We believe it is important to have opportunities for every child, family, or adult to be in and learn about local nature. These interactions help people of all ages to develop an understanding and an appreciation of the natural splendor in the Kennebec Estuary region.
Select from the menu below or scroll down the page to learn about KELT's multi-faceted education programs.
We love getting people outside learning about and experiencing the Kennebec Estuary. Join us for a nature walk or an evening lecture to learn more about this special place! We host experts and tap the know-how of staff and volunteers to share their knowledge about the wild, historic, and cultural places in our corner of Maine.
Chainsaw safety and maintenance workshop.
KELT hosts a series of workshops for folks to learn new techniques to care for the land and explore new places and habitats.
Learning to dig softshell clams.
Events throughout the summertime to get you outside, learning something new, and having a great time!
Bowdoin students present research about local shellfish flats.
Lectures throughout the year tackling global conservation issues of local relevance.
Our nature-based programming for local students began in 2011 and has steadily grown since then. Working directly with local educators, KELT now provides 100+ individual opportunities (in-class and outdoor) for grades pre-kindergarten to high school at public and private schools throughout the region.
We are proud to be a resource for local educators and are very willing to adapt our programs to fit the current needs of the class. This is to ensure a more authentic and worthwhile experience for students and educators.
KELT visits a kindergarten class to present about worms!
From teaching about Gulf of Maine sea animals to our changing climate (just to name a few), KELT's educators hop into the classroom to engage students about their local environment. We primarily focus on science-related topics but are very willing to work with educators of all subjects!
3rd grade students explore a new KELT preserve for suitable owl habitat.
Getting students and teachers out into the estuary is KELT's goal! We work with schools to plan explorations at preserves, state parks, the LOCAL Garden, and other outdoor sites. Then we can support these field trips by being onsite to lead lessons, provide expertise, and engage students in local nature! KELT often offers to cover the cost of busing to ensure students can access to these outdoor experiences.
A kind note from a local 4th grade student.
Through the years of KELT’s involvement with local schools, we have been grateful to receive many creative thank you cards from the students who have participated in our programs. They are a wonderful reminder of the impact of our educational programming and inspire our continued engagement with local students!
Click the button below to watch the video!
The Sea Animal Life for Tomorrow's Youth (SALTY) program is a series of classroom presentations and an optional outdoor experience facilitated by KELT for 4th grade classes. The presentations focus on the invertebrate animals of the Gulf of Maine: their biology and their importance to this marine habitat and the people of Maine.
In 2016, KELT began to manage the LOCAL Garden in south Bath. The garden has an expanded mission: to serve as a nearly year-round, edible-demonstration garden, with projects and programs to benefit adults and children.
Meet our Garden Coordinator, learn how it all started, and what we have planned for the future.
Join a Volunteer Workday crew…Help our Garden Coordinator care for the garden, learn gardening tips, and share your gardening tricks.
Student groups are invited to visit the garden for a class field trip in the spring, summer, or fall.
in Brunswick
KELT is helping people and nature to prepare for the serious challenges brought on by our changing climate such as warmer temperatures, more extreme storms, drought, less snow, coastal storm surges, and sea level rise. By approaching these formidable challenges with local projects and partnerships, KELT aims to be a reliable climate change resource for you and your neighbors. We want to make climate change understandable and offer practical actions to make our midcoast Maine communities resilient to present and future changes. What is KELT doing now?
“We could work together, not let the water rise
Make a very good plan, yes, that would be wise.”
Recording observations and documenting how plants and animals are changing along with their environments.
Conserving the places that plants, wildlife, and people need to thrive and to move within as conditions change.
Conservation and restoration projects to get carbon out of the atmosphere and to help control flood waters.
Creating local programs and supporting initiatives to give folks information about the changing climate and how to best prepare.
During spring 2017, KELT conducted a timber harvest at Sewall Woods Preserve as part of a larger demonstration forest project to showcase sustainable forestry practices. Harvesting is complete! Learn more about this project below.
KELT hopes that this harvest will not only benefit the woodlands and wildlife of the preserve, but will also provide a unique experience for its many users, encouraging the spread of sound forest stewardship practices throughout our region.
This stand map shows the areas covered by the different forest types found at Sewall Woods Preserve (numbers) and the associated management recommendations. Stands 1 and 3 were harvested, while the other stands remain to retain shoreline trees, avoid soil damage in wet areas, or allow stand development.
Amanda Mahaffey photo
KELT sees large educational potential in this project. Join us for public walks to learn more.
Educational signage will also be installed along the trails to explain the resulting long-term changes to the forest.
Thank you for your interest. 2025 registration will be announced in January.
Come join our Kennebec Estuary Land Trust educators for a week of adventure, exploration, play, and nature-based art at the Holt Research Forest outdoor classroom on the beautiful Sewall Pond in Arrowsic.
2024 KELT Kids Summer Day Camp Dates:
July 29 - August 2, 2024
August 5-August 9, 2024
Ages: 7-11 years old. Maximum of 15 campers. One week per camper.
Hours: Drop off 8:45 – 9:00 am / Pick up 2:45 – 3:00 pm
Location: Holt Research Forest outdoor classroom on Sewall Pond, Arrowsic
Weekly Tuition: $250 for full week / $200 for KELT Members. Become a member here!
There is high demand for summer day camp and we run registration on a lottery basis to give all families an equal (and and hopefully less stressful) opportunity to enroll. Campers are limited to one week of camp per year.
Registration is now closed for camp. During the first week in February each year, we will open the lottery at this website for families to register. All families will have equal access. Camper slots will be allocated by Friday, February 16 and we will contact all families then if you have a spot in camp, or where you are on the waitlist.
Once you have secured your spot, please complete your camp payment by March 1. Scholarships will be available for any campers wishing to participate – see FAQ for details.
Sign up for an email reminder of camp registration for next year by joining our member email list at the bottom of this page.
Please let our Camp Director, Emily Pistell, know if you have any questions by emailing epistell@kennebecestuary.org.
The outdoor classroom pavilion and base camp.
Meet our camp staff and learn about our camp location along the shore of Sewall Pond in Arrowsic.
Catchin' critters in the pond.
Find out what a week looks like with KELT and review the daily schedule.
Check out photos from past sessions and read a helpful list of items to pack for camp each day.
Getting creative!
You’ll find here:
Registration information
Cost and scholarships
COVID-19 and safety information
