On Wednesday, April 22, Healthy Kids teamed up with the Thomaston Library and Chewonki to host an “Owls of Maine” program for Lincoln and Knox counties’ families. Over 60 parents and children of all ages participated.

Expertly guided by Sam Cunningham, the science educator at Chewonki’s Center for Environmental Education, families were able to learn the identifying characteristics and calls of each owl through a slide show and demonstration.  Then, using talons, wings, and skulls, we explored the adaptations of these silent nocturnal hunters. The program ended with an intimate and detailed look at two live owls, Haven (Saw-Whet) and Luna (Barred), who delighted us all with their big eyes and flapping wings. These non-releasable owls (due to past trauma or injury) are two of the “Education Ambassadors” for the Chewonki Traveling Natural History Program, designed to connect people with nature.  

Sam did a great job engaging everyone with great questions and facts, fascinating the children with various owl-related objects and gently handling the owls as the crowd observed. 

This field trip was free of charge to all those who participated, as it was funded in part through a private donation from a Friend of Healthy Kids, intended to support Healthy Kids’ 2026 field trips. These field trips are meant to cultivate family bonding and community building activities through education and positive experiences. Additionally, Healthy Kids was able to assist several families with gas and snack expenses for families requesting assistance, thanks to the support of Maine Children’s Trust.

“The purpose of these field trips is to eliminate financial barriers and to also foster inclusion by providing activities and resources at no cost to all families,” said Char Corbett, executive director of Healthy Kids. “We are thankful for all the support we receive to achieve our goals of ensuring child safety and family wellbeing across both counties. Building community and providing these opportunities for positive connection and support are important factors for encouraging family wellbeing. Today was a great day at the Thomaston Library, which has been a wonderful community partner for many of our programs and events. It was a lot of fun for everyone to learn about owls and their habitats for Earth Day, too, and we all feel good about supporting and promoting a local camp and library during the April school break.”

Future field trips are planned for the summer and fall of 2026. Parenting and professional training classes are also offered regularly, as are weekly play groups and support groups. Follow Healthy Kids online at www.healthykidsmaine.org, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/healthykidsmaine, or call 563-1818 for more information.