In-Person

Make a simple journal from a recycled file folder cover and personalize it with reclaimed images, decorative paper, and art supplies. No previous sewing experience is necessary.

Date: July 1st, 2026

Time: 10:00 am-11 am

Location: Mantor Library, Second Floor

Laurie is the Head of Reference Services at Mantor Library. She has been making all kinds of books for many years and enjoys teaching book arts to others.

In-person

Participants will meet once a month for lunch at various restaurants in the Farmington area. Reservations must be firm one week before the date. Participants will order from the standard menu and receive separate checks.

Dates:

July 2, 2026

August 6, 2026

September 3, 2026

October 1, 2026

Time: 11:30 am.

Location: TBD

Patricia Overall has been a member of GLI for many years.  She is a retired high school mathematics teacher who later worked in hotel management, bartending, and other occupations, including NACA (now NASA). She has lived in 18 states and obviously enjoys eating out.

In-Person

Tour Riverside Greenhouses and Florist with owner Garrett Reynolds and participate in a Q & A about their floriculture operation. Learn how plants are grown, managed, and brought to market while gaining insight into the day-to-day workings of a thriving greenhouse business.

Date: July 6th, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: Riverside Greenhouses and Florist, 169 Farmington Falls Rd, Farmington, ME

In 1986, Kurt Reynolds purchased Riverside Greenhouses and Florist after working for the company for 13 years. Under his ownership, the business thrived and tripled in size.

As Riverside continued to grow, so did the Reynolds family’s involvement. Garrett Reynolds followed in his father’s footsteps, becoming the fifth owner in Riverside’s history. Garrett further expanded the business by adding additional greenhouses.

Today, the Reynolds family members work side-by-side, continuing a proud tradition of serving their community.

In-Person

Disc golf is a flying disc sport similar to traditional golf.  Players throw a specialized disc from a tee area into an elevated metal basket target, taking as few throws as possible.  This is an introductory class in which we will learn and have fun.

Dates: July 8 and 29, 2026

Time: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Location: TBD

Ray enjoys the exposure to the Maine outdoors and has offered numerous outings with the Gold LEAF Institute.

In-person

Join us for an introduction to the concepts inherent to fly fishing: similarities and differences of spin fishing with lures, basic casting and fishing techniques, aquatic insects and their emergence times, and more. This class will be hands-on: a blend of lecture, demonstration, and coaching.

Date: July 10, 2026

Time: 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Location: TBD

John Bell, an English teacher at Mountain Valley High School, is also an avid outdoorsman who enjoys sharing his knowledge of fly fishing with anyone willing to give it a try. He came to Maine via Camp Kawanhee in Weld and still works there in the summer, encouraging campers in several activities, including fishing.

Online

Please join us for a monthly Zoom get-together for coffee, conversation, and crafts.  Settle in with your favorite craft and beverage, and visit with Gold LEAF friends.  Crafts are not essential, and guys are welcome! The goal is to get together and spend an hour or more talking with friends.

NOTE:  The summer term begins June 1, 2026. Please register if you wish to continue or are new to the class.

Dates: 

July 13

August 10

September 14

October 12

Time: 10:00 am-11:30 am 

Online 

The Book Discussion Group continues a long Gold LEAF tradition and will meet four times during the summer term to discuss works of fiction and non-fiction. Our sessions are open, casual, yet stimulating and informative, allowing us to learn from one another. There is a possibility that an occasional meeting will be in person.

The group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

July 14: Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach

August 11: Sourdough: A Novel by Robin Sloan

September 8: Where’d You Go, Bernadette: A Novel by Marie Semple

October 13: Theo of Golden: A Novel by Allen Levi

Cathy Wimett and Nadine Marchand organize the book discussions. Any group member is welcome to facilitate a session. Both newcomers and past participants are encouraged to join us for this Summer Term.

In-person

This trip will include touring two historical sites.

The Frances Perkins National Monument consists of the historic 1837 Perkins Homestead on 57 acres of farmland and forest with a 1.5-mile loop trail to the Damariscotta River. We will learn about the life and legacy of Frances Perkins in the Welcome Center inside the beautifully restored ell and barn of the Perkins Homestead. There is a self-guided exhibit. We will spend about 1.5-2 hours viewing the exhibit and walking the trail. 

We will then take the 10-minute drive to Whaleback Shell Midden. This is an 11-acre property owned by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands and co-managed with Coastal Rivers. There, we can enjoy a picnic lunch or snacks before exploring.

The site once contained a massive oyster shell heap, or midden, formed over a period of more than 1,000 years by prehistoric people. The shells were processed for chicken feed in the late 1800’s, leaving behind just a fraction of the original mounds. Interpretive storyboards relate the history of the middens, their accumulation and destruction, and also share stories of the Upper Damariscotta River.

The swinging bench by the shore offers an ideal view of one of the largest intact middens on the East Coast, the Glidden Midden, just across the river. This trail is rated accessible by Forest Service standards: 8′ wide, gently graded, and surfaced with firm crushed stone dust. Handicap parking is available at both the Whaleback and Round Top Farm trailheads.

Frances Perkins Center: https://francesperkinscenter.org/

Whaleback Shell Midden Historic Site: https://tinyurl.com/mskhsn8a

Maine.gov Whalebakc Shell Midden: https://tinyurl.com/4nm5akm5

Carpooling: Meet in the Park 'n Ride lot next to the Farmington Walgreens. We will leave Farmington at 8:30 am for the 1.5-hour trip to the Frances Perkins National Monument, with an expected arrival time of 10 am.

Dates: July 22, 2026   Rain Date: July 24, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - midafternoon

Location: Frances Perkins National Monument, 478 River Rd, Newcastle, ME

Nadine is interested in history and exploring historical sites. She will be coordinating this trip, including carpooling.