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Bureau of Parks and Lands
[ [link removed] ]
April 2024

In this Issue:

* Director's Note: If the Outdoors Inspires You, We?d Love to Have You Join Our Team! [ #link_1 ]
* Welcome Madelyn Johnson, New Park Reservations Supervisor [ #link_10 ]
* Welcome Alissa Lutz, New Manager of Lamoine State Park [ #link_8 ]
* Work Outdoors This Summer! Apply Now [ #link_7 ]
* Maine Conservation Corps Launches Team Leader and Community Tree Steward Training [ #link_9 ]
* Get Lifeguard Certified with Maine State Parks Now and Secure Your Job at a Beach This Summer [ #link_14 ]
* April 8 Solar Eclipse - Resources for Maine Residents and Visitors [ #link_4 ]
* Mud Season - All ATV Trails are Closed [ #link_5 ]
* Beach-nesting Plovers Remind You - April 1: No Pets, Bikes or Kites on the Beach [ #link_6 ]
* April 17 Community Pizza Night to Benefit Feathers Over Freeport [ #link_12 ]
* April 25 Piping Plovers Presentation by Coastal Waterbird Biologist Brad Zitske - the Feathers Over Freeport Opening Event! [ #link_13 ]
* Feathers Over Freeport - April 27 & 28 [ #link_2 ]
* Grants Available: ATV, Boating, and Harbor Management & Access [ #link_3 ]
* Can You Solve These Puzzles? [ #link_11 ]

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Director's Note: If the Outdoors Inspires You, We?d Love to Have You Join Our Team!

Photo montage of Maine State Park staff.

My first job, working on a trail crew as a 16-year-old for the Youth Conservation Corps, was a transformative experience. I realized the value of teamwork in close quarters, gained confidence in outdoor skills, and saw the immediate payoff that hard work produces. (I also decided that I never wanted a desk job -- which worked out very well, until recently?.).

I?m gratified that the Bureau of Parks and Lands offers numerous opportunities for entry into outdoor fields, including varied positions with the Maine Conservation Corps and Maine State Parks (see below). Many of our seasonal employees get the outdoor bug, as I did, and commit to a career working in conservation, recreation, or a related field. Others, including energetic retirees, simply enjoy being outside and providing a public service. Whether you?re looking to start a career, earn money for school, or work in one of the most scenic ?offices? in the state, we may have a job for you!

~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands

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Welcome Madelyn Johnson, New Park Reservations Supervisor

Madelyn Johnson, new Maine State Park Reservations Supervisor.

Please join me in welcoming Madelyn Johnson, the bureau?s new Office Associate II Manager Supervisor (Park Reservations Supervisor) in the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Madelyn (Maddy) graduated from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, receiving a Bachelor of Science, Tourism & Hospitality degree in May of 2023. She has served in the Parks Reservation Division for the last four summers as a Customer Service Representative, as well as serving as a Front Desk Agent at Cliff House in Cape Neddick, Maine and as a Merchandising Representative at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Maddy has shown her excellent customer service skills repeatedly while serving in all positions that she has held in both the private sector and in Maine state service. We all look forward to April 1 when she will assume her duties.

~ Ron Hunt, Director of Operations



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Welcome Alissa Lutz, New Manager of Lamoine State Park

Alissa Lutz on Webster Stream, previous Allagash Ranger, now Manager of Lamoine State Park.

Alissa grew up in Plymouth, MA, and credits her father for her love of the outdoors. He shared his outdoor skills and passion for the outdoors on family hiking and camping trips.

Her own passion deepened through experiences as a volunteer with Mass Audubon?s diamondback terrapin project to monitor hatchlings and then with the New England Aquarium?s stranded sea turtle project. Alissa then knew that she wanted to be of service and work outdoors. She attained two college degrees, first a B.A. in Crime & Justice Studies from U-Mass Dartmouth, then a B.S. in Conservation Law Enforcement on a wildlife track at U-Maine Fort Kent.

