 October 2024
MCC Trail Team. Back Row: Taylor Deeley (MCC Program Manager), Ian Taylor (Team Member), Sara Knowles (MCC Director), Vixen Lotus (Team Member), Jay Porcelli (Team Leader). Front Row: Leigha Carson (Team Member), McKenzie Motley (Asst. Team Leader), Mary Ellen Tennity (Team Member), Hal Clews (Team Leader).
There’s something quietly satisfying about setting one boulder on top of another, squarely and firmly, all in a neat row. It’s a simple act that requires determination, persistence, and an applied sense of geometry and physics. It’s also a metaphor for building personal traits that stand the test of time -- a dedicated work ethic, a commitment to teamwork, and a sense of pride in collective accomplishment.
That, in a nutshell, is one of the things I took away from a recent visit with a Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) crew at the Kennebec Highlands Public Land. Each year, MCC welcomes crew members from diverse backgrounds across the country. The crew pictured here hailed from Texas, Pennsylvania, California, Maine, Virginia, and New Jersey, and included experience in an array of disciplines, ranging from microbiology to finance and many things in between. (Also pictured are Sara Knowles, MCC Director, and Taylor Deely, MCC Program Manager.) Despite their differences, they had one thing in common: an adventurous spirit and a desire to explore Maine. Some, like me, may use trail work as a launching pad for a career in the outdoor sector. Others may take their MCC experience and advance in other professions or areas of personal growth. Either way, we appreciate their resourcefulness, productivity, and willingness to improve Maine’s outdoor assets!
Side Note: If voters approve the Trails Bond (Question 4) in November, it will provide trails of all kinds a much-needed boost for years to come!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
A Rumford native, Dan’s interest in nature and the outdoors started as a child on annual family camping trips at Mount Blue State Park. This interest led to academic study in ecology, a two-decade career managing conservation lands state-wide for The Nature Conservancy, and now his new role with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands as a Lands Conservation Specialist. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from the University of Maine at Farmington and a Master of Science degree in biology from the Université du Québec à Montréal. His research has focused on understanding disturbance and natural community dynamics in forested systems in Downeast and Mid-coast Maine and the Temiscaming region of southwestern Quebec.
Dan is excited to be part of the BPL’s planning team contributing to the Bureau’s mission in preserving biodiversity and playing a vital role in local and regional community vitality, highlighting Maine's natural beauty, and connecting people to the outdoors and our shared natural heritage.
In his free time, he likes to photograph using antique cameras and film. Dan has been awarded art residencies with the US National Park Service, the National Audubon Society, and the Hewnoaks Artist Colony in Lovell, Maine. His photography has been used by many businesses and organizations including the American Museum of Natural History, Time, Inc., the Boston Globe, Spotify, Microsoft, and MTV.
Welcome to the BPL Team Dan!
~ Rex Turner, Director of Planning and Acquisitions
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The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is pleased to welcome Niki Lazure as the new Outdoor Recreation Planner. In her new role, Niki will coordinate State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plans, work with Bureau staff on recreation policy and management, and help manage outdoor recreation resources for the Bureau. She will also serve as a liaison with a variety of outdoor recreation partner groups.
Niki graduated from Unity College with a BS degree in Park Management and holds a M.Ed. from Plymouth State University in Experiential Education. She has spent the last 17 years working in higher education at Unity College, the University of Maine at Machias, and Thomas College. Her academic work has focused on conservation career development and outdoor recreation instruction.
Her background working as a backcountry ranger at both Denali National Park and the Pemigewasset Wilderness in the White Mountains National Forest, caretaking the Horns Pond Campsite at the Bigelow Preserve (for the Maine Appalachian Trail Club), teaching for the National Park Service Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program in Acadia, and working as a ranger for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation gives her an appreciation for on-the-ground stewardship of cherished places. Niki is an active member of the Belfast Area New England Mountain Bike Association.
She looks forward to working with BPL’s team to protect and manage Maine’s diverse recreational interests while honoring the state's rich natural and cultural heritage. When not spending time with her two (almost) grown children, she can be found climbing, cross country skiing, biking, paddling, hiking and catching live music across the state.
Welcome to the BPL Team Niki!
~ Rex Turner, Director of Planning and Acquisitions
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Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Grafton Notch State Park, Newry
Reid State Park, Georgetown
Maine's deciduous trees (the broad-leaf trees) are starting to show their fall colors! Autumn enthusiasts can visit the state’s official foliage website at mainefoliage.com to sign up to receive weekly reports by email, and can share their photos from throughout the state as the progression of color begins. Our Facebook page will include statewide events taking place throughout the foliage season, and our Instagram account (@mainefoliage) will also feature colorful fall shots. For more information about fall activities and events in Maine, go to www.visitmaine.com.
