L.L.Bean and CMTM: Growing the Next Generation of Nature Lovers, One Program at a Time
Students engage with CMTM team member in From the Mountains to the Sea.
At the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (CMTM), we believe that a love of the outdoors begins early, nurtured through education, interactive experiences, and joyful exploration. That’s why we’re so proud to partner with L.L.Bean, whose longstanding commitment to being an outdoor steward and promoting community well-being is a natural fit for our mission.
This year, thanks to L.L.Bean’s generous sponsorship of our nature education programs, we’re expanding our efforts to connect children and families with the natural world in powerful and lasting ways. Whether it’s discovering tide pool creatures, tasting herbs in the garden, or simply playing outside, every child who visits CMTM is invited to discover the wonder of the world around them, because of L.L.Bean.
A Shared Mission: Connecting Kids with Nature
L.L.Bean’s ‘Be an Outsider’ ethos beautifully aligns with CMTM’s commitment to nurturing exploration, creativity, and learning through play, especially in the outdoors. Together, we’re sparking curiosity, building resilience, and fostering a lifelong connection to the natural world.
Our partnership with L.L.Bean goes beyond just funding. It’s about creating experiences that matter and enabling meaningful support for foundational environmental education programs.
Where Learning Meets the Land
From the Maine Watershed Exhibit to the L.L.Bean Outdoor Adventure Playground, our nature-focused exhibits and programs invite children to explore Maine’s ecosystems and understand how their everyday actions can make a difference. With L.L.Bean’s support, our visitors are discovering native species, testing water quality, planting pollinator habitats, and spending meaningful time outdoors.
Two visitors use their finger to interact with animal ambassadors.
Here are just a few of the engaging programs L.L.Bean is helping to make possible:
Tidal Tank Time: A daily opportunity for visitors to discover marine species and learn about Maine’s interconnected waterways.
Visiting Scientists Program: Scientists—from soil experts to marine biologists—share tools, specimens, and stories, sparking excitement for STEM fields and a connection to nature.
Science for Tots: Our youngest visitors (ages 2–5) are introduced to early science concepts and encouraged to explore the world with care and curiosity.
Special Seasonal Programming: From amphibian migration to the pollinating power of bees, these seasonal events highlight the rhythms and wonders of the natural world.
Summer Outdoor Programming: New activities this year include “Growing Gardeners” & “Make a Seedball,” which are immersive programs designed to spark curiosity and connection with nature among young children and families. Growing Gardeners invites participants to dig, plant, and play in garden beds, fostering early environmental awareness through sensory exploration. In Make a Seedball, families create native wildflower seedballs to take home—an engaging activity that promotes pollinator health and environmental stewardship right in their own neighborhoods.
Playgrounds and Possibility
We’re especially excited to host many of these programs in the L.L.Bean Outdoor Adventure Playground. This dynamic space is more than just a place to climb and slide—it’s a setting where children can build confidence, connect with the outdoors, and enjoy the restorative benefits of fresh air and open skies.
Just as L.L.Bean champions the physical and mental health benefits of time spent outside, CMTM is committed to integrating social-emotional learning with nature education. In today’s world, helping kids build empathy, regulate emotions, and connect meaningfully with others is just as essential as introducing them to environmental science. The outdoors and talking about natural sciences are an ideal way to support that growth.
Visitors play in Outdoor Adventure Playground at CMTM.
Thank You, L.L.Bean
With L.L.Bean’s continued support, we’re inspiring a love of the outdoors: for today, and for life. It’s a partnership rooted in shared values, and it’s already making a meaningful difference for children and families across Maine.
We are deeply grateful to L.L.Bean for believing in the power of play and the importance of outdoor exploration. Here’s to another year of wonder, discovery, and adventures at CMTM!
Come visit the L.L.Bean Outdoor Adventure Playground at CMTM and discover how play can lead to a lifelong connection to nature.
Learn more about our nature programs and how you can support our mission at www.kitetails.org.
L.L.Bean logo.