 August 2024
Bradbury Mt. State Park Manager Chris Silsbee with seasonal CRA Elinore Kosak, and Fort Edgecomb seasonal Manager Liz Seaton.
Just about everyone I know in the conservation field started their career in a series of seasonal jobs. For me, those positions included the Youth Conservation Corps, Audubon Ecology Camp in Maine, AMC Trail Crew, US Forest Service Inventory and Analysis, and a few others. Seasonal jobs offer income for high school or college students, excellent exposure to the conservation field, and a great way to spend a Maine summer outdoors.
Clockwise from top left: CRAs Louanne Pinkham and Jeff Miller, Assistant Ranger (as a blacksmith) at Colonial Pemaquid, and Mason Rick and Lisa Lake Quatrale, CRAs at Camden Hills State Park.
Over the past few years, I?ve realized how fundamental seasonal employees are to our agency?s function. Quite simply, we could not operate without them. The Bureau hires more than 200 seasonal employees each year, including Lifeguards, Customer Representative Assistants (CRAs), Laborers, and even a few seasonal Park Managers. In my recent chats with seasonal BPL staff, I?ve realized there?s no such thing as a ?typical? summer employee. (In fact, I spoke with two state park staff last week with Juris Doctor degrees; it turns out practicing law is not all it?s cracked up to be?). Many summer staffers are indeed students seeking a career in conservation, but we?ve also found that retirees make some of the best employees ? experienced, reliable, and unflappable.
To all the seasonal staff who have found BPL this summer ? we?re so happy we?ve found YOU! Thanks for all you do!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Please join me in welcoming Christina Bear into the Historic Site Specialist position within the Bureau of Parks and Lands.
Ms. Bear has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in History and Secondary Education from St. Joseph?s College in Windham; a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rhode Island, majoring in History and Maritime Affairs and Underwater Archaeology; and a Master?s Degree from the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom. Her Capstone Project as a senior at the University of Rhode Island was ?Interactions Amongst the Penobscot Tribe Massachusetts Bay Colony: What did the Penobscot Tribe Expect to Receive or Give from Signed Land Treaties.?
She is knowledgeable in many fields and subjects of history, including historic preservation and research. She has set up exhibits and trained staff and volunteers. Christina collaborated in writing a grant application to secure a $10,000 grant for a museum exhibit in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
Christina is very knowledgeable in preservation and conservation of textiles for exhibits. She has an appreciation of archaeological history and has prepared interpretive programs targeting K-12 students. She has knowledge of website design and an appreciation of curriculum match for different school audiences. She is enthusiastic about remaining in Maine in a professional capacity as our Historic Site Specialist.
~ Ron Hunt, Director of Operations, Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Catherine developed her passion for conservation and the Maine outdoors through her studies in Environmental Policy and Planning at the University of Maine at Farmington. She brings a history of public service in various natural resource management fields to the position, including work with Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the New Hampshire Army National Guard, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the National Parks Service AmeriCorps Program. After three years developing her career in New Hampshire, Catherine is thrilled to return to Maine and utilize her experience in stewardship to help the environment and the people of the Pine Tree State through the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Catherine is a wonderful addition to the Bureau's Grants and Community Recreation Program's Land and Water Conservation Fund work. Please join me in welcoming her!
~ Doug Beck, Grants & Community Recreation Program Manager
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Emily joins the Recreational Trails Program with a diverse background of trail work, organic farming, and environmental conservation. She earned her degree in Biology from Penn State University and came to Maine shortly after to be a Trail Crew Leader for the Conservation Corps. Emily is passionate about sustainability, inclusivity, and creating more ways to engage people with the outdoors. Outside of work, Emily can be found exploring the wilds of Maine, finding live music, or painting with watercolors.
Emily is a terrific addition to the Bureau's Grants and Community Recreation Recreational Trails Program. Please join me in welcoming her!
~ Doug Beck, Grants & Community Recreation Program Manager
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Richard Cole worked for the Department for 38 years before retiring as a Forest Ranger and coming to work for us as a Recreational Trail Coordinator in Northern Penobscot and Southern Aroostook Counties. His background as a club member, experience with equipment, and his history with BMP inspections using the ARC Map Field Apps and GPS Units make him ideal for this position. He has lived in Aroostook County all his life and communicates effectively the messages we need to have delivered. He has a history of working with the large landowners in the area and he has been very well received by both landowners and club members. He has completed the basic Law enforcement course at the police academy and has emergency management training and several years of experience with National Guard Blackhawk search and rescue crews.
Please join us in welcoming back Rick Cole to the Department where he continues to make a positive impact.
~ Brian Bronson, Supervisor Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program
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Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Amanda Beal, Governor Janet Mills, Bureau of Parks and Lands Director Andy Cutko, and Deputy Director Bill Patterson at the Bigelow Preserve Trailhead.
On a recent and perfect Maine summer day, Commissioner Beal, BPL Director Cutko, and BPL Deputy Director Patterson spent a few hours with Governor Mills at the 36,000-acre Bigelow Preserve near Stratton.
DACF Commissioner Beal, Governor Mills, and BPL Deputy Director Patterson at Flagstaff Lake, Bigelow Preserve.