To view foliage webcams throughout the state and read about suggested locations to recreate while taking in the autumn splendor, go to the Bureau of Parks and Lands Fall Foliage Hikes, Rides, and Paddles page.
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This Indigenous Peoples' Day take some time to learn about the history of the Wabanaki Nations. The Maine State Museum's Indigenous Peoples' Day webpage has many resources to get you started.
Other resources and events include:
About the photo: John Neptune, Lieutenant Governor (1767-1865). John Neptune was a Penobscot Representative to the Legislature in 1823, 1824, 1831, 1835, 1837, 1844, and 1861, and he was the Lieutenant Governor/Sub-Chief in 1847. Source: Maine State Archives and Maine State Museum.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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Erik Brooks grew up in Harpswell, Maine, and as a rock climber in high school he dreamed of one day living in Camden. By the time he graduated from Middlebury College (2011) and climbed throughout New England and beyond, he had forgotten about the Camden hills. When he met his future wife in Belfast in 2017, he rediscovered not only the local cliffs but also the amazing trail systems and lakes and ponds of the area. They soon moved to “the playground” and built a house in Lincolnville. And that’s when Erik decided he didn’t want to just enjoy the trails, but to make them more durable and enjoyable for everyone. Thanks to Park Manager Sunshine who recognized his motivation and helped create his current position, this is his second season as Trail Supervisor in Camden Hills State Park. In this role he works every day to improve the sustainability of the trails and coordinate volunteers. Erik learned to build stone steps and other structures during three summers on the AMC’s White Mountain Professional Trail Crew, and gained an appreciation for the power of organized volunteers through several years volunteering for the Maine Appalachian Trail Club. He enjoys working with volunteers and teaching trail building and maintenance skills; anyone interested in volunteering can contact him at [email protected]. His season runs through the end of November and will begin again mid-April.
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Erik Brooks with several of the trail work and invasive species control volunteers.
Erik’s work at Camden Hills State Park (with volunteers) so far:
- Spring and fall annual trail and waterbar clearing
- 486 stone steps constructed; nearly half on Tablelands Trail
- Quarter-mile re-route at top of Carriage Road Trail
- About ¾ mile sustainable re-route constructed for Slope Trail
- 23 water bars built or rebuilt
- 304 total feet of stepping stones
- 106 total feet of “turnpike”
- 372 feet of bog bridges
- One 14-ft planked bridge
- Updating and replacing trail signs
- Removal of invasive plants (bittersweet, multi-flora rose, Japanese barberry, Himalayan balsam) along over two miles of the Multi-Use Trail
- Coordinated over 1,500 volunteer hours
We are so grateful to have Erik at Camden Hills State Park. He is an exceptional Trail Supervisor and coordinator of the volunteers that assist in the work.
~ Charlene (Sunshine) Hood, Manager, Camden Hills State Park
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From October 1 through March 31, pets are welcome on state park beaches, provided they are leashed at all times and under the physical control of their handler. Pets are not allowed on beaches between April 1 and September 30. Read more about pets in the parks.
Happy beach walking!
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Fall ushers in the end of boating season and the annual removal of floats at our boat launch sites. Staff will begin removing floats in Northern and Central Maine on October 16. Great Pond float removal is planned to be completed by November 1; removal of all floats will be completed by November 14.
~ Heather Seiders, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Boating Division, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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The Maine Snowmobile Show will be held October 18-20 at the Augusta Civic Center. Show hours are Friday: 3-8 PM, Saturday: 9 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday: 9 AM to 3 PM. Check out the latest and greatest sleds, trailers, GPS, accessories, gear & clothing. A Trails Workshop will be held on Saturday at 9:00 AM and will include the latest information about grants, signage, and a special groomer manufacturer presentation. A Vintage Sled Display will help you travel back in time through the history and evolution of snowmobiles.
Admission is $8. Ages 12 and under get in free For more information call (207) 622-6983 or visit mainesnowmobileassociation.com
~ Joe Higgins, Supervisor, Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program
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Ranger Academy Interpretation 2024: Top to bottom and left to right: Ranger Academy graduates, Training session at the Wells Reserve at Laaudholm Farm, training session at the Maine Wildlife Park, Keynote Speaker and retired BPL Interpretive Specialist Patty Bailey, an evening training at Sebago Lake State Park, Donna McGraw, Park Receptionist and Adminsitrative Assistant at Sebago Lake State Park serving up terrific homestyle food with her husband (far right) working behind the grill. Photos courtesy of Charlie Cannon, Gary Best, Kurt Shoener, and Casey Smedberg.
