L.L.Bean Hunting Expo, ends today, Freeport. Free indoor archery, demonstrations and clinics and DockDogs competition. Hunting celebrities Jon and Gina Brunson will be on hand all day today, giving seminars and signing autographs. Walk-On Adventures will be offered free, in addition to many other hands-on and interactive activities for the whole family. Special promotions include 20 percent off all hunting apparel and footwear. For more information, visit llbean.com/freeport or call (877) 552-3268. 

Central Maine Mountain Bike Festival, today at Quarry Road Recreation Area, Waterville. Family fun and mountain bike rides for all ages and levels, kids’ activities, food, music, time trial competition, camping and more. For a schedule of events and to preregister, visit www.cemenemba.org or call 441-6227.

Additional Photos

Dick Anderson and Earl Raymond use a surveying instrument at Hacker’s Hill to identify the landforms and mountain ranges and piece together the geological history of the landscape. A geology walk and talk will be held Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Rain date is Thursday. Courtesy photo

The Maine Huts & Trails Wilderness Running Race will be held today in Carrabassett Valley. There will be a 10K, half-marathon and 50K race. FMI: Visit www.mainehuts.org. 

Guided walk with the Greater Lovell Land Trust to the White Mountain National Forest, 9 a.m. Wednesday. This active hike will start at the Shell Pond trailhead on Evergreen Valley Road and travel to Blueberry Mountain and back. Hikers should bring water, a snack and lunch. The group also will stop at a secluded mountain pool, so bring a bathing suit to enjoy a dip. FMI: Visit www.gllt.org or email Bridie.McGreavy@maine.edu. 

Geology walk and talk at Hacker’s Hill in Casco. Join the Loon Echo Land Trust Tuesday from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Participants will hear an overview of the origin of the Appalachian Mountains, believed to have been formed 267 million years ago, as well as the bedrock geology of Hacker’s Hill. Parking is available at the top of the hill and the open area allows for comfortable walking with wonderful views of the Lakes Region and White Mountains. FMI: Contact Loon Echo at 647-4352 or info@lelt.org. 

Discovery trek, join Ellen Mahoney, Island Institute Community Leadership Fellow, Friday for a hike along the Indian Trail, which weaves its way through the Parker Preserve on Peaks Island. Catch the 5:35 p.m. Ferry at Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal. Ellen will start the tour when you get to the dock at Peaks Island. Admission is free for Portland Trails members; $5 suggested donation for non-members. Reservations suggested. Call Portland Trails at 775-2411. 

Looking Ahead

Hunter safety course, sponsored by the Winslow Fire Department, 6 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 6 and Sept. 8, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 10. To register, call Don Perrine at 660-6382. 

Maine Audubon fall pelagic trip out of Bar Harbor, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 10. $125 for members, $160 for non-members. Past trips have encountered all three jaeger species, a rare great skua, thousands of shearwaters and storm-petrels, gannets, puffins, razorbills, common murres, five whale species, porpoises and dolphins, gray seals and schools of tuna. Register by calling 781-2330, ext. 273. 

First Shots, 9 a.m. Sept. 10, introduction to safe, recreational use of firearms; sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association. Takes place at the CVOA range at 4068 Carrabassett Drive, about 1.7 miles north of the Sugarloaf access road on Route 27. Pre-registration is required by contacting Neal Trask at 235-2732 or at nltrask@tdstelme.net. FMI: Visit www.carrabassettvalleyoutdoorassociation.com. 

York County Audubon field trip, 7:30 a.m. Sept. 17, Scarborough Marsh with Ed Hess. Meet at the trail head parking area on Route 9, south of Scarborough Marsh nature center. FMI: 324-4528. 

Bald Eagles of Merrymeeting Bay, Maine Audubon field trip, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 17. $50 for members, $75 for non-members. At the confluence of the Androscoggin and Kennebec rivers, Merrymeeting Bay is a gathering spot for one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in Maine, readily seen by boat. Expect other raptors, seals, sturgeon, shorebirds and waterfowl along the way. To register, call 781-2330 ext. 273. 

