecology Walk. We will then help facilitate the rest of your visit, whether your group wants to spend time at the Shady Grove Filling Station exhibit, the Fossil Dig, Spring House, Gemstone Village, or coordinate with the business to play a round of mini golf. Your group will have a "home-base" to leave your stuff and eat lunch.
Our approach is hands on, immersive, and student-directed. We encourage kids to get their hands dirty, quite literally, as they investigate questions like: What is soil and why is it so important? What are the different plant communities that have lived on this land over time and how have human choices and activities influenced the environment?
Home School Groups
Home School Group Experiences
Home school groups can build a custom visit around ecology, geology, Maine history, or creative exploration in the Desert landscape.
Adults & Mixed Ages
Adult & Mixed-Age Group Visits
Whether you are new to ecology or have deep knowledge of the ecosystems that populate the Desert, our teachers and guides are ecologists and artists who are passionate about the lessons and stories of this land.
Summer Camp
Desert of Maine Art & Ecology Camp
Where nature meets creativity, daily explorations of the dunes turn into hands-on art, ending each week with a showcase for families.
- Ages
- Ages 8 to 12
- Time
- 8:45 am to 3 pm
- Weeks
- Week 1: July 6 to 10
Week 2: July 13 to 17 - Cost
- Cost $480
Plan your visit
Tell us about your group.
Choose the option that fits and we'll open a quick form. We reach out by email to schedule your field trip or tour. Scholarships and sliding-scale rates are available for schools, just ask.
Prefer to talk? Email mela@centerforartsandecology.org or call (207) 250-2550.