Explorers Newsletter
November/December 2017
Welcome!
Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs)
Parents of students in grades 3-5 will be contacted to schedule an ILP meeting.
Grade 8 RBMS Explorer Students to Host Family Code Night
"Family Code Night" is a whole-school, whole-family event at which kids grades 3-5 and their parents do their first hour of computer programming - together! At this special evening of learning and fun, you'll play in parent-child teams to complete fun Code.org puzzles and challenges at your own pace, and learn core concepts in coding in this very first hour. Afterwards, you'll go home with a special "Code On at Home" guide to continue coding puzzles, learning and fun at home. No coding experience needed, laptops available if needed, a great experience to share with your kids! Don't miss out!
Thursday, December 7th from 5-6pm in the Weatherbee Elementary Gym
Follow a Researcher!
PenPal Schools
Read and Explore ONLINE Book Club
LAUNCH 22

Childsplay: Fiddles and Fiddlers
Friday, Nov. 17th, 7:30pm
1 College Circle
Bangor, ME
The over two dozen musicians who comprise CHILDSPLAY come from all over the United States and Sweden and include some of the leading virtuosos in traditional and contemporary fiddle music. Childsplay creates vibrant, powerful, and eclectic sounds, with a repertoire that ranges from the lilting beauty of Celtic jigs and airs, to the driving rhythms of hoe-downs from the mountains of the southern United States to the smoky improvisations of jazz. Celebrating 30 years of touring, Childsplay will be bringing their band of 14 fiddlers and 9 all-star instrumentalists, dancers and singers on this tour.
Husson University Gracie Theatre 207-941-7888
Mammal Tracks & Signs
Saturday, Nov. 18th, 9pm
9 Central Street
Bangor, ME
Sandra Mitchell will show us what to look for to determine which animal left that mark in the mud or snow. She'll touch on other types of sign that they leave as well. The first part of two classes with slideshow and handouts to help you get started. Please RSVP at 942-1010 or info@bangorlandtrust.org.
Make Your Own Video Game
Friday, Dec. 1st, 4-4:45pm
145 Harlow Street
Bangor, ME
Collaborate with friends and peers to create a video game with nothing more than a few pieces of plastic, a tablet and a whole lot of imagination with the online game making app, Bloxels. From creating characters, to designing the layout, to telling the story, we will create a fully playable 13-bit, retro video game that we can upload to the web and challenge players from around the world. For Grades 6-12
CONTACT: Shane at 207-947-8336 ext 111 or slayman@bpl.lib.me.us
Festival of Lights
Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 2:30pm
145 Harlow Street
Bangor, ME
Stay warm @ the Library while you wait for the Festival of Lights Parade.
• Cocoa and Cookies
• Christmas Karaoke
• Christmas Crafts
• Christmas Stories
Get in the spirit of the holiday @ the Library.
Festival of Lights Parade begins at 4:30pm
Winter Twig Identification
Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 10am-12pm
9 Central Street
Bangor, ME
There are ways to know your trees in winter when the leaves are gone, if you know what to look for. Indoor lecture and workshop at 9 Central St, Suite 201. Please RSVP at 942-1010 or info@bangorlandtrust.org.
Family Code Night at Weatherbee
Thursday, Dec. 7th, 5-6pm
22 Main Road North
Hampden, ME
No coding experience needed! Fun puzzles from Code.org that will help kids and parents learn to code. Join US! Register here
Science Lecture Series: The Big Bang and the Origin of Our Universe by Dr. Dale Kocevski
Thursday, Dec. 7th, 7pm
167 Rangeley Road
Orono, ME
Does our Universe have a finite origin or has it existed unchanged for all eternity? Either answer has profound implications about the nature of our reality. Explore how astronomers came to the conclusion that the Universe, and time itself, had a beginning in the Big Bang, about 14 billion years ago. Using the planetarium we will fly to the edge of the known universe and immerse in the physics behind the Big Bang. What do modern observations tell us about the structure and evolution of the Universe over cosmic time and how the contents of the Universe will dictate its ultimate fate? Join us to find out! For more information, click here
Cold Moon Evening Hike
Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 4-5:30pm
216 Fields Pond Road
Holden, ME
Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit With Marie Curie
Wednesday, Dec. 13th, 7:30-9pm
48 Columbia Street
Bangor, ME
Maine Science Festival (MSF) Pop-up event with River City Cinema and COESpace.What if you could time travel to 1915 Paris and meet one of the world’s greatest scientists? Take part in a captivating evening of narrative science & living history with a screening of the short film Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit With Marie Curie, followed by a discussion with scientists Kristy Townsend and Heather Hamlin of the University of Maine, as well as filmmaker Jen Myronuk and (via Skype) Susan Marie Frontczak, who portrays Marie Curie. Recommended for ages 11 and up; available free-of-charge, seating is limited.
The Night Tree: Annual Winter Solstice Celebration at Fields Pond
Thursday, Dec. 21st, 4pm
216 Fields Pond Road
Holden, ME
Member families: $16, Nonmember families: $20
Join us for a family-oriented celebration of nature in winter as we recreate Eve Bunting’s classic story The Night Tree. We’ll decorate our own night trees to share with Maine’s winter wildlife.
Come relax and spend time with your loved ones on the longest night of the year. Warm cider awaits! Advance registration is recommended. Drop-ins welcome if space is available. Contact: Cyndi Kuhn - (207) 989-2591
Build a Gingerbread House with Chef Shane
Friday, Dec. 22nd, 3-5pm
145 Harlow Street
Bangor, ME
Registration is required. Please register by December 15th. Registration begins December 1st!
CONTACT: Shane at 207-947-8336 ext 111 or slayman@bpl.lib.me.us

Bangor Winter Break LEGO Robotics
Tuesday, Dec. 26th, 9am to Friday, Dec. 29th, 3:30pm
1 University Place
Orono, ME
4-Day Camp Bangor Winter Break LEGO Robotics with Tom Bickford $210
This camp is for any level of LEGO Roboteer! So if you are a rookie or a veteran this camp can take you and help move your skills forward. We start of with some basics since even the veterans have often forgotten a lot since last year, and of course some beginners are more advanced. Our camp staff try as quickly as possible to figure out which you are. Usually one staff member will be working primarily with the beginners and one primarily with the advanced, with the third floating as needed. Open to ages 9 to 13, no experience needed. Register HERE
December Vacation Camp at MDM
Tuesday, Dec. 26th, 8am to Friday, Dec. 29th, 4pm
74 Main Street
Bangor, ME
Ages: 5-12
Cost: $50.00 per child/day for non-members, $45.00 per child/day for museum members.
- Tuesday, December 26: Dino Detectives
- Wednesday, December 27: Makers and Breakers
- Thursday, December 28: I Want My Mummy!
- Friday, December 29: Icky, Sticky Science
December Vacation Camp at the Challenger Learning Center
Tuesday, Dec. 26th, 8am to Friday, Dec. 29th, 4pm
30 Venture Way
Bangor, ME
Three different days of science fun, for grades K-5. More details about each day can be found at here
Cost: $55/day