DAMARISCOTTA — Damariscotta River Association has announced that art educator Brady Nickerson will be offering classes to homeschool youth following the regular DRA Wild Encounters nature programs. Nickerson's art classes will be held the fourth Monday of each month, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the DRA's Great Salt Bay Farm on Belvedere Road.

Nickerson describes her program as a "non-judgmental, creative environment where kids can come, engage in spontaneous expression and self-discovery through color and design. The process, rather than the product, are the focus of the classes." The group will design mandalas, mobiles and many other projects. Kids ages 5 to 12 are welcome. The fee is $12 per class.

Children may participate in one or both programs. Wild Encounters, the nature program for homeschool youth age 6 to 12, meets on the fourth Monday of each month throughout the school year. The Jan. 23 program, held from 10 a.m. to noon, will focus on how animals survive winter. Each student will have an opportunity to make first-hand observations of wildlife adapting to the cold.

The fee for Wild Encounters is $5 per participating child. Students should come prepared to explore outside, regardless of the weather. Participants will be provided with a nature notebook to use, or they can bring their own.

Scholarships are available for all programs. A full program schedule is on the DRA website at damarisocttariver.org or upon request from the DRA. To register, call the DRA at 563-1393 or email dra@damariscottariver.org.