Future Studies examines the forces of change, how they interact and cascade into tomorrow. The course will study how futurists have successfully, and at times unsuccessfully, predicted how, why, and occasionally when change will occur. As the velocity of change in our society is accelerating, and it very definitely is, the need to see the road ahead becomes ever more important. Look into this class, and look into the future. Greg is a retired Professional Pilot with Masters Degree in Liberal Studies. His Masters Thesis examined why we often fail to see the future, even when the information is in front of us.

Thursday, Nov. 2- 30, 7-8:30 p.m., 4 sessions * no class 11/ 23

Course Fee: $35

Class meets at Kittery Naval and Historic Museum. Did you know that Kittery played an important role in the Civil War? In this presentation Kim Sanborn, Director of the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum, will highlight Kittery native General Mark Wentworth, beloved resident, doctor and a respected military hero whose legacy still lives on in Kittery today. You will learn about the Medal of Honor that 24 of our Veterans earned while serving in the Union Army and the role that Fort McClary and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard had in the Civil War. A portion of the proceeds from tonight's event will be donated to the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum

Monday, Oct. 16. 6-7:30 p.m., 1 session

Course Fee: $10

Climate change has had pronounced changes throughout our world’s oceans. Changes in the thermal environment in Southern New England are already having profound and negative effects on lobsters. Indicators of this decline may be linked to the presence of shell disease. As climate change is expected to persist, stressful environmental conditions could spread northwards into the highly productive Gulf of Maine (GOM) lobster stock, making it critical to understand how changing thermal conditions might affect reproductive output. Jason is the Research Director at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm in Maine.

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7-8 p.m., 1 session

Course Fee: $12

Come learn about the advantages of renewable Off Shore Wind energy for our future in the seacoast area.  What's happening now and where are we headed. Join the conversation led by representatives from 350NH.

Thursday, Oct. 26, 6:30-8 p.m., 1 session

Course Fee: $5

Melissa Paly is the Great Bay - Piscataqua Waterkeeper, where she advocates, educates and motivates on behalf of the bays, rivers and coast that make the Seacoast region such a special place to live, work and play. She has more than 30 years’ experience in environmental management, advocacy and communications, and was past president of the Kittery Land Trust.

Session 1 - What's the science telling us about the health of our coastal region? 52 towns in NH and ME are part of the Great Bay/Piscataqua Watershed, with a network of rivers and bays connecting us all. Here in Kittery, Spruce Creek flows into Portsmouth Harbor, so we are part of this interconnected eco-region. What is the latest science telling us about the health of our waterscape? We'll look at the quality of our drinking water, rivers and streams, bays and harbors, fisheries, salt marshes and more.

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6:30 -8 p.m.

Session 2 - Taking action around the watershed For a relatively small geographic area, there is a tremendous amount of work going on at state agencies, non-profit organizations, town boards, and volunteers in every community to improve the health of the watershed. Learn about the many innovative and encouraging programs underway to address water pollution, stormwater, coastal resilience and climate change, marine education and more.

Thursday, Nov. 2, 6:30-8 p.m.

Session 3 - Becoming part of the solution Everyone who works, lives and plays in the Great Bay/Piscataqua Watershed can make a difference. We'll discuss practical things we can do around the house, the garden, the driveway, with our pets, boats and bikes to become better stewards of our coastal backyard.

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6:30-8 p.m.

Course Fee: $15, for all 3 sessions

Class meets at Kittery Naval and Historic Museum. Seaman, Soldier, Statesman, Signer of the Declaration of Independence- even among his legendary fellow Founding Fathers, Kittery’s own Gen. William Whipple had a remarkably colorful career. Local historian, D. Allan Kerr returns to share highlights of the life and the distinguished career of the only native Mainer to sign the Declaration of Independence. D. Allan Kerr is a Kittery resident and former newspaper reporter whose column still runs in the Portsmouth Herald. He is currently heading an effort to install historical markers throughout Kittery. A portion of the proceeds from tonight's event will be donated to the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 6-7:30 p.m., 1 session

Course Fee: $10

Learn about our most abundant energy resource, the sun, and how advances in solar technology, tax incentives, and net energy metering combine to make solar electricity a primary component of New England's clean energy future. Dan Weeks, Director of Market Development for ReVision energy, has worked with business and governmental leaders to advance policy solutions on a range of issues, including renewable energy and environmental conservation.

Tuesday, Oct. 24, 6:30-8 p.m., 1 session

Course Fee: $5