 March 2024
The new Talking Brook Public Land. Photo courtesy of Trust for Public Land.
One of my winter assignments is to facilitate, along with Adam Bishop of Maine Farmland Trust, a public working group focused on land conservation strategies. Our charge is to chart a path to conserving 30% of Maine by 2030 (one of the Maine Climate Council?s goals) and outline specific conservation targets.
Beyond this winter?s headlines of storm damage and a meager winter recreation season, the Bureau of Parks and Lands quietly conserved two key parcels that exemplify some of our highest conservation priorities ? vital habitat connections with other conserved lands, local public access to woods and waters, and lands that support clear flowing streams and high-quality wildlife habitat. I was pleased to visit both properties with BPL staff and partners before they were purchased. The 4,100-acre Square Lake property, tucked away in northern Aroostook County, connects other expansive conserved lands and enables access to more than five miles of Square and Cross Lakes. At the other end of the state, the Bureau recently acquired 200 acres of woodlands and wetlands in New Gloucester and Auburn, thanks to our steadfast partners at the Royal River Conservation Trust and The Trust for Public Land. This land, a short drive from Lewiston and Auburn, is laced with family-friendly trails and scenic streams.
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Square Lake shoreline.
Both the Square Lake and Talking Brook properties were funded, in part, by the Land for Maine?s Future Program, a vital funding source for state agencies and our conservation partners. As we inch toward the 30% goal (we are currently a bit over 22%), replenishing the LMF will be one of many essential funding mechanisms. Amid a lackluster snow season, completing projects like these and working with committed and creative partner organizations are among the most fulfilling parts of my job!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Beginning March 1, 2024, reservations made for Sebago Lake State Park are no longer restricted by the four-night reservation rule (all other minimum length of stay rules will apply).
Make your reservation at
www.CampWithME.com
Reminder, no pets are allowed at the Sebago Lake State Park campground. If you are planning to camp with your pet, please read Pets in the Parks and select another State Park campground; all of our other campgrounds allow pets.
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March 15 is the last day of Winter Camping at select Maine State Park Locations. This is for tent camping only. Self sufficiency is required - there are no amenities, cleared locations, or water at these sites. On-site self registration is required. Camping fees apply. Please Note: Early Mud Season conditions may limit camping availability; call ahead to verify that camping is available.
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We would like to welcome Vanessa Haas to our Off-Road Vehicle Program team with the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Vanessa has filled the position of Planning and Research Assistant formally occupied by Candice Pinkham, who has been promoted to Senior Planner, also in the Off-Road Vehicle Office.
Vanessa brings a wealth of experience in planning, research, data analysis as well as ArcGIS, and Microsoft Excel. Vanessa received her Bachelor of Arts from State University of New York at Geneseo and her Master?s from the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel. Vanessa resides in South China, Maine and enjoys travel, backcountry hiking, community organizing and farming.?
Please join us in welcoming Vanessa the next time you call or stop by the office.
~ Joe Higgins, Supervisor, Off-Road Vehicle Snowmobile Program, BPL
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Webb Lake beach at Mt. Blue State Park in Weld.
Work in a beautiful location while making a lasting impact. You'll be helping visitors enjoy and learn about the outdoors, and stewarding iconic locations so that they will retain robust ecosystems and be healthy places to recreate for future generations.
Employment opportunities include Rangers, Lifeguards, and Customer Representative Assistants. View the listings and apply now at BPL's Careers and Seasonal Job webpage. Resources include brochures and videos.
Our Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator, Sean Vaillancourt, will be leading American Red Cross Lifeguard Courses this winter. Use the certificate to become a Maine State Park lifeguard, and the Bureau of Parks and Lands will reimburse the certification expense at the end of the 2024 season. Learn more by texting or calling Sean at (207) 557-2391. Download the Lifeguard Brochure.
~ Sean Vaillancourt, Popham Beach State Park Manager & Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator
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March marks a time of year when many species of raptors begin their annual breeding cycle. One such raptor is the peregrine falcon, a charismatic raptor known for its ability to reach speeds of 200 miles per hour during what?s termed as ?stoop? flight. That?s one fast bird! Peregrines are protected as an endangered species in Maine, making them a high priority for conservation in the state, including on Bureau of Parks & Lands properties where they nest.
The story of peregrine falcons in Maine sadly involves a history of human influences that led to their disappearance from the eastern U.S. by the 1960?s. A successful conservation program in Maine brought young peregrines to the state from 1984-1997 where they were reintroduced to suitable nesting cliffs. In 1987, the first re-established pair of peregrines was documented, and their numbers have been slowly rising since then.
