Homeschool group

BREWER – Lighthouse Homeschool Group, a community of families who are homeschooling high school-age students, will offer academic and elective classes at their co-op, including biology lab, chemistry, algebra, Spanish, American literature, creative writing, U.S. history, Maine studies, theater, newspaper and yearbook, and band. Classes for siblings also are planned.

The co-op meets Thursdays at Calvary Baptist Church, 61 State St. Registration for classes is 1-3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at the church. Classes begin Thursday, Sept. 11.

For information, e-mail Theresa Lancisi at PLDoveTail@aol.com, or call Tammy Abbott at 843-6364, or e-mail her at lighthousehsg@aol.com.

Fulbright program

HAMPDEN – In October, teachers Susan O’Brien of Weatherbee School and Sharon Hastings of Reeds Brook Middle School will go to Tokyo, Japan, as participants in the Fulbright Memorial Fund Teacher Program.

They were selected from a national pool of more than 2,500 applicants by a panel of educators. The program allows distinguished primary and secondary school teachers in the U.S. to travel to Japan for three weeks in an effort to promote greater intercultural understanding.

O’Brien and Hastings will be among 200 educators who will begin their visit in Tokyo, where they will receive an orientation about Japanese life and culture and meet with Japanese government officials and educators. They will travel in groups of 20 to prefectures, or states, where they will have direct contact with Japanese teachers and students during visits to primary and secondary schools and teachers’ colleges. They also will visit cultural sites and local industries in addition to staying in the home of a Japanese family.

The program is sponsored by the government of Japan and was launched to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the U.S. government Fulbright Program, which has enabled more than 6,000 Japanese citizens to study in the U.S. on Fulbright fellowships for graduate education and research.

Teachers interested in participating in next year’s Fulbright program to Japan may obtain information at www.iie.org/fmf, or call (888) 527-2636. The application deadline is Dec. 10.

Interact Leaders Club

BANGOR – The Bangor YMCA will hold an informational meeting about the Bangor YMCA Interact Leaders Club 6:15-7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the Bangor YMCA.

The club is a service group for eighth- to 12th-graders where they can develop leadership skills, implement community service projects, plan an international service project, challenge personal limits, coordinate a group trip, participate in community events, establish friendships and have fun.

One member will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship toward continuing education from the Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club.

It is not necessary to a member of the Bangor YMCA to join to club. Program dues are $5 per month. Four hours of volunteer service are required. Participants who do eight hours of volunteer service each month will receive a free Bangor YMCA youth full-privilege membership.

Interact Leaders Club meets 6:15-7:15 p.m. Thursdays at the Bangor YMCA, 127 Hammond St. For information, call Nancy Cambridge, YMCA youth and family director, or Meghan Schall, Interact Leaders Club adviser, at 941-2815.

Maine Discovery Museum

BANGOR – Maine Discovery Museum will be closed to the public for 10 days beginning Sept. 1 to allow for the museum’s annual top to bottom cleaning. As was done last year, staff and volunteers will be going from Body Journey to Nature Trails – washing, painting, and sprucing up all exhibit areas and public spaces for the museum’s reopening Saturday, Sept. 13.

Since May, Maine Discovery Museum has been open seven days a week to school groups, summer campers and a steady flow of visitors from around the world.

“We’ve had a nonstop busy and successful summer, including planning and largely staffing the children’s area of the National Folk Festival. The weeks following Labor Day are quiet for all museums, with children going back to school and vacations coming to an end. We take the opportunity to get Maine Discovery Museum ready for a new season and to plan programs for the coming year,” said Andrea Stark, executive director.

To welcome visitors back, admission to the museum will be reduced to $2 per person all weekend, Sept. 13 and 14. On Saturday, the Marsh Island Band will perform at 2 p.m., playing many old-time favorites, Irish, French Canadian, and other music on fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar. Sunday visitors will be able to create spin-art “masterpieces,” and wood and metal jingle sticks.

During the closing, museum staff will be available by phone to take reservations for group visits, birthday parties, overnights and museum rentals.

Regular museum hours resume Sept. 13: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Mondays the museum is closed except some school holidays.

For information about Maine Discovery Museum and its programs, call 262-7200.