LEWISTON — The YWCA of Central Maine and Fiddlehead Center for the Arts & Sciences will host a free “sneak peek” event from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug.  27, to showcase their enriched public programs.

Parents will have an opportunity to see the classes in action.
Children are invited to play, create, experiment and build at this event at the YWCA, 130 East Ave.

In order to ensure the continued availability of stimulating art and science programming for children aged 3 to 10, the YWCA and Fiddlehead Center have teamed up for the school year ahead. The YWCA of Central Maine will offer preschool and after-school classes at their facility as part of their public offering. Fiddlehead Center instructors will teach on-site as part of their pilot effort to bring the arts and sciences to communities beyond the reach of their own center in Gray.

“Our organizations’ missions are so similar it was really easy to make this happen.” says Jacinda Cotton-Castro, Fiddlehead Center’s executive director. “We were in the process of developing our outreach programs for neighboring communities when Kayt called.”

Kayt DeMerchant, marketing and Hallmark programs director at the YWCA, admits this union came while she was researching creative opportunities for her own children. “After finding Fiddlehead Center, I thought this would be a wonderful addition to our YWCA programming. So instead of trying to duplicate their effort, we asked if they could offer classes here for the children in our community.”

Fall classes include daytime Music, ages 3 to 5, and after-school Messy Art and Sculpture, ages 5 to 10, both offered Tuesdays. Daytime Messy Art, ages 3 to 5, and after-school Wizardry of Chemistry and Pre-Architecture, ages 5 to 10, will be offered on Wednesdays. The 12-week classes will range from $89 to $129 for members and nonmembers, respectively.

For more information, contact Kayt DeMerchant at the YWCA of Central Maine, 795-4050 (online at www.ywcamaine.org), or Jacinda Cotton-Castro at Fiddlehead Center, 657-2244 (online at www.fiddleheadcenter.org) to register for classes.