The Kennebec Land Trust will host its annual meeting and cookout at the Androscoggin Yacht Club in Wayne from 4 to 6 p.m. today. From 2 to 4 p.m. volunteers will offer field trips to three trust conservation properties in Wayne. The trust will provide hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers for the cookout. Bring a side/salad or dessert to share, and a bathing suit for swimming. $10 for adults, under 18 free. To RSVP, contact Nathalie Woolworth at nwoolworth@tklt.org.
Geocaching Festival, 1 to 3 p.m. today, Merryspring Nature Center in Camden. Geocaching is an outdoor adventure game of hiding and searching for treasure boxes with the assistance of a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver. Coordinates for the caches throughout the park will be made available at the event. Fun trinkets will be offered for placement in discovered caches, but feel free to bring your own items to leave in the boxes. If you already own a GPS unit, please bring it with you. Several units will be available for the event. Activities are designed for ages 5-12, but are open to all ages. All children must be accompanied by an adult. In case of rain, please check for cancellation. For more information, call 236-2239 or visit www.merryspring.org.
Additional Photos
Georges River Land Trust, annual meeting and celebration, 2 p.m. today, at the Appleton Preserve. After a short business meeting, Dan Daly of the Georges River Chapter of Trout Unlimited will speak about the fresh water fisheries of the St. George River. A picnic potluck will follow the talk and GRLT will provide drinks. Attendees are asked to bring food to share according to the first letter of your last name, as follows: from A-I a main dish, J-S a salad and T-Z a dessert. Please leave your pets at home. FMI: Call 594-5166.
Sea kayaking class, 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday. Hosted by Spectrum Generations. $30. Begins at Mid-Coast Kayak’s facility at Muscongus Harbor, two miles north of Round Pond, just off of Route 32. Glenn “Mitch” Mitchell, co-owner of MidCoast Kayak will supply all the kayaks and gear participants will need and will teach the basics of sea kayaking. The group will paddle out to explore Muscongus Bay’s islands in search of seals, sea birds and fun. Advance registration required. Call 563-1363 by Monday to reserve. Please arrive by 12:30 p.m.
Hunter safety course, Maine-ly Outdoors Ministry of Daystar Chapel in Madison, 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. Monday and Wednesday, and 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. You must attend all three sessions to complete the course. To register and for more information, call Dell at 399-9717 or Jerome at 426-2082.
Coffee & Conversation, 9 a.m. Tuesday, Deering Common Campus Center, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor. Sheridan Steele, Acadia National Park superintendent, and College of the Atlantic faculty member Ken Cline will talk about the park, its visitors and the need for nature in people’s lives. Free. Refreshments are served. FMI: 801-5621.
Boating Safety Workshop, 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Freedom Cafe dock in Naples. Sebago Sailing Inc. offers this free class, geared to kids ages 7 to 18, but all are welcome. The 45-minute clinic will be led by James Katz, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Anyone interested in learning more about sailing is welcome to join in. For more information, go to www.sailcharlotte harbor.com or call 647-4400.
Guided walk with Greater Lovell Land Trust, 9 a.m. Wednesday at Wilson Wing Moose Pond Bog Preserve, docents will lead a gentle walk to explore mushrooms. For more information, go to www.gllt.org or email Bridie.McGreavy@maine.edu.
The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve marks its 25th anniversary with tours, talks and special activities at the Wells Reserve at Laudholm from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. For information, visit wellsreserve.org or call 646-1555.
L.L.Bean Hunting Expo, Friday through Sunday, Freeport. Free indoor archery, demonstrations and clinics and DockDogs competition. Hunting celebrities Jon and Gina Brunson will be on-hand all day Saturday and Sunday, giving seminars and signing autographs. Walk-On Adventures will be offered free all weekend, 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.
L.C. Bates Museum events, star party, 8:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, bring your own telescope if you have it and try out the museum telescope; Family Bug Day, Saturday. The museum is on Route 201 in Hinckley. Museum admission is $3 for adults and $1 for youth. For more information, call 238-4250 or email lcbates@gwh.org.
Bowhunters course, sponsored by the Winslow Fire Department, Saturday. To register and learn details, call Don Perrine at 660-6382.
Open Range Day at the Royal River Rod and Gun Club, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, at the club on Fish Hatchery Road, New Gloucester. Open Range Day gives the public the chance to check out the shooting ranges, meet and talk to members and learn about the safety, education and community programs the club sponsors. Visitors are encouraged to bring a firearm or two and try the club’s ranges. FMI: Call or email Pete Thoits, 657-4184 or petethoits@maine.rr.com; or Bob Muir, 892-6096 or bobm380@yahoo.com.
Central Maine Mountain Bike Festival Saturday and Aug. 28 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.
Looking Ahead
The Maine Huts & Trails Wilderness Running Race will be held Aug. 28 on the Maine Huts Trail. 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. Aug. 31. 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, snack and lunch. The group will also stop at a secluded mountain pool, so bring a bathing suit to enjoy a dip. For more information, visit www.gllt.org or email Bridie.McGreavy@maine.edu.
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: www.carrabassettvalleyoutdoor association.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.
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 Aug. 31. 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. “A Bit of History on the Eastern Promenade,” 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; “Indian Trail in the Peaks Island Land Preserve,” 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 2; “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.
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