Despite rising numbers, peregrines still need our help. One of the primary threats to peregrines is disturbance by humans, which can happen when we?re doing the things we love in the outdoors, like hiking or climbing. If you?re doing one of these activities from mid-March through July or August and come across a trail closure, please respect the signage ? disturbance can result in nest abandonment or chick death. If there?s no area closure posted but you see or hear agitated falcons, it?s a sign you?re too close and you should leave the area quickly. At some sites in Maine, you?ll find signage with these reminders like the one below.?
~ Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist, CWB?, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
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Hundreds of people gathered at the Hall of Flags in the Maine Statehouse last Tuesday to show support for outdoor and environmental education. Students came to share their experiences, participate in a roundtable discussion about environmental policy,* and connect with their local House and Senate Representatives.
Olivia Griset, Director of the Maine Environmental Education Association, opened the presentations, followed by professionals from several Maine schools, the Maine Math and Science Alliance, and the Maine Department of Education. They shared their current involvement in environmental education, the increasing importance of getting youth outdoors to learn and play, and how the outdoors is critical to the health and well-being of not only Maine's youth but also our communities and environment.
Maggie Corlett, Fourth Grade Teacher at Meroby Elementary School in Mexico, Maine, was the final guest speaker of the afternoon. Her words very simply and beautifully illustrated why getting children outdoors to learn firsthand from Nature is so important. A photo of Maggie and her speech, in its entirety, is below.
I was asked to speak to you about why Outdoor Education is important. Natalie Babbitt, children?s author and illustrator said, ?Like all magnificent things, it is very simple.?
Let me show you?
It takes only 8 grinning kindergarteners to independently (and proudly) move tree-sized logs. While moving them, they are learning problem solving skills, teamwork, and the feeling of accomplishment of doing something that seems impossible for a 5 year old.
It only takes 1 rock by a brook for a child struggling with emotion regulation, lying on it, to reap the calming benefits of moving water. This environment calms the hearts of everyone who enters in a most uniquely magnificent way.
It only takes 1 deer print in the snow to turn an entire class into deductive thinkers, evaluating an environment, searching for tiny details that provide clues to explain what the deer was doing. 1 simple hoof print engages 18 brains and 36 eyes, ears, feet, and hands far more energetically than anything found in a subject curriculum.
1 simple dandelion can produce 250 seeds. It can also be the 1 place where a group of students get to observe a honey bee packing pollen into the pollen baskets on the bee?s back legs, right before their eyes. Pollination in progress, observed in nature, is far more interesting than coloring it on a worksheet. But after observing it in real time, students find themselves eager to read, write, and learn more about it inside the classroom.
It takes 1 single step for a mud-boot-wearing child to feel that magnificent squishy step into mud for the very first time. Screaming with excitement, fear, and shock, the next step leads to screams of simple delight! That was 1 step that this child will remember for their entire life! A simply magnificent experience that cannot be replicated inside a building.
Outdoor Education is something that takes the simple things of our natural world and presents magnificent learning opportunities. A log offers a chance to experience the impossible, a brook calms the mind and body, a footprint engages learners better than electronics, a weed and a pollinator focuses learning into something that can be taken inside for invigorated extensions, and a single step offers a vivid memory of a brand new experience.
No other education initiative can accomplish so much simply by being accessed by teachers and students. Outdoor Education offers magnificent learning opportunities for all students, in all subject areas. It is truly one of the most valuable things that Maine offers its youth.
Every Maine student should have the opportunity to benefit from outdoor learning experiences. Outdoor Education is truly magnificent, simple, and important! It is absolutely worth our time, energy, and support.
Thank you!
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*Roundtable discussion facilitated by Amara Ifeji (Maine Environmental Education Association), Ania Wright (Sierra Club), Elise Hartill (Maine Youth for Climate Justice), and Ches Gundrum (Maine Audubon).
The Nature Based Education Consortium,?Maine Agriculture in the Classroom and organizations previously linked in this article hosted information & networking tables.?
Please take the time to learn about all the great outdoor learning and environmental education accomplished throughout Maine, and cheer on the people and organizations that make it happen with your kudos and support. Much has been accomplished, yet so much more needs to be done.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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For about three minutes on Monday, April 8, 2024, the sun will be blotted out by our celestial neighbor, the moon. While this solar eclipse will be total in a band stretching diagonally across the state from the Rangeley Lakes Region to Caribou, other parts the state will experience a partial eclipse. View the path of the solar eclipse across the country and the timeline. Map of the path through Maine.
