Learn practical survival skills that can save lives including your own!

Discuss your current survival skill level then build and add more skills to your bank. Our diagnostic scale is Primitive to Prepper. Focus will be on awareness, shelter, water, fire, food and how these are currently achieved daily. Identify and discuss commercially available tools used to expedite those activities in an emergency and experiment making them from the local landscape to achieve the same tasks. There will be indoor and outdoor activities, rain or shine, so dress for the weather!

Lou Falank Jr., owner of Mountain Bear Programs/Guide Service & instructor at Maine Primitive Skills School, has worked And volunteered with programs at camps and schools across ME, NY & PA.

Best game in the universe!

Traditionally played with two to four people, it may seem intimidating at first, but the basics are easy to learn. Join us for fun, relaxing evenings of cribbage as you learn the ins-and-outs of this popular board game. This is a beginner to advanced-beginner level class. Bring your own cribbage board, if you have one.

Bob Nadeau has been playing the game of cribbage daily for 70 years! Throughout his lifetime he has taught many people how to play and is excited for the opportunity to teach a group of students.

Let Lou be your guide as you start your own seasonal foraging calendar. Learn to identify, harvest, process, store and use plants found at their different seasonal stages. Get an introduction to field guides and resource books followed by a trip outside. Try some foraged food samples to help you develop a list of tasty plants you will want to eat. There will be indoor and outdoor activities, rain or shine, so dress for the weather!

Lou Falank Jr., owner of Mountain Bear Programs/Guide Service & instructor at Maine Primitive Skills School, has worked And volunteered with programs at camps and schools across ME, NY & PA.

Bowdrill & Handdrill Techniques

Make and learn how to use bowdrill and handrills! Bring your hand made bow home to show your friends your skills! Cover fire starting material selection, craftsmanship and techniques. We will use knives and synthetic cord for practice and discuss and make natural and synthetic rope alternatives. The feeling you get when you create an ember and breathe life into a tinder bundle as it bursts into flame is a powerful experience. There will be indoor and outdoor activities, rain or shine, so dress for the weather! 

Lou Falank Jr., owner of Mountain Bear Programs/Guide Service & instructor at Maine Primitive Skills School, has worked/volunteered with programs at camps and schools across ME, NY & PA.

Discover the colorful history the Pepperell Mills! We will cover how they were built from the design, sources of local materials used, construction of several Pepperell Mills from 1840 to 1916 and the notorious figures involved in the mill’s history - learn everything you’ve been wanting to know about our local mills! The construction of these mills directly effected the growth of the Biddeford/Saco community and helped make them the flourishing, diverse communities we know and love.

Dana Peck, born and raised locally, is a volunteer with the Biddeford Historical Society. He has always been passionate about the history of our towns and more specifically the historical effect the Pepperell Mills had on them.

Learn to groom, lead and handle your assigned horse through basic ground exercises. Grow from the increasing bond of trust you build between you and your horse. Many life lessons can be learned through this relationship in and out of the barn! Burn calories, lower blood pressure, practice patience, leadership skills, self-relaxation and much more. Registration is through OOB/Saco Adult Ed.

Required: Comfortable clothing to get dirty in and sturdy walking shoes. No open-toe shoes allowed.

Mona Jerome, owner/operator of Ever After Mustang Rescue in Biddeford, has worked with horses for 30+ years, specializing in Mustangs. She trained with numerous national horse trainers & volunteered at Bureau of Land Management adoption events.

Water dowsing is one of the many ways that dowsing can be used in today's world. Locating well sites is only one use for dowsing. We will explore the various facets of dowsing and the tools used. If you have a pendulum or rods, please bring them with you. The instructor will provide practice tools and some will be available to purchase for $5.

Glen Johnson, a dowser for over 60 years, specializes in finding water, moving water veins, map dowsing and locating lost objects.