Woodswise Wire
 Some Maine researchers are looking for help from foresters and landowners in locating “wild” pin oaks – trees that have seeded naturally, often from pin oaks planted decades ago.
Pin oak is not thought of as native to Maine, but it was - and is – commonly planted along highways and streets throughout Maine. It rarely “escapes”, or spreads naturally into neighboring woodlands, but in a few cases it has done so successfully. A research project based out of Colby College is investigating why pin oak spreads in some situations, but not others. They hypothesize that genetic mixing between different source populations leads to hybrid vigor in escaped populations. They are using DNA markers to test this idea.
They would be very grateful to hear reports of wild individuals of pin oak (Quercus palustris) in Maine or other northern New England states. Larger trees are easy to identify because of their drooping lower branches (forming a “skirt”). You can see some fine specimens at the Kennebunk rest area on the interstate. Leaves look somewhat like red oak but with more rounded sinuses. Younger trees can be distinguished from red oak because the fall foliage is redder and more persistent, and because they leaf out later in the spring. Younger trees are difficult to distinguish from scarlet oak.
Please contact Judy Stone, jstone@colby.edu
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All camps are based out of
the Foxcroft Academy Student Center, 975 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft
YOUTH SUMMER CAMP FOR AGES 7-12:
First Week, JULY 28TH-AUGUST 1ST:
Natural Resources Summer Camp for AGES 7-12
Time: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Agenda: Monday -
Exploration of Soils with Soil Scientists Nick Butler and Matt Dorman
Tuesday - Energy in our
Environment with Stefany Gregoire of the Maine Energy Education Program
Wednesday - Natural Resource,
Wildlife and Ecology ID Hike with Dawna Blackstone of AMC
Thursday - Water Quality/Aquatic
Insects with Dan Kusnierz, Penobscot Nation Water Resources Manager
Friday - Fisheries, Ecology &
Lake Fun with Tim Obrey of the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife
Second Week, AUGUST 4TH-AUGUST
8TH: Agricultural Summer Camp for AGES 7-12
Time: 9:00am - 12:00 noon
Agenda: Monday -
Grass-fed Livestock with Wendy Russell of Widdershins Farm
Tuesday - Maine Blueberries with
Lee & Everett Worcester of Worcester’s Wild Blueberry Products
Wednesday - Grains &
Greenhouses with Sean O’Donnell of Rusted Rooster Farm
Thursday - Bird Dogs &
Raising Game Birds with the Estes Family at Three Rivers Wingshooting
Friday - Training, Raising &
Riding Horses with the staff at Infinity Farm
Camp Rates for ages 7-12: Half
Day: $16.75; Week: $83.75; Two Weeks: $167.50
Early sign up rates,
postmarked by June 20th are: Half Day: $15.00; Week:
$75.00; Two Weeks: $150.00
TEEN SUMMER CAMP FOR AGES 13-18:
First Week, JULY 7TH-JULY 11TH:
Natural Resources Summer Camp for AGES 13-18
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Agenda: Monday -
Hiking Borestone Mountain & Mountain Ecology with Alexandra Bennett
Tuesday - Wildlife &
Technology with Sarah Miller, Maine Warden Service, Fisheries & Habitat
Exploration with Ben Naumann of NRCS
Wednesday - Water Quality,
Aquatic Insects & Stream & Wetland Ecology with Dan Kusnierz
Thursday - DAY 1 of our
2-day Overnight Adventure at Little Lyford Lodge—Forestry with AMC staff
Thursday Night - Camp fire &
Astronomy with AMC staff
Friday - DAY 2 at Little
Lyford Lodge—Outdoor Recreation on the Little Lyford Campus with AMC
staff
Second Week, JULY 14TH-JULY 18TH:
Agricultural Summer Camp for AGES 13-18
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Agenda: Monday -
Organic Farming, Perennials & High Tunnels at Ripley Farm, Tour of the
Blacksmith Museum
Tuesday - Orchards & Summer
Pruning at Tudor Orchards, Marketing at the Dover Cover Farmers Market
Wednesday - The “Science Behind
Farming” at Happy Nest Farm, Community Gardens Tour, Ana Bonstedt
Thursday - “Field to Plate” at
Stutzman’s Farm & Café, Healthy Soil & Livestock at River Run Farm
Friday - Beekeeping, Ana Bonstedt
of UMaine Coop. Ext., Local Foods Picnic & Lake Fun at Sebec Lake
Camp Rates for ages 13-18: Week:
$250.00; Two Weeks: $500.00
As there are limited
spaces, we are not able to offer an early sign up rate or day rate at this
time.
For more information or to
register, contact:
Piscataquis County Soil and Water
Conservation District
42 Engdahl Drive
Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
564-2321 ext. 3,
info@piscataquisswcd.org
www.facebook.com/PCSWCD
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