Hike Orland’s Oak Hill, 10 a.m. today. Join Sarah LeVine for a moderately difficult hike of roughly three miles. Meet at the South Gate of the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands on Route 1 (just south of the Route 176 intersection) and bring water, snack and sturdy footwear. Rain or shine. For more information, call Sarah at 667-1293 or email sarahlevine5@gmail.com. 

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

Additional Photos

Bicyclists in last year’s Maine Lighthouse Ride pass Bug Light in South Portland. This year’s ride rolls out on Saturday from Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. Ride options include a 25-mile ride, a 40-mile loop, a 62-mile metric century, and a 100-mile century. Maps, cue sheets, multiple rest stops, food, refreshments and hot showers are provided. Registration is $60. All proceeds will benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance. Register by visiting www.EasternTrail.org or by calling 284-9260. Courtesy Eastern Trail Alliance

“Snakes in the Grass: Conservation of the Northern Black Racer in Maine” 7 p.m. Thursday, presentation by state wildlife biologist Jonathan Mays in the Mather Auditorium of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. Suggested donation is $5. For more information, call 207-646-1555 or visit wellsreserve.org. 

Guided nature hikes, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Route 26, New Gloucester. Adults, $5; children under 6, $2; under 6, free. Reservations recommended. 926-4597. 

Kennebunk Land Trust, trail opening celebration 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at Wonder Brook Preserve at the end of Plummer Lane in Kennebunk; rain date is Sept. 11. The new trail system interconnects two trust properties with a town-owned property; combined the three protected parcels form a nearly 80-acre oasis. The project was funded in part by a grant award from the L.L .Bean Maine Land Trust Program. Join the trust for an easy to moderate hike of about 2.5 miles. FMI: 985-8734. 

Entry-level kayaking class, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, on the Damariscotta River, sponsored by Spectrum Generations Coastal Community Center. $20. Instructor will be from Mid-Coast Kayak. Kayaks and gear will be supplied for the class. Registration deadline is Friday. Gather at the Kayak Shack, Main Street in Damariscotta at 9:45 a.m. Call 563-1363 by Friday to reserve. 

Maine Audubon fall pelagic trip out of Bar Harbor, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. $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. Saturday, 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. 

Full Moon Hike on Great Pond Mountain, 7 p.m. Saturday. Meet at Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery, off of Route 1 in East Orland. Bring a headlamp or flashlight. Hike is 2 miles round-trip, about 11/2 hours. Please pre-register with Jennifer Riefler at 469-2045 or jriefler@mdirss.org. If it is overcast or rainy at 6 p.m., we will try for Sunday night. 

Looking Ahead

Hawk watch with Loon Echo Land Trust, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 11 on Hacker’s Hill in Casco. This field day will be led by expert birders Dick Anderson and Don Hudson. As there is no existing data on hawk migrations from this vantage point, this watch will be a bit of an experiment. Hacker’s Hill is located off of Quaker Ridge Road in Casco, accessible by Route 11 (about 1 mile away) or Route 302 (about 4 miles away). A steep, paved road leads from Quaker Ridge Road to the top of the hill, where parking is available. To learn more, go online to www.loonecholandtrust.org or call 647-4352. 

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. The class is co-sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Students will be led 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

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. 

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. 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. 

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