What You Need to Know to View the Eclipse:
1. Safety First - Protect your eyes. Do not view the sun at any time without wearing solar glasses. Be prepared for unpredictable weather. It could be winter-like. Please recognize that early April in the total eclipse band area is essentially still winter with frozen lakes and rivers, potentially deep snow, cold temperatures, and many unplowed roads and parking areas. Gravel roads that are clear may be very soft and muddy. Have an emergency kit in your vehicle and do no rely on GPS in rural locations
2. Location - Research your destination and have reservations in place. View Maine's Community Events and Accommodation Packages to choose your viewing destination. Please note that due to the unpredictable weather and trail conditions, and closed campgrounds, Maine State Parks and Public Lands in the eclipse area are not ideal destinations for eclipse viewing.?
3. Have a back-up plan - The weather in the solar eclipse viewing area could be cloudy. We are all hoping for clear skies and best weather but if viewing is not optimal, here is an online viewing option provided by NASA. People within and outside the eclipse viewing areas can participate in a NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes Project.?
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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With the ever-changing weather we've had this winter it makes it hard to predict the conditions you'll find on any outdoor adventure. And, it is more important than ever to plan ahead, be prepared, and make wise decisions when you are out on the trail. Below are resources that will help you be prepared and stay safe out there.
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Osprey in flight by Jeff Bouton.
Watch the spring migration of hawks from the top of Bradbury Mt. beginning March 15, from 9 AM to 5 PM daily through May 15. Hawk Counters will share the joys of hawk watching as they make their observations and record species information. The Hawkwatch was initiated by Jeannette and Derek Lovitch in 2007 to quantify the extent and duration of the northbound raptor flight over Bradbury Mountain State Park. Daily counts of all raptor and vulture species are posted at the summit, submitted to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, and posted to the BirdHawk listserve. For a quick but steep hike take the Summit Trail. For a 1-mile gentle assent to the summit take the Northern Loop Trail. View trail map.
Save the dates, April 27 & 28, for the best Feathers Over Freeport yet! It is a bird watching and nature discovery weekend for all ages!?
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Winter Fun Day at Holbrook Island Sanctuary.
Youth Ice Fishing Derby and Winter Fun Day at Lake St. George State Park.
Ice Fishing sessions with MANA, the Maine Association of New Americans, at Range Pond State Park. A big thank you to Chelsea Lathrop of MDIFW who taught the ice fishing, and to volunteers Peter and Inday who were teaching assistants during the two sessions.
Winter Fun Day at Mount Blue State Park included a visit from Smokey Bear to promote fire safety. A great crew of volunteers and staff to prepare the for the day. The night shot is of the ice rink being given a final layer of ice on the evening before the event.
Snow sculptures made at the Winter Outdoor Extravaganza held at Range Pond State Park.
Thank you to all the volunteers, event partners, and staff who bring it all together to make all the winter events into such wonderful community gatherings of fun and exploration.?
Please Note: The Camden Hills State Park Winter Fun Day that was rescheduled to 3/16 after the January storms is now cancelled due to lack of snow and the predicted warming trend.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
Snow sharks are part of our Shark Education Initiative funded in part by the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. During winter events we encouraged park visitors to build snow sharks near a shark QR code so that they could help visitors learn about sharks and why they are critical to ocean health.
Join in on the fun! Unleash your creativity and try your hand at a Snow Shark! It's lots of fun, and when you attach our QR code.
All you need is snow, water, four spray bottles, and food coloring (icing coloring ? sometimes called ?edible paint? is best. A small pack of colors with red, yellow, green, and blue is fine). Here?s how:
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Prepare your snow colorings: fill spray bottles with water and add a color to each. Make the colors dark to best appear on the snow. Mix drops of color to create new colors ? red and yellow mixed to make orange or blue and red to make purple.
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Print and laminate (clear shelf paper or self-stick laminate sheets) the Snow Shark QR Code. Staple to a stake (avoid stapling through the QR code).
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Make a mound of snow, packing from on all sides. Then, when desired, start carving. You do not need more than your hands, but if you choose, try various tools such as ice cream scoops, small trowels, and cookie cutters to help create shapes.
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Add color by spraying with the prepared food colors. Be sure to test adjusting the sprayer nozzle for both fine lines (loosened) and broad sprays (tighter nozzle).
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Place the QR code by your shark and see who stops by to view your shark!
Share the Fun! Make your snow shark where passersby can see it, or get your local schools involved in making them at playgrounds and school yards. Ask your local ski area to get involved.
Send a photo of your snow shark with Maine Sharks in the subject line of the email to [email protected] and you will receive notices about shark programs, educational materials, and news.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to?Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
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