In 2018, Alissa interned at the Allagash Wilderness Waterway [ [link removed] ] (AWW); in 2019, she was hired as a Waterway Ranger and served in that capacity until this year. Though AWW Superintendent Mark Deroche is sad to see her leave the Waterway, he cheers on her advancement to Manager of Lamoine State Park, saying, ?Alissa is so reliable and talented, she can do anything!? When asked what her career with BPL has meant to her so far, Alissa said, ?Working in parks has shaped the woman I am today. I learned how to fly fish and hunt on and around the Waterway, two passions that make me who I am, learning another way of respecting the outdoors and its inhabitants. Working in parks made me push myself, want to learn all that I could, help anything and anyone. It truly changed who I am as a person, and it continues every day, and for that, I am so grateful. I am proud of who I have become through the Maine State Park system.? Alissa looks forward to managing Lamoine State Park [ [link removed] ], getting to know the returning seasonal staff, and building relationships with the community. And she is very happy to be near the ocean once more!

We are very fortunate to have her at Lamoine State Park! Congratulations Alissa!

~ Matthew Hamilton, Northern Regional State Park Manager

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Work Outdoors This Summer! Apply Now

Quoddy Head State Park, Peaks-Kenny State Park, and Mt. Blue State Park.

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 are at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites and include Rangers, Lifeguards, and Customer Representative Assistants. View the listings and apply now [ [link removed] ] at BPL's Careers and Seasonal Job webpage. Resources [ [link removed] ] include brochures, videos, and a link to the applications and job descriptions.

*Need Experience?* Consider applying with the Maine Conservation Corps [ [link removed] ].

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Maine Conservation Corps Launches Team Leader and Community Tree Steward Training

Maine Conservation Corps 'Serve With Us' photo. [ [link removed] ]

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Maine Conservation Corps team, March 2024. Photo by Alina Allgyer.

In March, nine Field Team Leaders joined the Maine Conservation Corps (MCC). For the next 12 weeks, these AmeriCorps members will be immersed in training to prepare them to lead and accomplish recreational trail and habitat restoration projects during the field season. Leaders will engage in a wide range of in-house curricula as well as certifications and training from professionals on topics such as Nonviolent Communication, Chainsaw Operation, Wilderness First Aid, and technical Stonework. Over half of the pre-season training is rooted in hands-on service learning at sites in North Haven, Kennebec Highlands Public Lands, and Tumbledown Mountain. Beyond the hard and soft skills developed, leaders cement a sense of community and camaraderie unmatched in a traditional work setting. MCC extends a warm welcome to the leaders and thanks them for their dedication to improving Maine's outdoor spaces and fostering the success of their members this year and beyond.

Moreover, MCC welcomed the first Community Tree Steward of 2024, Matt Galvin. The Community Tree Steward program is a multi-year project funded by the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program, in collaboration with the Maine Forest Service. Matt will spend his initial weeks in training with MCC before transitioning to his service site with the City of Portland. There, Matt will collaborate with city personnel and community groups to lead urban forestry management projects at a municipal scale. Key objectives include strategically increasing the tree canopy in less forested neighborhoods through plantings and developing a forest pest management plan to address Emerald Ash Borer infestations. Additionally, Matt will serve as a community liaison, sharing knowledge of tree biology and health within an urban environment to increase local awareness.

These latest additions to the corps only bolster the ongoing service of eight AmeriCorps Environmental Stewards who began terms in January. These members monitor vital ecosystems, lead volunteer events, provide environmental education, and improve public spaces. The skills and experiences of this talented group are already increasing the capacity and reach of programming at the City of Hallowell, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, and Viles Arboretum in Augusta.

MCC is just getting started! Throughout 2024 the corps will welcome over 70 more members. Check out and share current service opportunities on the MCC website [ [link removed] ].

~ Sara Knowles, Maine Conservation Corps Director

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Get Lifeguard Certified with Maine State Parks Now and Secure Your Job at a Beach This Summer

Lifeguard Training Course photo showing rescue buoys on an ocean-side beach.

Our Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator, Sean Vaillancourt, will be leading American Red Cross Lifeguard Courses this spring. 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 [ [link removed] ].

~ Sean Vaillancourt, Popham Beach State Park Manager & Maine State Park Lifeguard Coordinator

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April 8 Solar Eclipse - Resources for Maine Residents and Visitors

Children wearing Solar Eclipse glasses and watching a partial eclipse in 2023.

Protect your eyes! Wear ISO-certified eclipse glasses to view the April 8 solar eclipse.

Visit the Maine Eclipse webpage [ [link removed] ] to learn about and prepare for the eclipse. You'll find maps, eclipse timing and details, viewing and safety tips, links to educational resources, Maine's weather forecast, and tips about surviving Spring in Maine - AKA Mud Season!

