Community Events

Statewide

Essay Contest

Deadline February 10, 2026

“How My Acts of Service help me Understand what my Community means to me.”

The guidelines require that contestants be under the age of 19 as of October 1, 2026 and attending school in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean. The winner of the  club contest will advance to the NY-NENG District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundation. Contest rules and qualifications are listed on the application form.  Essays are due in to the Optimist Club by February 10 th 2026.  You may also visit our national website at Optimist International for additional information..

The winner of the local Optimist Club Essay Contest must complete the Club application and meet the attached requirements before the essay is submitted to the NY-NENG District for final judging. The local club winner will receive a $100 prize.

For additional information, or to receive a copy of the rules and regulations, please contact any member of the Tri-Town Optimist Club or email gwmathews91@gmail.com.

For more information please contact:

Rockland

Homeschool & Friends Valentine Exchange

February 13, 2026

Join Miss Katie for our first Homeschool Valentines Exchange! Decorate a paper bag Valentine Mailbox, exchange Valentines, & make new friends.

Registration is required - call or email the Rockland Public library to sign-up!

Please make sure to register each child who wishes to receive Valentines so that we have an accurate number of attendees. Each child attending must bring 15 cards to exchange with other attendees (and are welcome to bring more).

For more information please contact:

See Description

Opportunity to attend Hog Island Teen Camps 2026

Deadline to apply ~ Feb. 14, 2026

Merrymeeting Audubon, a Chapter of Maine Audubon, has reserved two spaces and is offering two scholarships to attend teen (ages 14-17 in June 2026) camps this coming summer. This program is located at the Hog Island Audubon Camp, Bremen, ME. Here is a link to a description of the program: (Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens Session Two: June 21 - 26, 2026)

Eligibility:

The applicant must attend a high school or be home schooled within the Chapter’s catchment area which encompasses:

●RSU1 Bath, Phippsburg, Woolwich

●RSU2 Dresden, Richmond

●RSU4 Litchfield

●RSU5 Durham, Freeport, Pownal

●MSAD75 Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Harpswell, Topsham

●AOS98 Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Georgetown, Southport

●Other Arrowsic, Brunswick, Lisbon/Lisbon Falls, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset

The camper will be selected on the basis of a one-page student essay and the teacher’s recommendation. The student should explain why they are interested in birds and what they hope to learn. The completed student application, essay, and recommendation are due by February 14, 2026.

Award: The scholarship will cover the full camp tuition of ($1,725). If selected, the student is responsible for submitting the Hog Island registration forms.

For more information please contact:

Monmouth

Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew

February 20, 2026

"Southern Maine Association of Shakespearean Homeschoolers (SMASH) presents Taming of the Shrew at Cumston Hall at Monmouth Theater. February 20,21,27,28. For times and tickets go to Smash Maine. Hope to see you there!"

For more information please contact:

Gorham

Maine Engineering EXPO

February 28, 2026

The Maine Engineering Promotional Council (MEPC) is excited to announce the state’s largest engineering educational outreach event — the 2026 Maine Engineers Week Expo! This year’s Expo promises to be our best yet, and we hope you’ll bring your students, children, and families for an inspiring, hands-on day of discovery. Saturday, February 28th, 2026 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm At the Costello Fieldhouse on the University of Southern Maine's Gorham campus.

The event is free and open to the public. Parking is also free if you use the parking code available at the EXPO.

It’s never too early to get students excited about their future, and the Engineering Expo offers one of Maine’s best opportunities for kids to explore what engineering is all about. The event is expected to draw 1,500 attendees and will feature more than 70 interactive exhibits and activities designed to spark curiosity and enthusiasm for STEM careers.

During the Expo, participants can:

Bus Grants – Does your school need financial assistance to attend the Expo? Thanks to our sponsors, MEPC is again offering bus grants of up to $1000 per school (or homeschool group) to help offset transportation costs and make it possible for more students to participate.

Apply for a bus grant online by February 25th, 2026, at engineeringme.com/busgrants.

If your school has engineering-related projects, we’d love to feature them at the Expo! Tables will be provided for student project displays — please contact christopher.karlen@maine.edu to reserve space or ask questions. No reservations required to attend.

For more information please contact:

Statewide

Mainely Character Scholarship

Deadline: March 1, 2026

Mainely Character Scholarship provides $5,000 awards to high school seniors who are planning to enter a postsecondary program in the fall of 2026. The scholarship is based on four tenets of character: Courage, Integrity, Responsibility, and Concern. Applicants provide essays on all four areas. Applications are found at Mainly Character and are currently being accepted with a due date of 3/1/2026.

