These days it’s hard to plan anything too far in advance without the possibility of a cancellation or postponement due to the pandemic. At The Neighborhood House, we have made a conscientious effort to keep our program schedule running as normally as possible with some added protocols to meet or exceed Covid-19 guidelines offered by the State CDC. Temporarily adapting our summer day camp program into individual activity blocks, or going “carryout” with our Community Cafe are two examples of that.

Heading towards Halloween 2020, there were plenty of question marks as to how the celebration would go over. Well, we are happy to report that other than some very clever and creative cloth face masks, things felt exactly like any other year aboard the “Halloween Treat Truck.” All things considered, that discernible feeling of normalcy and joy is perhaps the greatest sign of success

When the Community Cafe began nine years ago, it was abundantly clear it was a recipe for success. Like so many other programs, we’re adapting our luncheons so that we can continue to safely serve the community. Thanks to the strong support of our Cafe business sponsors and a generous private gift, the additional takeout packaging coasts won’t stand in the way of doing just that! For season number ten, the Cafe will be known as the “Carryout Cafe,” offering homemade lunches to-go on the first and third Thursday of each month.

The Halloween Treat Truck has been a howling success since its debut several years ago. As it turns out, the Treat Truck also lends itself perfectly to the concept of social distancing. This year the Treat Truck has an expanded schedule and will be venturing all over Mt. Desert-- it’s your one stop trick-or-treat destination! We’ve even added a special “Candy Claw” along with plenty of other tricks so we can safely hand out treats!

Along with the crisp air and changing leaves, we’re also welcoming several new classes to our lineup for the fall and winter months. Instructor Andrea Lepcio has switched up her summer offerings to now include Tai Chi, as well as Boom Mind, and Boom Move. We are also welcoming a new face to The Neighborhood House, Pilates instructor Hillary Kennedy who will be offering Mat Pilates twice a week.

Starting the new school year remotely is something new for all of us, but one thing that won’t change is fun filled times “after school” at The Neighborhood House. We’ll follow up on a successful summer by continuing some popular youth programs, and as academic schedules shift we’ll do the same. Our goal is to not only provide something familiar and fun for kids to participate in and look forward to, but do so in a manor that allows us to prioritize the health and well-being of not just the participants, but our entire community.

This past October, thanks to some generous private funding, the 115 year old timepiece that adorns the side of the building was removed and painstakingly restored. On Thursday, July 16, it returned to its perch-- not only restored, but upgraded as well, ensuring that it will continue to "keep watch" over our community for decades and generations to come.

For two decades now the annual “Bike Parade & Ice Cream Social” has served as a highlight of the summer season. What began as a silly excuse to gather and enjoy an ice cream sundae with a couple of dozen participants has turned into a highly anticipated event drawing nearly three hundred year ‘round and seasonal residents from across Mt. Desert Island along with visitors of all ages.

Last fall and winter we were thrilled to welcome Andrea Lepcio to The Neighborhood House for a series of Blended Yoga Pilates classes. Now that we’re back in the swing of things we’re delighted to have Andrea back with us for TWO new classes for the season!

In July we’ll be offering a series of arts & craft workshops for children entering grades 1-5. Each session will last approximately one hour. Most classes will either meet outside on our lawn or inside in the large Great Hall with open windows and ceiling fans for plenty of air circulation. Children should plan on wearing mask to the activity, but once it starts we’ll be spaced enough so that they can remove it if they’d like. Space is limited, so if you’d like to sign your child up for one or all of the aprox. one hour sessions, please give us a call at 276-5039 or contact us via email.

Children entering grades 5-8 can take part in a weekly outing around MDI. Children will meet at The Neighborhood House where they will have a chance to help “plan” that day’s adventure. Space is strictly limited to six participants and masks will be required when social distancing isn’t possible. At the conclusion of each adventure we can drop participants off directly at their homes.

Instructor Dezirae Zaman will be offering a unique series of 5 classes focused on perfecting the latest trending dances from the TikTok app. During the last few months with plenty of time at home, the app has become a popular way for kids to show off their dance moves and stay active and engaged with their peers.

Classes open to students in grades 5-8.