When planning your viewing location, please remember that *all ATV trails and Maine State Park campgrounds are closed.?*

*Need Eclipse Glasses?* Order them from the USM Southworth Planetarium [ [link removed] ], for $2 a pair and a modest handling fee.?

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Mud Season - All ATV Trails are Closed

ATV Mud Season Notice 'Grab Those Protective Glasses - Not Goggles' ATV Trails Are Closed.

Riding on trails before they are open for the season can cause significant damage and can result in landowners permanently closing trails to all users. *Do your part to maintain Maine's ATV trails and wait until they are open.*

When will the trails open? Conditions around the state are varied and the decision to open trails is managed by the property owner and/or the club or organization who maintains the trail system. ATV trails in Maine typically do not open until May.?

*"Do your part and respect private landowners and ATV clubs by obeying all mud season closure postings."*

*Stay in the Know About Trail Conditions:*

1. Get condition reports from local ATV clubs [ [link removed] ] and tread lightly [ [link removed] ].

2. Sign up for ATV Trail Alerts - Text ATV to 888-514-7527.

Thank you!

~ Brian Bronson, Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program Supervisor

Mud Season montage with ATV Trail Closed sign.

It is Mud Season! All ATV Trails are closed.

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Beach-nesting Plovers Remind You - April 1: No Pets, Bikes or Kites on the Beach

Piping Plover adult and chick. Photo by Amanda Reed, courtesy of Maine Audubon.

Each year beginning on April 1, all pets (including dogs, and horses), bikes, and kite flying are not allowed on the State Park Beaches in order to protect federally endangered nesting shore birds. Pets, bikes and kite flying will be welcomed back onto the beach October 1, 2024.

Thank you for helping us protect shorebirds and the dune habitat they rely on.

"(Photo of Piping Plover adult and chick by Amanda Reed, courtesy of Maine Audubon.)"

"~ The Piping Plovers ~ PS - don't miss the Plover Program on April 25! See Below."



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Osprey in flight by Jeff Bouton

Osprey in flight by Jeff Bouton.

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April 17 Community Pizza Night to Benefit Feathers Over Freeport

Join us for a Community Pizza Night to benefit Feathers over Freeport. Proceeds from a raffle along with 20% of all food sales from 4-8:00 p.m. will be donated to support the annual birdwatching and nature discovery weekend hosted by the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Park and event staff will host an activity & information table and be on hand to answer questions about birding, the Hawk Watch, and Feathers Over Freeport.

* Date & Time:* April 17, 4-8:00 PM
*Location:* The Maine Beer Company, in the Tasting Room, 525 US Route 1 in Freeport, Maine.

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April 25 Piping Plovers Presentation by Coastal Waterbird Biologist Brad Zitske - the Feathers Over Freeport Opening Event!

Join Coastal Waterbird Biologist Brad Zitske from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for his talk about the state endangered Piping Plovers and what Maine is doing to manage this charismatic beach-nesting shorebird. Topics include population status, management challenges and successes, and what you can do to help. Doors open at 6:00 pm with a social time, followed by a presentation at 6:30 and time for questions and additional info till 8:00pm.The full Mast Landing menu will be available.

*Date & Time:* April 25, 6-8:00 PM
*Location:* Mast Landing Freeport Taproom, 200 Lower Main St., Suite 1-2, Freeport, ME 04032.

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Feathers Over Freeport - April 27 & 28

Hawk watchers at the top of Bradbury Mt.

Hawk watchers at the top of Bradbury Mt. Photo by Derek Lovitch of Freeport Wild Bird Supply.

"*A bird watching and nature discovery weekend for all ages!*"

Feathers Over Freeport logo.

Both days include bird watching walks, crafts and activities for children, nature hikes, a drawing birds workshop, educational displays, and a live bird presentation: Maine's native owls on Saturday and Birds of Prey on Sunday. View the complete schedule [ [link removed] ].

On *Saturday, April 27* the events are held at *Bradbury Mt. State Park* in Pownal. Don't miss the hawk watch - you can hike up any time between 9 AM and 5 PM to learn from a? raptor biologist as they identify and count all raptors and vultures that fly past the mountain.?



Three osprey in a nest at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. Photo by Jim Knox.