Tree Identification Program, 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 18, Beaver Park Lone Pine Lodge, Lisbon. Free. Enjoy a fall walk at Beaver Park while learning to identify the trees and shrubs. Expect to walk at least 1 to 1.5 miles. Hot drinks and refreshments will be available at the lodge after the walk. Please register by Sept. 15 by calling Beaver Park at 353-9075 or emailing vbrooks@lisbonme.org. This event is scheduled rain or shine. 

Hidden Valley Nature Center’s next timber-framing class will be held Sept. 29-Oct. 2. This class is co-sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. This hands-on class leads students through the entire process from felling the trees to the finished product. Program cost is $500 ($450 for HVNC members), including breakfast and lunch and all materials. Some scholarships are available from MOFGA. No previous carpentry experience is necessary. FMI: Contact www.hvnc.org, 586-6752 or gary@hvnc.org.

Ongoing

Portland Trails announces the “Dog’s Favorite Trail” contest, open to all dogs in the Portland area. In 100 words or less, dogs — with the help of their owner — are asked to describe their favorite trail in the Portland Trails network. Stories will be judged in two categories: funniest and most meaningful. All entries must be submitted with a photo of the dog on its favorite trail. Entries must be received by Wednesday. Winners in both categories will receive a gift certificate to a local pet shop as well as a dog membership to Portland Trails. Submissions should be emailed to info@trails.org. 

Guided trail walks at Inland Woods/Pine Ridge trails in Waterville. 8 a.m. Mondays through October. Free; all welcome. Meet at trailhead behind Inland Hospital, 200 Kennedy Memorial Drive. FMI: www.kmtrails.org or 861-3292.

Maine Huts & Trails will host excursions via pontoon boat from Stratton to Flagstaff Hut on Flagstaff Lake every weekend through Sept. 4. The boat departs Stratton dock on Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and arrives at Flagstaff Hut by 5:30 p.m. Guests get two nights lodging, two dinners, two breakfast and two lunches. Cost is $218 plus tax for a non-member adult, $136 plus tax for children 12 and under; $193 plus tax for a member adult, $128 plus tax for a child. FMI: Visit www.mainehuts.org. 

Discovery Trek series, Portland Trails. Guided walks are free to Portland Trails members, with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Register for any trek by emailing info@trails.org or calling 775-2411. FMI or to check for cancellations, go to www.trails.org. “Bird Walk at the Quarry Run,” 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 30. 

The Kennebec Land Trust Outing Club offers events for active adults age 21 and older. The club is a great way to explore the outdoors, get to know Kennebec Land Trust properties and socialize. Excursions are free for trust members or $5 for nonmembers. For a schedule, go to www.tklt.org. Call 377-2848 or email Theresa Kerchner at tkerchner@tklt.org to register. 

Weekly Bird Walk, 7 a.m. Thursdays at Gilsland Farm, off Route 1, Falmouth; $5 for Maine Audubon members, $8 for nonmembers. Bring binoculars and a field guide and meet in the visitor center parking lot. FMI: Call 781-2330, ext. 209.

Casco Bay Bicycle Club hosts several weekly road bike rides in the Portland area, and special one-time rides, often with an opportunity to socialize after. The Wednesday night ride in Yarmouth, with its 12-15 mph (no-drop) pace is most popular, featuring a different route each week. Members and nonmembers are welcome. FMI: Go to www.cascobay bicycleclub.org. 

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport offers daily nature programs at 2 p.m. through Labor Day, weather permitting. Starting at the benches at the end of the second parking lot, one-hour guided programs may include a walk, short talks and other activities. No reservations needed, free with park admission. Admission is $1 for ages 5-11, $3 for Maine residents ages 12-64, $4.50 for nonresidents ages 12-64, $1.50 for nonresidents over 65, free for under 5 and Maine residents over 65. FMI: Call 865-4465. 

Related Stories