Mountain lions and reports of their presence in New England, presentation by Bill Betty. 7 tonight. Merryspring Nature Center, 30 Conway Road, Camden, Free. Pre-registration is not required, but seating is limited. For more information, call 236-2239 or visit www.merryspring.org.

Fly-tying lessons, by Bill Black, founder of Umpqua Feather Merchants and owner of Spirit River Flies, and Ibrahim Mesinovic, owner of Bug-Partz. 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, L.L. Bean Hunting and Fishing Store, Main Street, Freeport. Free. Participants are urged to bring their own materials. For more information, call (877) 755-2326.

Additional Photos

Tyler John Barrows, 13, of Manchester completed a hunting grand slam in 2010. He got the two turkeys shown here in May; they weighed 16.4 pounds and 19.6 pounds. The bear he shot in September in West Forks weighed 100 pounds dressed out. He got a 697-pound cow moose in September in Van Buren. Then he shot a button buck weighing 76 pounds in November. Contributed photo

Winter Walks, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, 9:30 a.m. to noon Thursday and Jan. 27. Full moon hikes are planned for Monday, Feb. 15 and March 18. A $5 donation is suggested. Please pre-register, especially if you want to rent snowshoes. Visit www.hvnc.org, call 586-6752 or e-mail waywards@hotmail.com for more information and reservations.

2,656 Miles of Backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail, a slide presentation by Tom Jamrog, 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Lincolnville Central School. Free. For more information, call 763-3406.

Full Moon Ski, 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Long Pond, Belgrade. Belgrade Regional Conservation Alliance. Free. Please preregister by calling 495-6039.

Moonlight Ski with Georges River Land Trust, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Appleton Preserve, Route 105 in Appleton. Participants are asked to bring skis and a head lamp. Free and open to the public. For more information, call 594-5166.

Sassafras Program Series, 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Viles Arboretum, 153 Hospital St., Augusta. Hearty soup with Panera bread will be served beginning at 5 and the presentation will begin at 6. The topic is insects and the speaker is entomologist Charlene Donahue. Admission is by donation. For more information, go to www.vilesarboretum.org or call 626-7989.

Birds of the St. George River area, presentation by expert birder Don Reimer, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the town office in Tenants Harbor. Reimer and 50 other volunteers are collecting data on 19 bird species. Co-sponsored by the St. George Conservation Commission and the Friends of St. George. Admission and refreshments are free.

Winter Hikes, Great Works Regional Land Trust, ski/snowshoe excursion 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Tuckahoe Preserve in Berwick. First in a series of Saturday treks. Free for land trust members; $5 donation per person or $10 per family is suggested for non-members. Please call 646-3604 to reserve your place. Go to www.gwrlt.org to learn more.

Maine Lakes Mushers Bowl & Winter Carnival, Five Fields Farm, South Bridgton. Jan. 22-23. The International Sled Dog Racing Association-sanctioned event features competitors from all over the U.S. The carnival includes dodge-ball and pingpong tournaments, snowmobile rides, snowshoeing, a youth ice-fishing derby and a dance. For more, visit www. mainelakesmushersbowl.com.

Looking ahead

The Kennebec Land Trust invites the public to explore the Curtis Homestead Conservation Area in Leeds from 1 to 3 p.m. Jan. 23. Bring cross-country skis, snowshoes and sleds. Volunteers will be available to help beginners with skiing or snowshoeing. Hot chocolate and snacks will be served around a bonfire. FMI:call 377-2848.

Great Pond Mountain Wildlands Snowshoe Run & Trek, Jan. 23, Orland. Participants can choose a 5-mile race or a free 1.3-mile noncompetitive trek. Registration 10 to 11:30 a.m.; race starts at noon at the Wildlands South Gate, Route 1 just south of the Route 176 intersection. Cost is $10/person or $20/family for timed race. Proceeds benefit Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust. For more information or a registration form or map, contact Peter Keeney at 288-3909 or pktrldrt@myfairpoint.net.

Portland Trails Annual Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Portland Public Library. Sponsored by Woodard & Curran, with refreshments provided by Whole Foods Market and Shipyard Brewing Co. Please reserve by e-mail at info@trails.org or call 775-2411. For more information, go to www.trails.org.

Ice Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Royal River Rod & Gun Club, Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m, Feb. 5. Registration at Sabbathday Lake Grange Hall. Prizes for the largest fish by weight of any species. Food and beverages available. Door prizes awarded after the derby. Tickets are $10 each and available on the day of the derby or call Roger Hines at 926-3943. FMI: e-mail rhines@securespeed.us.

NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 5, Cabela’s, Scarborough. Sponsored by Western Maine Property Protection. Shooting will take place in indoor heated range. Cost is $125 per person, or $100 for a couple, which includes all course materials and the use of all firearms and ammunition. Lunch will be provided. This course meets concealed weapon permit requirements. Register by Jan. 29; call 739-9774 or e-mail westernmaineproperty protection@yahoo.com.

Upland Game Banquet, Feb. 5, sponsored by the Covered Bridge chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, at Keeley the Caterer in Portland. Proceeds will support habitat improvement projects. For information and tickets, call 926-5392.

U.S. National Toboggan Championships, Camden Snow Bowl, Feb. 11 to 13. For a schedule and more information, go online to http://winter.camdensnowbowl.com/21st-annual-toboggan-championships or call 207-236-3438 at the Camden Snow Bowl.

Hiking and snowshoeing, 10 a.m. Feb. 12, Perkins Woods in Wayne. Kennebec Land Trust stewards Stan and Jane Davis will host the event. The includes a majestic stand of white pines and hemlocks, pitch pines and 2,700 feet of shoreline on the Androscoggin Lake. For more information or directions call the trust at 377-2848.

Kittery Trading Post Kids Derby, 8 a.m.-noon, Feb. 25, Range Ponds State Park, Poland Spring; limited to children age 12 and under; free entry for derby, with $1.50 park admission fee for those ages 12-64. Run in cooperation with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The first 500 children to register for the derby will receive a free ice-fishing tip-up. For more information and registration, go to www.icefishingderby.com/maine/kids-derby/

Ongoing

Portland Trails Winter Walk series, 8:45 to 10 a.m. selected Saturdays: Evergreen Cemetery on Jan. 29. Please register for any walk by e-mailing info@trails.org or calling 775-2411. Portland Trails has snowshoes available (free for members, $5/non-members) that can be reserved. For more information or to check on weather cancellations go to www.trails.org.

The Portland Water District invites preschoolers to join it for environmentally themed stories, activities and crafts. The sessions include: the Wonders of Water, Friday; Incredible Insects, Feb. 18; Plants and Their Parts, March 18; Fun with Frogs, April 15. Programs run 10 a.m. to noon at the Sebago Lake Ecology Center in Standish. To register, e-mail sebagolake@pwd.org or call 774-5961, ext. 3319 or 3320. Donation supports loon preservation. Scholarships available and snacks provided.

Weekly Bird Walk, 8 a.m. Thursdays at Gilsland Farm, off Route One, 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.

Snowshoeing at Inland Woods/Pine Ridge Trails in Waterville at 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday. All are welcome; headlamps required. Meet at the trail head behind Inland Hospital, 200 Kennedy Memorial Drive. For more information, e-mail ewells@emh.org or call 861-3292.

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