Things To Do

Working on clay
NPS photos

Destination Inspiration: Summer Art & STEM Series at Saint-Gaudens NHP

Ready to get outside, get inspired and create? We are too – join us! Free events, starting July 3rd ~

• This series is FREE!
• All workshops are for kids (appropriate ages listed with descriptions below), except for the family hike, where all ages can join!
• While kids are doing the workshops, families may visit the buildings, gardens, grounds, and trails.
• Every Saturday from 10:30AM-12:00, starting July 3^rd and ending on August 14th.
• You bring the creativity, we’ll bring the materials!
• Reservations are required as we are keeping group sizes small.
• Register by emailing [e-mail]

July 3, 10:30AM-12:00PM
Automaton Building Workshop: Where Sculpture Meets Science

We’ll be building with everything from recycled cardboard to googly eyes - the automatons will be powered by you and your ingenuity!

Meet at the Caretaker’s Garage at Saint-Gaudens NHP

For ages: 10-14, up to 8 participants

July 10, 10:30AM-11:30AM
Tree Detectives: Learn how to Identify Trees of New Hampshire at the Blow Me Down Farm

Join our Natural Resources Team, Steve & Joey, on a special hike around the Blow Me Down Farm

Meet at the Blow Me Down Farm

For families, up to 6 family groups

July 17, 10:30AM-12:00PM
Landscape Painting with Kelly

Art Educator, Kelly, will provide the supplies and the beautiful views (Saint-Gaudens NHP has many to choose from!) and you provide your unique artistic talents!

Meet at the Caretaker’s Garage at Saint-Gaudens NHP

For ages 10-13, up to 8 participants

July 24, 10:30AM-12:00PM
Sketching from Nature with Kelly

Art aficionado, Kelly, will be back this week, inspired by Mother Nature herself!

Meet at the Caretaker’s Garage at Saint-Gaudens NHP

For ages 10-13, up to 8 participants

July 31, 10:30AM-12:00PM
Relief Sculpture with Kelly

Art Educator, Kelly, will provide the clay and tools to create a low relief – you can use Augustus Saint-Gaudens as your inspiration!

Meet at the Caretaker’s Garage at Saint-Gaudens NHP

For ages 10-14, up to 8 participants

August 7, 10:30AM-12:00PM
LED Magic Wand Workshop

Create a wand that is the envy of Harry Potter himself! Or, if you’d rather, think of it as a light saber. Either way, they’re pretty cool.

Meet at the Caretaker’s Garage at Saint-Gaudens NHP

For ages 10-14, up to 8 participants

August 14, 10:30AM-12:00PM
Recycled Art at the BMD Farm

Recycling can be beautiful! Join Monica at the Dance Hall at the Blow Me Down Farm with her treasure trove of recycled bits to create art.

Meet at the Blow Me Down Farm

For ages 6-11, up to 8 participants

 

Sculptor-in-Residence A figurative sculptor, working in the historic Ravine Studio, explains and demonstrates the techniques used by Saint-Gaudens to create the sculptures found in the park. The sculptor also teaches a range of classes in figurative sculpture.

JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM
A Junior Ranger program is available for children ages 7 to 13. The program may be completed during an average hour and a half visit to the park. When completed, the junior ranger will received a 3 in. diameter patch depicting the Diana statue. A Junior Ranger in Trainng activity is available for ages 4-6. There is also a Valley Quest activity for those younger children for exploring the park.

Self Guided Touring
Visitors may tour the grounds and galleries on their own. All artwork has interpretive labels, and exterior wayside exhibits are located throughout the park and on the nature trails. The house, "Aspet" is the only building where entry is by guided tour only.

iPhone & Android APP
A free APP for iPhones and iPods and Androids is available for touring the park. The app provides audio information and images of the historic buildings and major artworks of Saint-Gaudens at the park.

Summer Concerts On Sunday afternoons from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. during July and August, the Saint-Gaudens Memorial Trustees sponsor a summer concert series. Concerts take place in the Little Studio and feature a variety of music genres. Concerts are included with paid admission to the site, there is no additional charge.

Sculpture Workshops
Classes in figurative sculpture are offered annually by the sculptor-in-residence. Workshops are held most Saturday afternoons from 1:00- 4:00 p.m. and are aimed toward beginning and intermediate sculptors. Reservations must be made in advance. A fee is charged for the class. Please call the park at [phone] x 106 for more information, and to register.

Nature Trails
Several nature trails wind through the park's Blow-Me-Down natural area.

The Ravine Trail (1/4 mile) meanders along Blow-Me-Up Brook and by the swimming hole constructed by Saint-Gaudens. There is a steep slope at each end of this trail, though the main section is fairly level.

The Blow-Me-Down Trail (1-1/4 mile round trip) takes one down to the mill pond and back along the edge of small ravines left by the receding glacial lakes.

The Return Trail section of the Blow-Me-Down Trail (an alternate route back to the lower field) can be steep in sections.

Trails are hilly in places and may be slippery when wet. Visitors should wear sturdy walking shoes. A trail map is available at the visitor center.

 

Aspet from Little Studio
NPS Photo

Video tour of Aspet

Take a peek into Aspet, the home of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and discover answers to the five most popular questions about the house.