Harpswell Heritage Land Trust is offering exploration kits to give families the tools, ideas and inspiration to create lasting outdoor memories!

We are deeply committed to making these kits accessible and are offering them for a suggested donation. You can pay as little or as much as works for your budget, no questions asked.

The kits include high-quality exploration tools made to last, as well as activity ideas and supplies. See below for more about the kits, which Harpswell Heritage Land Trust has created from scratch. Though they were designed with preschool and elementary-age children in mind, they would be great for older kids and adults too!

You can always access our 50 outdoor activity ideas on our website for free.

You are welcome to stop by the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust office at 153 Harpswell Neck Road to pick up exploration kits. Our hours are variable. You can also place an order on our website and we will put your kits out on the deck for you to pick up when convenient. Due to their size, exploration kits are expensive and cumbersome to mail and are available for pickup only. Click here to purchase yours!

Exploration Essentials

The essentials for hours of exploration and discovery! For this kit, we recommend one per child. 

Contents:

• Junior Ranger Activity Book
• Blank nature journal
• Three scavenger hunts
• Clipboard
• Ruler
• Magnifying glass on a lanyard
• Building kit donated by Home Depot
• Drawstring backpack
• Outdoor activity ideas
• Guide to getting outdoors in Harpswell
• Pencil

All About Forest Animals

A game, field guide, activities and more! Great for learning about Maine’s wildlife. For this kit, we recommend one per family. 

Contents:

• Pocket Naturalist Guide to Maine Wildlife
• Maine Forest Animals Game (created by HHLT)
• Materials to make your own tree ID wheel
• Make your own treasure hunt activity (2 copies)
• Scavenger hunt (2 copies)
• Drawstring backpack
• Outdoor activity ideas
• Guide to getting outdoors in Harpswell
• Pencil

Butterfly Lovers

Discover the world of butterflies, raise a Monarch from caterpillar to butterfly and make a beautiful flag! For this kit, we recommend one per family.

Contents:

• Pocket Naturalist Guide to New England Butterflies & Pollinators
• Instructions for raising and releasing Monarch butterflies
• Butterfly net
• Butterfly tent
• Materials and instructions for flower pounding (enough to make four flags)
• Drawstring backpack
• Outdoor activity ideas
• Guide to getting outdoors in Harpswell
• Pencil

Tidepool Explorers

Perfect for exploring the ocean shoreline, which we think is the perfect way to spend your summer!  

Contents:

• Pocket Naturalist Guide to Seashore Life of Harpswell
• Shoreline scavenger hunt
• Collecting net perfect for tidepools
• Collecting bin to look at what you catch
• Color and shape matching activity
• Egg carton collections activity
• Drawstring backpack
• Outdoor activity ideas
• Guide to getting outdoors in Harpswell
• Pencil

Winter Adventurers

Ideas and inspiration for winter adventures! For this kit we recommend one per family. 

Contents:

• Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
• Craft kit for making your own “over and under the snow” banners. The kit includes enough materials to make two banners. All you’ll need are two sticks and some glue
• Outdoor activity ideas for winter
• Small, waterproof pocket guide to Maine animal tracks
• Three different winter-themed scavenger hunts (three copies of each)
• Guide to getting outdoors in Harpswell
• Drawstring backpack
• Pencil