The group met to discuss the blending of forest management, ecological protection, and outdoor recreation on this property, which is one of the crown jewels of Maine Public Lands ? and to enjoy some time in the great outdoors!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Above: Senator Angus King at Aroostook State Park with Manager Scott Thompson and Ranger Dan McCue. Below: Senator Angus King receiving the Vento Award.
Senator King has a great love of Maine's outdoors as evidenced by his visits to the state parks and public lands. And it is no surprise that he extends this love to protecting and preserving the environment across the nation.
On June 18th, the National Park Trust honored Senator Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME) with the 24th Bruce F. Vento Public Service Award. This award recognizes a public servant for their dedication to the environment and exemplary service, skill, and innovation in protecting and preserving our country?s public lands and waters. Read more and watch a video.
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Bradbury Mt. State Park, Pownal
Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Cobscook Bay State Park, Edmunds TWP (S. of Dennysville)
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, Bristol
Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Brooksville
Lamoine State Park, Lamoine
Mount Blue State Park, Weld
Reid State Park, Georgetown
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, Freeport
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The 2025 Maine State Park Pass will go on sale on August 15, 2024. It is a great deal because the 2025 Park Pass is good for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025; that's sixteen months for the price of twelve months!
Purchase your 2025 Park Pass at a Maine State Park. View the list of participating parks and their day-use fees.
Please note that Maine State Park Passes are:
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Not accepted at: Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Penobscot River Corridor, Scarborough Beach, the Songo Lock, or Swan Island.
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For day-use only and does not include camping.
A Maine State Park Pass is your day-entry key to extraordinary locations and activities.
~ Madelyn Johnson, Campground Reservations Manager
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The Maine Climate Council is considering a wide variety of strategies as it updates the state climate action plan, Maine Won?t Wait. The plan is packed with actionable strategies and goals to emit less carbon, produce energy from renewable sources and protect our natural resources, communities and people from the effects of climate change. Take the survey and let the Maine Climate Council know what is important to you and your community in climate action.?
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Peregrine Falcon adult photographed by Murray Carpenter; used by permission.
I had multiple intentions for my visit to Camden Hills State Park on June 28; to deploy acoustic monitoring devices for detecting bats as part of a long-term stationary study and to catch a final survey of (hopefully) successfully fledged Peregrine Falcon (PEFA) chicks. Around 9:45 a.m., I arrived at the PEFA observation site, and? found the eyrie (nest site) and visible cliff face very quiet. Just below in the talus/rock scrabble, I stationed one bat detector to collect evening and early morning sound recordings for the next two weeks. I made quick work of this so as not to disturb any newly-fledged birds practicing their flight, but my activity so close to the cliff elicited no response at all.
(10:15 am) Once I had been scoping/glassing the area for PEFA for about 30 minutes, I heard vocalizations coming from the western side of the cliff. (10:24 am) I observed the female adult fly by the face of the cliff where the nest was located. There was a high concentration of whitewash approximately 15 meters southeast of the nest ledge; potentially a roosting perch or spot frequented by the two fledglings during practice flights. Vocalizations continued from mid-cliff. I hiked to the cliff trying to find a better vantage-point. (11:00 am) A bit further down the trail, I located the adult female with the scope. She was quietly preening on the western point of the cliff at the base of a spruce. (11:19 am) She did not respond at all to the three Turkey Vultures that flew past her perch. (11:24 am) A little while later, she left her perch and I heard vocalizations start again about mid-cliff where I was unable to view from the trail due to leaves on the trees. Heading back to the first observation point at the eyrie, I heard more vocalizations, but this time coming from the south/forest interior. (11:41 am) Two recently-fledged young, engaged in a chase, were flying in front of the eyrie. These were well-developed young birds and confident flyers (now approximately 45 days now old based on photos taken June 11). Moving up into the talus to get a better look, I could see that they both perched about 125 meters west of the eyrie, vocalized, and took flight again shortly after. I stayed about 45 minutes longer to see if I could get confirmation of both adults and the two juveniles interacting, but I was only able to hear vocalization from that mid-cliff area.
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Peregrine Falcon fledglings photographed by Murray Carpenter; used by permission.
I?ll return to Camden Hills State Park in a few weeks to retrieve this bat detector, and I'll keep and eye and ear out for any peregrines chasing or squawking near their hatch- site. In the meantime, I?ll load up my kayak and camping gear to stage for a sunrise waterfowl production survey tomorrow and I?ll prep datasheets for an early morning grassland bird survey. Maybe I?ll be graced again by the presence of that cow moose with this year?s calf when I put in at dawn.
~ Adrianna Bessenaire, Resource Technician, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
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In this paintbrush meets the Allagash journal, Kim Yesis interweaves her journal entries with those of her husband, Peter Yesis. It is as much a record of their time together during their two-week stay at the historic one-room Lock Dam Cabin for Peter?s residency as the 2023 Allagash Wilderness Waterway Visiting Artist, as it is a preparatory guide for any artist considering visiting the Allagash or applying to the AWW Visiting Artist Program. It is a quick and compelling read. I felt as if I was planning and living alongside them, discovering their foibles and strengths, and cheering them on all the more for them as I turned each page. Includes photographs and copies of art inspired by the Allagash. Get Artist in the Allagash. Learn more about Peter Yesis? art.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
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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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