Over two weeks 20 Maine State Park and Historic Site staff gathered to receive in-depth training in Interpretation, a specialized approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen the understanding of the natural and historic places under the care of the Bureau of Parks and Lands. Interpretation is a skill that they will use every time they talk to park visitors.
The first two days of training were held at Sebago Lake State Park. They included introductions to nature and historic site interpretation, hands-on experience with mini-presentations, Wabanaki history by Dwayne Tomah, Passamaquoddy language keeper and translator of the Passamaquoddy wax cylinder recordings held at the Library of Congress; a Brown Ash presentation by John Daigle, Professor of Forest Management at the University of Maine Orono, member of the Penobscot Nation, and co-creator of the educational website Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik website; and an evening session about bats, owls and the night sky.
Days three through seven were held at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and online, for certification by the National Association of Interpreters (NAI) as Interpretive Guides. This training was led by Suzanne Kahn, NAI Trainer and Education Director at the Wells Reserve, and Caryn Beiter, NAI Trainer and Program Coordinator at the Wells Reserve.
On day eight the Academy attendees, and other BPL staff, had an eight-hour session in which they became Project WILD certified, by Project WILD Facilitator and BPL Interpretive Specialist Jocelyn Hubbell, and included a 1-hour tour of the Maine Wildlife Park with Assistant Superintendent Ben Barret to learn about the animals and the park.
On day nine we returned to Sebago Lake State Park for an interagency panel discussion about Interpretive Programs. The guest panelists were Kathy Grant, Visitor Services and Operations Supervisor at Acadia National Park; Stephanie Pooler, Chief Of Interpretation and Education, Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Richmond National Battlefield Park; Rebecca Roy, M.S.Ed., CIG, CIT, Parks Interpretive Program Manager, Vermont State Parks; and Josh Teeter, Environmental Educator II, Finger Lakes Region of New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Discussion included an overview of their interpretive programs, funding sources, staff and volunteer involvement, incorporation of DEI and accessibility, and their advice for growing interpretive programs. The Ranger Academy Interpretation was brought to a inspirational close by our Keynote Speaker Patty Bailey, Retired BPL Interpretive Specialist.
Planning for Ranger Academy starts almost a year in advance. There are hundreds of behind-the-scenes hours that go into it. Thank you to Paul Baker, Gary Best, Charlie Cannon, Andy Hutchinson, Cathy McCarthy, Matt McGuire, Haylee Parsons, and Casey Smedberg for being on the planning team and getting all the nitty-gritty details taken care of, presenting mini-programs, and making this Academy a success. And a big hug to Donna McGraw and her husband who made sure everyone was well fed - thank you for all the scrumptious meals!
Kudos to the Ranger Academy: Interpretation 2024 graduates!
Shown in the top photo above are, from left to right: Alissa Lutz, Manager of Lamoine State Park; Michelle Darling, Mount Blue State Park Ranger; Brett Johnson, Manager of Ferry Beach State Park; Colin Garner, Sebago Lake State Park Ranger; Dylan VanSavage, Popham Beach State Park Ranger; Erin McGinty Two Lights State Park Ranger, Kurt Shoener, Manager of Two Lights, Kettle Cove, and Crescent Beach State Parks, Christopher Main, Manager of Range Pond State Park; Aleksei Hamm, Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park Ranger; and Ed Palys, Allagash Wilderness Waterway Ranger. NOTE: Some of our Ranger Academy Class of 2024 are not shown in the photos above.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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The evening sky during night program training during Ranger Academy: Interpretation. Can you find the big dipper? Photo courtesy of Haylee Parsons.
The Future of Brown Ash Conference will be held on October 8 & 9 at the University of Maine, Orono, Wells Conference Center, and live-streamed on Zoom. This two-day gathering is to inform people about current research about brown ash forests and reconvene the community of people who care for brown ash. It is the weaving of Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science to promote resilience amidst the Emerald Ash Borer invasion.
This conference is intended for: Basketmakers, Tribal Nation members and employees, APCAW participants, private forest landowners, researchers, state and federal employees, nonprofit partners, foresters, loggers, and Canadian partners.
Host: John Daigle, Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) Lab and Professor of Forest Resources.
For more information and to register for the conference visit the APCAW website.
~ Courtesy posting by Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, BPL
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The Blue Hill Peninsula Night Sky Festival begins this weekend, September 29 and runs through October 5. It begins on Sunday with dancing under the stars at the Bagaduce Lending Library. The festival includes guest astronomers leading tours of the Milky Way, Star Parties, Solar Viewing, and a Night Sky Boat Tour. There will be talks about Longfellow and the Dark Sky, and Conversation with the Dark Sky. The film Defending the Dark will also be shown. For all the details visit the event page at Dark Sky Maine.
~ Courtesy posting by 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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