Waterbear Field School
Plant ID & Mapping · Sep 3 Zines & Printmaking · Aug 28 Plant ID & Mapping · Aug 27 Solar Power & Electronics Bench · Aug 26 Build a Workbench · Aug 25 Music & Instrument Making · Aug 21 Build a Toolbox · Aug 20 Solar Power & Electronics Bench · Aug 19
Upcoming Field Days Recent Field Days Newsletter About

Upcoming Field Days

All welcome. Field Days run 10 AM to 1 PM, for adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14). Registration covers materials and keeps the day running — and if the cost would keep you away, every day has a pay-what-you-can registration, no questions asked.

August

Wed · Aug 19 · 10 AM–1 PM

Solar Power & Electronics Bench

Lincoln Park, Somerville

Learn the basics of electricity by hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors, and measuring voltage, current, and resistance with a multimeter.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

We start from the very beginning — what a volt is, what a battery actually does — and build up, part by part, hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors.

Along the way you'll get comfortable with a multimeter, measuring voltage, current, and resistance for yourself. Nothing is a black box: by the end you'll understand every wire.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
Adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14)
Bring
Just yourself — tools and parts are provided.
When
Wed · Aug 19 · 10 AM–1 PM
Thu · Aug 20 · 10 AM–1 PM

Build a Toolbox

Lincoln Park, Somerville

A friendly first build: a wooden toolbox to carry your tools. We'll cover measuring, sawing, drilling, and joining — the core hand-tool skills — on a project you can finish in a morning.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

A friendly first build: a wooden toolbox to carry your tools. We'll cover measuring, sawing, drilling, and joining — the core hand-tool skills — on a project you can finish in a morning.

You'll take your finished toolbox home.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
Adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14). Good for first‑timers.
Bring
Closed‑toe shoes. Tools and wood are provided.
When
Thu · Aug 20 · 10 AM–1 PM
Fri · Aug 21 · 10 AM–1 PM

Music & Instrument Making

Lincoln Park, Somerville

Learn to build and play simple instruments together.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

Part jam session, part workshop: we build simple instruments from everyday materials, then play them together.

No musical background needed — the point is to make sound, make something, and have fun doing it as a group.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
All ages welcome (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14).
Bring
An instrument if you have one — otherwise we'll make some.
When
Fri · Aug 21 · 10 AM–1 PM
Tue · Aug 25 · 10 AM–1 PM

Build a Workbench

Lincoln Park, Somerville

Step up to a sturdy, portable workbench for the mobile woodshop — we'll cut, assemble, and finish it together.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

Step up to a sturdy, portable workbench for the mobile woodshop — we'll cut, assemble, and finish it together.

A bigger build; nice if you've done a little woodworking before, but beginners are welcome too.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
Adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14). Good for first‑timers.
Bring
Closed‑toe shoes. Tools and wood are provided.
When
Tue · Aug 25 · 10 AM–1 PM
Wed · Aug 26 · 10 AM–1 PM

Solar Power & Electronics Bench

Lincoln Park, Somerville

Learn the basics of electricity by hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors, and measuring voltage, current, and resistance with a multimeter.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

We start from the very beginning — what a volt is, what a battery actually does — and build up, part by part, hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors.

Along the way you'll get comfortable with a multimeter, measuring voltage, current, and resistance for yourself. Nothing is a black box: by the end you'll understand every wire.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
Adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14)
Bring
Just yourself — tools and parts are provided.
When
Wed · Aug 26 · 10 AM–1 PM
Thu · Aug 27 · 10 AM–1 PM

Plant ID & Mapping

Umbrello Hay Field, Lincoln, MA

Learn the names of some of the trees and plants around you, and how to read, use, and make maps.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

A walking session: we learn the names of the trees and plants around us — how to tell them apart, and what people have used them for over time.

We'll also learn to read and use maps of where we are, and start making our own. Bring your curiosity and comfortable shoes.

Where
Umbrello Hay Field, Lincoln, MA
Meeting spot sent when you register.
Who
All ages welcome (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14).
Bring
A backpack, comfortable walking shoes, water, and weather‑appropriate clothing.
When
Thu · Aug 27 · 10 AM–1 PM
Fri · Aug 28 · 10 AM–1 PM

Zines & Printmaking

Lincoln Park, Somerville

Make small zines and booklets using simple needle-and-thread binding, and learn how to lay out your material so your zines are easy to print.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

We'll use simple needle-and-thread binding techniques to make small zines and booklets you can take home.

Along the way you'll learn how to lay out your material so zines are easy to print — and easy to share.

Where
Lincoln Park, Somerville
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
All ages welcome (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14). No experience needed.
Bring
Just yourself — paper, needles, thread, and printing materials are provided.
When
Fri · Aug 28 · 10 AM–1 PM

September

Thu · Sep 3 · 10 AM–1 PM

Plant ID & Mapping

Umbrello Hay Field, Lincoln, MA

Learn the names of some of the trees and plants around you, and how to read, use, and make maps.

Register
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

A walking session: we learn the names of the trees and plants around us — how to tell them apart, and what people have used them for over time.

We'll also learn to read and use maps of where we are, and start making our own. Bring your curiosity and comfortable shoes.