For more information please contact:

Hancock

Blacksmith classes

Ongoing

I have a working blacksmith shop and offer ongoing classes on the basics of blacksmithing to Home schoolers as well as the public.

For more information please contact:

Waterville

Alice in Wonderland

March 24, 2026

Follow Alice on her journey down the rabbit hole, packed with some eccentric and fantastical characters who take your audience on an imaginative ride. Since 1865, this literary classic has been a favorite among young readers and we can’t wait to bring it to life. Join the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and Alice on this adventure in Wonderland.

Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at at 9:30am + 12pm

Organizations: Waterville Opera House + Bright Star Theatre

Venue: Waterville Opera House, 1 Common Street, Waterville, Maine

Recommended Grades: K - 6

School Shows: On sale Tuesday, May 27 at 11am. Tickets must be reserved in advance through the Box Office by completing the registration form. For more information CLICK HERE.

For more information please contact:

Rochester, NH

Sole City Dance Presents: Treasure Island

April 3, 2026

What could pirates and ballet possibly have in common? Answer: a great story. See for yourself how Sole City Dance's adaption of ""Treasure Island"", replete with intrigue and romance, mermaids and treasure, as well as a cast of memorable characters, brings beauty and artistry to Stevenson's beloved adventure tale. With Sole City's characteristic attention to detail and theme, the story becomes more than a race for treasure. The ballet features characters learning to ""treasure"" the most important things in life. Friday, April 3 at 7:00 pm Saturday, April 4 at 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm

Tickets:

$15 Table Seating

$12 Balcony

Purchase tickets: Ticket Search

Venue & Online Ticketing:

Rochester Opera House

31 Wakefield Street

Rochester, NH 03867

Rochester Opera House

BOX OFFICE: (603) 335-1992

Sole City Dance

603-750-7777

Sole City Dance

info@solecitydance.org

Sole City Dance provides a strong technical foundation in dance in a non-competitive, nonjudgmental environment, for the encouragement of artistic expression. Sole City Dance is a federally-designated 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization.

For more information please contact:

Waterville

The Little Prince

April 8, 2026

After crashing in the desert, an airplane pilot befriends a mysterious Little Prince. As the pilot repairs his plane, the Little Prince tells the story of his travels throughout the galaxy. He has visited several planets, learning lessons from their strange inhabitants. Will the Little Prince ever find his way back to his own tiny home planet and the beloved Rose he left behind? Join us for this staged retelling of the classic novella by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry to find out.

Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at at 9:30am + 12pm

Organizations: Waterville Opera House + Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

Venue: Waterville Opera House, 1 Common Street, Waterville, Maine

Recommended Grades: K - 6

School Shows: On sale Tuesday, May 27 at 11am. Tickets must be reserved in advance through the Box Office by completing the registration form. For more information CLICK HERE.

For more information please contact:

Auburn

Homeschool Science Fair

May 18, 2026

Calling all young scientist and researchers! Auburn Public Library will host it's first Homeschool Science Fair for grades 4-8. For more information and to register please go to our website.

For more information please contact:

Brunswick

Audubon's Hog Island Teen Camp

June 21. 2026

Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens is designed for youth aged 14-17 who want to be a part of a community of passionate, caring, and curious young people with an interest in birding. If you are a young birder who wants to further develop your skills, adventure to birding hot spots in coastal Maine, learn about coastal ecology and conservation, make new friends, and have fun doing it then this session is for you!

Throughout the week you will immerse yourself in the bounties of summertime on the Maine coast through activities like boat trips, field trips to mainland birding spots, tide pooling, spruce forest hikes, nature journaling and more! You will experience the diversity of birds that summer in coastal Maine and gain a deep understanding of their habitat, food sources, ecology, and conservation. This session has the VERY special privilege of landing on Eastern Egg Rock to experience a day in the life of a seabird researcher (weather and seas permitting).

Please be aware that CMBS is not your average bird camp! Our focus is not about getting the highest number of species on our list, but on appreciating birds, observing the natural world around us, learning about bird conservation, and building a supportive community where we can all grow as birders and as individuals. The Coastal Maine Bird Studies for Teens programs run concurrently with the adult sessions Joy of Birding and Field Ornithology and share many instructors. This is a wonderful opportunity for teens to learn from many different highly skilled instructors throughout the week.

Note: To limit screen time and promote a community where we are present with ourselves and others, teens will turn in their cell phones to instructors each night before bed.

For more information please contact: