In this year-long series of art classes we'll explor nature's rhythms across the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall.  Each class session focuses on onbserving and captureing seasonal changes in plants, animals and weather through drawing, watercolor and ink. Students will connect with the environment through hands-on activities, embracing the stillness of winter, renewal of spring, abundance of summer and transition of fall. Join us for one season or experience the full cycle. Each session offers a deeper appreciation of nature's contact transformations For supplies, we will use large drawing pads, pencils, pens and charcoal.

France Hilbert has taught classes at College of the Atlantic since 2018. She is a professional artist and art educator with an extensive resume of training and experience including major commissions and installations. Her artistic education began at the age of seven, when she was taught by her grandfather, the late artist Jaro Hilbert. From him, she received a thorough education in the classical tradition. She pursued her formal education at the National Fine Art Academy of Paris, France, (ENSBA), was an artist in residence in Copenhagen, studied German Expressionism in Berlin, and traveled extensively to paint and study around Europe and abroad. At the Art Students League of New York, she received a Merit Scholarship to master portraiture in painting and completed a Certificate in Sculpture. She was selected for “Model to Monument”, a sculpture program at The Academy of Art, Newington Cropsey Foundation, Hastings on Hudson, NY and received an Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant from the Art Students League of New York. Of her many public and private commissions, some are permanent installations. “Talma”, a 7-foot bronze sculpture is installed in the public square of the Theatre of the Valley of L’Yerres, in Brunoy, France. A pair of 4-foot bronze relief sculptures entitled ”The Calling” are installed at the Georgetown University Medical School building in Washington, DC.

Do you struggle with food obsession, overeating, undereating or purging? There is a solution-a free information session online and by phone. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is hosting information sessions where you will hear more about the FA program and from people who have found a solution through the FA program.  There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.  For more information and to receive the ZOOM link, call Sharon at 207.250.7373 or email FA at  fa.newcastle.maine@gmail.com.  This is a live, online session using ZOOM. 

Your instructor, Chris Toy is the author of 6 popular cookbooks, a private chef, and has taught Asian-fusion cooking for several Maine community education programs. Cooking students will learn how to prepare a variety of recipes from Asia, Europe, and the Americas incorporating traditional and local ingredients. Each meal will actively engage cooks with the tools, techniques, and stories behind the dishes being created.

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. 

All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops.

Note:  Fee includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee. 

Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. 

Comments from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“I learned so much that Chris taught me, and the recipes were attainable."  “Chris speaks slowly and encourages questions."

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. 

All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops.

Note:  Fee includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee. 

Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. 

Feedback from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“Mary is a wonderful guide and a gifted teacher.”  “Very helpful watercolor instruction."

Your instructor, Mary Laury is an accomplished watercolorist and highly esteemed teacher. She encourages all her students to believe they can be successful. Painting is an exciting medium; it flows and moves and does beautiful things. If you have never painted in watercolors, we will start at the beginning. If you have painted before, you will pick up some new tips and tricks as well. We all learn together!

Step back to a time when President Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor, and their family escaped to their “beautiful little island” in the Canadian Maritimes, Campobello Island. We will be exclusive guests of the international park, staying in historic Victorian cottages. Workshop participants will explore and paint the same coastal scenery enjoyed by the summer residents at the turn of the 20th century. 

All meals are included in the workshop fee as well as specially planned optional evening activities designed to extend your learning from the day’s workshops.

Note:  Fee includes a $50 non-refundable registration fee. 

Register for the retreat then call Sherry Mitchell at 506-752-2922 to make room reservations. Acadian Arts Retreats participants will have exclusive overnight accommodations in the park. 

Feedback from recent Acadian Arts Retreats participants: 

“Mary is a wonderful guide and a gifted teacher.”  “Very helpful watercolor instruction."

If you want a chance to build your basic digital literacy skills, this program is for you. We start with an online assessment, recommendations for instruction, and then finally certificates. The initial assessments and learning modules can be done from home or on-site.

Topics are broad ranging (i.e. Internet basics, using email, Windows, Mac, MS Office, Google Docs, Social Media, Information Literacy, Telehealth, and more.

You can earn certificates by taking proctored exams on-site and remotely as staffing allows. 

Call us at 207.664.7110 to schedule an initial appointment to learn more about the program. 

Vanessa loves working with adult learners. She is really easy to be around and makes people extremely comfortable; she even makes learning math and computers fun! She is committed to helping adults discover their strengths, build their confidence, and realize they can accomplish their goals. In her free time, she loves to travel and explore the outdoors. Vanessa teaches math, science, technology, and provides college and career advising.

Sewing has become a lost art for most people.  Some sewing such as hemming, repairing tears and replacing buttons can save you a lot of time and money if you do it yourself. 

Join us to learn the basics. You'll learn the tools and techniques while making your own sewing kit, including sewing on buttons and snaps, repairing a rip in your jeans, or fixing a hole in your shirt. You'll also learn to hem pants and a skirt, and fix a separated zipper or broken zipper pull.  Supplies will be provided.  This is an in-person class.

This class isn't free.  We are hoping to bring this course to our community so we are gauging the interest.  Please register here if you'd like to be alerted when the schedule and pricing is established.

Are you thinking about going on an outdoor trip this summer with family or friends? Are you planning on being a trip leader for a camp or guide service? Are you interested in knowing how to take care of someone if they were hurt in the backcountry? This is a perfect course for someone who would like to get a basic level of first aid training. The Wilderness First Aid is a 16-hour hands-on course. It will provide a comprehensive look at the standards and skills of dealing with:

• response and assessment
•  musculoskeletal Injuries
• environmental emergencies
• survival skills
• soft tissue injuries
• medical emergencies.

This course includes 16-hours in class sessions, out of class reading, and a final exam. It can include a 2-hour CPR course. Course includes SOLO Wilderness First Aid book, Wilderness First Aid Map, 2-year WFA Certification

We are gauging interest in this class.  The likely schedule will be the last weekend in September.  If you register here, we will contact you when the logistics for the course are finalized.