Where
Umbrello Hay Field, Lincoln, MA
Meeting spot sent when you register.
Who
All ages welcome (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14).
Bring
A backpack, comfortable walking shoes, water, and weather-appropriate clothing.
When
Thu · Sep 3 · 10 AM–1 PM
Date TBA

Intro to Rain Barrel Installation

Hannan Healthy Foods, Lincoln, MA

How to put a rain barrel in and have it actually work. What the parts are and what each one does, how to choose which downspout is worth catching, where the overflow has to go so you are not moving your water problem somewhere worse, and how to get the water back out at useful pressure.

Being planned — see the idea
More details ▾Fewer details ▴

How to put a rain barrel in and have it actually work. What the parts are and what each one does, how to choose which downspout is worth catching, where the overflow has to go so you are not moving your water problem somewhere worse, and how to get the water back out at useful pressure.

We install one together, start to finish, so you have done it once before you do it at home — cutting into the downspout, fitting the diverter, siting the barrel and getting it level on something that will hold a full barrel's weight, screening it against mosquitoes, and draining it before a freeze.

Where
Hannan Healthy Foods, Lincoln, MA
Exact address sent when you register.
Who
Adults and kids 6+ (an adult caregiver needs to accompany kids under 14).
Bring
Closed‑toe shoes and weather‑appropriate clothing. Tools and parts are provided.
When
Date to be announced · likely 10 AM–1 PM

Want to teach a session or host one? Email us.

Recent Field Days

Zines & Printmaking

Fri · Aug 28 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Make small zines and booklets using simple needle-and-thread binding, and learn how to lay out your material so your zines are easy to print.
Read →

Plant ID & Mapping

Thu · Aug 27 · Umbrello Hay Field, Lincoln, MA
Learn the names of some of the trees and plants around you, and how to read, use, and make maps.
Read →

Solar Power & Electronics Bench

Wed · Aug 26 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Learn the basics of electricity by hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors, and measuring voltage, current, and resistance with a multimeter.
Read →

Build a Workbench

Tue · Aug 25 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Use simple hand tools to build useful objects like a portable work bench, a toolbox, a birdbox, an easel, a bench.
Read →

Music & Instrument Making

Fri · Aug 21 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Learn to build and play simple instruments together.
Read →

Build a Toolbox

Thu · Aug 20 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Use simple hand tools to build useful objects like a portable work bench, a toolbox, a birdbox, an easel, a bench.
Read →

Solar Power & Electronics Bench

Wed · Aug 19 · Lincoln Park, Somerville
Learn the basics of electricity by hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors, and measuring voltage, current, and resistance with a multimeter.
Read →

Sign up for our newsletter

New Field Days as they go up — a few weeks ahead, usually capped at ten people — plus other local events, workshops and happenings we come across.

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About

Waterbear Field School is a hands-on, outdoors skill-share for kids and adults.

What are Field Days?

Field Days are hands-on, outdoors, screen-free skill-shares for adults and kids 6+, running 10 AM to 1 PM. Every day is a different mix of skills and topics — from woodworking and fiber arts to plant walks, hikes, and farm salons. Every day has a pay-what-you-can registration, no questions asked — registering also reserves your materials and tells us how many to expect. See what’s coming up on the schedule. You can also read about recent Field Day and Field School projects in the Recent Field Days, or find out more about our philosophy and approach in the Philosophy & Structure section.

Working with Water
Catching rain, moving it, and cleaning it — the plumbing and practice of making water useful at home and on the farm.
See dates & register →
Solar Power & Electronics Bench
Learn the basics of electricity by hooking up small solar panels, lights, batteries, and motors, and measuring voltage, current, and resistance with a multimeter.
See dates & register →
Woodworking
Use simple hand tools to build useful objects like a portable work bench, a toolbox, a birdbox, an easel, a bench.
See dates & register →
Music & Instrument Making
Learn to build and play simple instruments together.
See dates & register →
Zines & Printmaking
Make small zines and booklets using simple needle-and-thread binding, and learn how to lay out your material so your zines are easy to print.
See dates & register →
Plant ID & Mapping
Learn the names of some of the trees and plants around you, and how to read, use, and make maps.
See dates & register →
Working with Water
Water filters, rain catchment, pumps: cleaning and redirecting water to make it useful at home and on the farm.
Fiber Arts
Sewing, mending, knitting and weaving — making and repairing the things we wear.
Sculpture & Fabrication
Wire, metal and found materials — making objects that hold their own shape.
Painting & Drawing
Observational drawing and painting, outdoors and from life.
Build & Repair
Fixing what we already own — tools, bikes, household things — instead of replacing them.

Philosophy & Structure

A few things to know before you join us for a Field Day.

Let’s Go Outside!

Field Days are outdoor programs, and we’ll be outside in all but extreme conditions. We keep an eye on the forecast, choose sheltered spots when we can, and take breaks as needed — but the best thing you can do is come dressed for the weather. Layers, sturdy closed-toe shoes, rain gear, sun protection, and a water bottle go a long way. We’ll always let you know if a day calls for anything special.

Safety

Every Field Day follows established safety procedures, and our facilitators are trained in them. We review expectations with participants at the start of each day, keep group sizes manageable, and make sure the tools and activities are appropriate for the ages taking part. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver, who shares responsibility for their child’s safety and participation.

Waivers

All participants (or a parent/guardian, for minors) complete a waiver form before their first Field Day. We’ll share the form ahead of time so you can fill it out in advance and we can get started without paperwork on the day.

Structure

Waterbear Field School operates as a recreational and enrichment program, not a licensed school or daycare. We don’t offer ‘drop off’ — children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

Questions? Email us.

Email us →