On *Sunday, April 28* the events are held at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park [ [link removed] ] in Freeport. Don't miss the osprey watch - you can stop in by the overlook any time between 10 AM and 3 PM to view osprey through a spotting scope and learn about them from park staff.

*For all the details visit* www.maine.gov/feathersoverfreeport? [ [link removed] ]

"Osprey photo by Jim Knox."



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Grants Available: ATV, Boating, and Harbor Management & Access

ATVs on the Sinclair bridge.
ATV Grants

The ATV Program provides two kinds of grants:

*Club Grants*


* Available to ATV Clubs registered with the Bureau of Parks and Public Lands ATV Program.
* Grant money is to help defray the cost of ATV trail development and maintenance expenses.
* Application deadline is July 1. Grant information is available on the ATV Club Grant webpage [ [link removed] ]. The application will be available online during the first week of April.

*Municipal Grants*


* Available to municipalities for sharing the cost of ATV trail development and maintenance.
* Local matching money from the town, city or county must be available.
* Application deadline is May 30. The application and all information is available on the ATV Municipal Grant webpage [ [link removed] ].


Boat launch at Echo Lake, Mt Vernon.
Boating Facilities Fund Grant

* Available to assist towns, cities, districts and other public and private agencies in the acquisition, development, enhancement, or rehabilitation of boat launching facilities on waters of Maine that are available to the general public.
* A minimum 50% cash or in-kind match is required.
* Pre-application site visit requests are due April 17, 2024.
* Project proposals are due July 17. The application and all information is available on the Boating Facilities Fund webpage [ [link removed] ].


SW Harbor HMA funded project. Photo from the Submerged Lands Program.
Harbor Management and Access Grant For Coastal Waters and Great Ponds (HMA)

* *Eligible entities* include Maine municipalities, unorganized territories and counties that are located adjacent to waters that are subject to the Submerged Lands Program (SLP). All structures (piers, floats, boat ramps, etc.) owned or managed by the applicant that are subject to Maine?s submerged lands laws must be incompliance with the SLP in order to be eligible for the HMA.
* *Eligible projects* are those that?restore and modernize an existing facility or support public water access facilities including but not limited to; float
and gangway replacement; new piles or dolphins; trailer boat ramp reconstruction; pier maintenance; and repairs and hand carry boat access
improvements.
* *Projects may also include reimbursement for emergency repairs* due to storm damage or accidents. If you are requesting reimbursement for emergency repairs, only damages that occurred during the seven-month period preceding the grant submission deadline (May 10, 2024) are eligible. Applicants must provide documentation that the damage occurred during the specified seven-month period.

* *HMA will not pay for* planning or engineering in coastal waters; coastal towns should continue to apply to the Maine Coastal Program [ [link removed] ] (now housed at the Maine Department of Marine Resources) for planning, feasibility studies and engineering.?
* *A minimum of 25% local match is required.* Grants are awarded on a reimbursement basis up to 75 percent of the total project cost or a maximum of$15,000 excluding local match.?
* *Applications are due* by 5:00 PM on May 10, 2024. The application and all information is available on the Submerged Lands Program webpage [ [link removed] ].


Learn More

* View all the grants [ [link removed] ] provided by the Bureau of Parks and Lands.

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Can You Solve These Puzzles?

In honor of April being both National Poetry Month and Math Awareness Month here are a few puzzles to ponder.

*Land Math*

The Bigelow Preserve Public Reserve Land [ [link removed] ] is nearly 35,000 acres in size. How many square feet is this?
(Hint: 1 acre = 43,560 square feet.)*
*

*Who Am I? Haiku*

Ocean-side bright light
candy-stripes of red and white
shining over cliffs and sea.

(View me [ [link removed] ].)

*Visitor Math*

350,000 visitor nights at 12 campgrounds [ [link removed] ] over three months = how many visitors per night per campground??
(Hint: 350,000/12 = X; X/90 = ?)

On average, more than 3 million people visit the 48 Maine State Parks and Historic Sites [ [link removed] ] each year. How many people per park and historic site is this?
(Hint: 3,000,000/48 = ?)

Do more people visit Maine State Parks per year then live in your town? the closest city to where you live? What other comparisons can you make?

~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist

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www.ParksAndLands.com [ [link removed] ]

Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to?Jocelyn Hubbell <[email protected]>, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.

Read back issues of the newsletter [ [link removed] ].




Maine State Government is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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