 March 2025
Abby on her last day with the Bureau of Parks aand Lands.
I typically use this space for an ongoing Bureau initiative or noteworthy exploration in the field. Every now and then, I’ve provided insights into the inner workings of our Bureau. In that vein, this month I’m sharing a brief tribute to Abby Andreasen, a stellar 9-year BPL employee who recently received a promotion working on the PFAS Response Program for the Bureau of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. We’ll sincerely miss her!!
Once upon a time in the fair month of May
We hired a young woman as a CRA.
She joined the fine crew at Popham Beach.
Now, nine years later, she’s earned this little speech.
With seven different jobs in her short career,
Abby excels among her peers.
With a smiling face, a can-do outlook, and eyes on our mission
Promoting Abby was an easy decision.
She handled reservations with poise, charm, and skill.
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With any and all campers – she wished them goodwill.
She took any assignment, handled any task
In my six years with Abby, there was nothing we couldn’t ask.
With Abby’s talent, it was just a matter of time
Before someone offered the next ladder to climb.
A few years from now, when PFAS gets tiring
Abby’s the first one that I’ll be hiring.
So wishing farewell, let’s all clap our hands
For Abby’s fine tenure with Parks and Lands.
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Webb Lake beach at Mount 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 include Park Managers, Rangers, Lifeguards, and Customer Representative Assistants. View the listings and apply at BPL's Careers and Seasonal Job webpage and check back frequently for additional listings. Many positions will be posted in the next few months. Resources include brochures and videos.
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Beginning March 1, 2025, 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.
~ Madelyn Johnson, Campground Reservations Manager
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March 8 - Lake St. George State Park, Liberty
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Enjoy a festive winter day at the park! A section of the lake will be shoveled as a skating area - be sure to bring your own ice skates. There will be a warming fire, hot cocoa, a nature/wildlife display table, snow sculpture making and games. And, the Maine State Parks Ski & Snowshoe trailer will be loaning ski and snowshoe gear for on-site use- free with special event park admission:12 & older $1.50. Under 12 & over 65 free.
FMI: (207) 589-4255. Subscribe to Lake St. George State Park Condition Alerts: text STGEO to 888-514-7527.
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March 22 - Lily Bay State Park, Greenville
10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Join in the winter fun! We will have a warming fire, hot cocoa and marshmallows, plus gear loans from the Maine State Parks Ski & Snowshoe trailer for on-site use - free with special event park admission:12 & older $1.50. Under 12 & over 65 free.
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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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With the warming trend we've had in the last week, 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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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.
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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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The Maine State Park Ski and Snowshoe Trailer's first visit to Two Lights State Park.
The Maine State Parks Ski and Snowshoe trailer has enjoyed many wintry stops at the state parks this season, and it has two more to go: Lake St. George State Park in Liberty on March 8 and Lily Bay State Park in Greenville on March 22, both from 10 AM to 3:00 PM.
The trailer made its first-ever appearance at Two Lights State Park in Cape Elizabeth on February 23. A dedicated group of kind-hearted and strong-backed park volunteers, shown above, gathered at Two Lights State Park to celebrate the Ski and Snowshoe Trailer’s first-ever Two Lights appearance. This group's dedication to outdoor recreation and community spirit helped make winter adventures more accessible for all park visitors. Thank you to everyone who helped make this stop, especially Park Manager Kurt Shoener and Ranger Erin McGinty.
The photos below are from this winter’s events at Mt Blue, Range Pond, and Camden Hills State Parks. Snowshoeing, XC-skiing, sliding, the igloos, and snow sculpture making were all popular, and of course the hot cocoa and warming fires? You can still get in on the fun at Lake St. George and Lily Bay State Parks!
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Attendees of the Motorized Trail Inspection Process Demonstartion.
Jessica Leahy with the University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources along with the Bureau of Parks and Lands, Off Road Vehicle Office coordinated a hands-on demonstration of the Bureau’s motorized trail inspection process. The Sebasticook Valley Snowmobile Club also presented one of their Tucker Sno-Cats for demonstration. This is a piece of equipment along with a drag that is used to groom and maintain snowmobile trails in the Newport Area.
The demonstration included the new programs our Recreational Trails Coordinators use for inspecting both ATV and Snowmobile trails. ORV staff will look for signing, bridges and erosion concerns while out on the trails. This information is used for keeping trails safe and follow up on Best Management Practices in building and maintaining trails. Students were able to see firsthand what the Off-Road Vehicle office is using for equipment and the importance of landowner relations and communication with volunteers and the area clubs. Overall, a very successful day.
~ Joe Higgins, Supervisor of the Off-Road Recreational Vehicle Program
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Red Tail Hawk in flight. Photo courtest of USFWS, John Magera.
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. Hawk Counter Zane Baker is returning for his record 7th season! 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 Listserv. 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.
~ Chris Silsbee, Manager of Bradbury Mt. State Park
Barred Owl. Photo courtest of David Rodrigues.
The annual Feathers Over Freeport Birding Festival will be held on one day only, May 17, and only at Bradbury Mt. State Park. There will be fun and educational activities, live bird presentations, guest experts, and displays. Check the schedule of events at www.maine.gov/feathersoverfreeport.
Start practicing your bird calls! Right before the live Bird of Prey finale we will be hosting a bird call contest. All bird calls must be made without the help of any devices. Our judges will decide the winners and award prizes. All ages welcome! Contestants are asked to meet 10 minutes ahead of the program near the pavilion to sign-in to participate.
~ Chris Silsbee, Manager of Bradbury Mt. State Park
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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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