Regular Programs at Aldermere Farm
Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Aldermere Farm Preserve is a working cattle farm offering youth agricultural programming, ongoing education opportunities for professional farmers, and events and community gatherings.
Nestled on the western shore of Penobscot Bay in Rockport, Aldermere Farm and its Belted Galloway cattle have been area landmarks for generations. Learn more about the Aldermere Farm preserve here.
Upcoming Events
Sep 27, 2023 – Farm Tour at Aldermere Farm
Community Groups
Community Group Activity Request Form
This form is intended for school groups, youth programs, community service groups, and non-profits to schedule recreational, educational, and community service activities at Aldermere Farm.
Regular Programs at Aldermere Farm
The following programs are offered regularly at Aldermere Farm. See our Upcoming Events list for dates and times.
Aldermere Achievers and Cloverbuds 4-H Clubs
Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club – Photo credit: Karin Leuthy
The Aldermere Achievers is MCHT’s 4-H Club (in partnership with Knox-Lincoln Cooperative Extension) for youth ages 12-18, which is mainly a beef club where participants lease a calf, halter train it, and then show it at shows throughout New England.
This club meets year-round and performs community service projects, fundraising projects, and does farm chores throughout the summer.
Annual Art Show and Sale
Held in August each year this annual fundraiser supports the farm. Local artists enter fine art works for show and sale.
Beltie Holiday
Beltie Holiday – Photo credit: Hallie Arno
The Beltie Holiday event takes place at Aldermere Farm annually as part of Christmas by the Sea in Camden and Rockport.
The public is invited to don their most festive (or ugliest) holiday sweaters and bring a camera to have their photos taken with a Belted Galloway calf.
Visitors enjoy hot cocoa while decorating their own Beltie ornaments. Baked goods from Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club, Aldermere Farm beef and Beltie-themed stocking stuffers are for sale. Admission is free.
There is a suggested donation of a nonperishable food item for the Camden Area Christian Food Pantry.
Calf Unveiling Day
Each spring the Farm presents the new calves. Visitors are invited to see the newborns and learn more about the farm, land conservation, and agriculture.
Farm Hands
Photo credit: Devin Altobello
Farm Hands After-school Program (ages 10-18): Register Here
Big Farm Hands Volunteer Program (ages 18+): Register Here
Farm Hands is the premier program for youth ages 10-18 (and now adults, too!) at Aldermere Farm where participants work with the young Belted Galloway calves learning to halter train, groom, and lead them.
This provides a community service to the Farm because it allows the calves to get use to being around people, and to be well tempered and manageable.
Participants also learn about important agricultural, conservation, and environmental issues as well as skills such as teamwork, trust, and patience.
Farm Hands is held year-round at the Farm. The after-school program for youth is six sessions long. The Fall and Spring programs are held after school for an hour to an hour and a half. The summer programs are held mid-morning for approximately three hours.
All the programs are co-led by the Farm’s herd manager and 4-H members, with the summer sessions having apprentices who provide a great amount of assistance and expertise. Farm Hands is a wonderful learning experience which is more hands-on rather than classroom type of learning.
Friday Farm Tour – Photo credit: Devin Altobello
Farm Tours
Go beyond the tree lined avenue and get a behind the scenes tour of the Farm and learn about the history and upcoming events. Offered once a week from late June to late August.
Knox County Food Council
Maine Coast Heritage Trust is a founding member of the Knox County Food Council, a community-based coalition that formed in 2019 to promote a more resilient food system in Knox County, Maine.
Food councils across the state of Maine and across the county collaborate to improve health, food access, natural resource protection, economic development, and production agriculture for all their communities’ citizens. Using this cross-sector approach, food councils solve broad food system issues and give communities more control over the food they consume.
Master Gardeners
Aldermere Farm is part of the Knox-Lincoln Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program in which interested gardeners learn techniques on gardening, and then volunteer hours throughout the year at a specific site.
Aldermere Farm is one such site in Rockport where the Master Gardeners plant the gardens every year and host events such as container garden contests and instructional programs for the community.
Master Gardeners earn certificates and gain great experience.
Moonlight Ski Tour
Moonlight Ski Tours
Held during winter full moon evenings (weather permitting), these events include cross country skiing and snowshoe tours of the farm that end with a bonfire and hot chocolate overlooking Penobscot Bay.
Nature Walks/Workshops
A number of different nature walks are given throughout the spring, summer and fall on the property.
Bird and Nature Walks, Wildflower walks, Photo Workshops, and Nature Sketching Workshops are just a few of the types of presentations and walks given by local naturalists and skilled professionals.
Sap-to-Syrup
Sap to Syrup
In March the Farm welcomes youths and adults to learn about and assist the farm in the tapping of trees, gathering of sap, and production of maple syrup.