Handgun safety course, the Sportsman’s BARR in Gardiner, 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. This class fulfills the requirements for a safety course before applying for a concealed firearms permit. Cost of the class is $50. For more information call 588-0888. 

Becoming an Outdoors Woman, introductory skills weekend, Friday to Sunday at Camp Caribou in Winslow. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is accepting registrations. No previous experience is required. A brochure and the registration form are posted at www.mainebow.com. The cost is $225. For more information, contact coordinator Emily Jones at (207) 287-8069 or at emily.jones@maine.gov. 

The Chewonki Foundation will host the following wilderness retreats at its sporting camp on Fourth Debsconeag Lake near Greenville: The Wilderness Yoga Retreat with Lisa Maxwell will take place on Friday to Sunday; the Wilderness Artist Retreat with Colin Page will take place Sept. 27-Oct. 1. For more information, call 882-7323. 

“What can we learn from the mud?” 9-11 a.m. Saturday. Kennebec Land Trust. Meet at the Wayne Elementary School at 9 a.m. for this program, which explores the impact of climate on landscape by examining wetland sediment cores in Muddy Pond. 

The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust will hold the 5th annual Race 4 Space at 9 a.m. Sunday. The 4-mile route passes six properties protected from development by conservation easements or open space plans. It starts on Middle Bay Road. The race starts at 9 a.m. and costs $20. There will also be a guided walking tour at 9:15 a.m. ($10), a one-mile run at 10 a.m. ($5) and a kids fun run at 10:15 ($5). The event is capped at 100 runners. Register at www.btlt.org or starting at 8 a.m. on race day. 

Portland Volkswalk, 8:30 a.m. Sunday, 5- and 10-kilometer self-guided walks hosted by the Southern Maine Volkssport Association. Directions and map provided. Free. Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad and Museum, 58 Fore St., Portland. For more information, call Marilyn Russell, 632-7438. Rain or shine. 

Looking ahead

Bats Are a Threatened Species, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21, York County Audubon meeting at the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm, 342 Laudholm Farm Road, Wells. Free illustrated talk by Tom Cowland, who will emphasize Maine’s migratory species and relate concerns for these beneficial flying mammals. 

Children Need Wild Places, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Gorham Middle School. For parents and children ages 5-12, to gather ideas and information to inspire you and your family to get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer in Maine. For more information, go to www.gorham.maineadulted.org. Event is free but registration is required.

Inland Woods Trail opening celebration, 9-11 a.m. Sept. 25 (rain date: Oct. 9). Inland Hospital along with partners CeMeNEMBA, Kennebec Messalonskee Trails and Waterville Parks & Recreation invite the community to explore new and revitalized trails in the heart of Waterville now open to the public. The trail offers easy access to the adjoining 150-acre Pine Ridge Recreation Area. FMI: inlandhospital.org or 861-3292. 

York County Audubon field trip to Fryeburg Harbor, 8 a.m. Sept. 25, Fryeburg Harbor. Leader Bob Crowley. Meet at the church at the intersection of Harbor & McNeil Roads, Fryeburg. Contact Joanne Stevens, 883-647, for more information. 

Autumn sea kayaking weekend, Oct. 1-3, Appalachian Mountain Club Knubble Bay Camp, Georgetown. Wet suits/dry suits and good sea kayaking skills required. Lodging and three meals. $80 AMC members ($90 non-members). Call Gail Fensom at 603-244-2500 or e-mail gailrond@comcast.net.

The Kennebec Land Trust will celebrate the release of the book, “Between Person and Place: Conservation Histories from the Kennebec Land Trust,” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 2 at Sturtevant Farm Scenic Area in Fayette. For more information, call 377-2848 or go online to www.tklt.org.

Kennebec Messalonskee Trails Hike and Mushroom Hunt, 1 p.m. Oct. 3, Messalonskee Stream Trail, Kennedy Memorial Drive, Oakland. Local mushrooming experts will lead a hike and give tips on collecting edible mushrooms. Please bring a brown paper bag for gathering. People of all ages welcome; held rain or shine. No charge but donations graciously accepted. FMI: www.kmtrails.org.

Ongoing

L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools are offering Walk-On Adventures every Saturday and Sunday. Each class costs $20. No experience is necessary. Register in advance by calling 1-877-755-2326 or at the Outdoor Discovery Schools kiosk at the flagship store in Freeport. L.L. Bean will also offer scenic guided kayak tours on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. until Columbus Day. Evening sunset, moonlight and women’s only tours are also available. All tours are $59 per person. 

Weekly Bird Walk, Thursday mornings at Gilsland Farm, Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 7 a.m., $5 for Maine Audubon members, $8 for nonmembers. All skill levels. Bring binoculars and a field guide and meet in the visitor center parking lot. 781-2330, ext. 209.

The Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center offers canoe and kayak rentals from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends in September. For nonmembers, it is $16 per hour, $23 for an hour and a half and $30 for two hours. For Maine Audubon members, it’s $15 per hour, $22 for an hour and a half, and $29 for two hours. Call 883-5100 or visit www.maineaudubon.org/ scarbmarsh to learn more.