Events & News
Kathryn Peterson, Abby Andreasen, and Charlene Daniels thank you for a great season. See you next year!
The State Park Camping Reservations Call Center will close for the season on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.
The Camping Reservations Call Center will open for the 2019 season on February 1st at 9:00 a.m. Thank you for a wonderful camping season. We hope to see you again next year!
2019 Camping Reservation Dates for Call Center & Online Reservations:
- Sebago Lake State Park only - Friday, February 1, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. (Group sites reservations also begin, but are taken at each park directly by phone.)
- All Others - Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 9:00 a.m.
Return to top of page.
 Bannock: Camp Bread Baked Over Coals
Whether it's baked in an iron skillet, wrapped around a green stick, or placed directly in the ashes, bannock has been a staple of outdoor cooking for generations.
Basic bannock has only four ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and water. Add powdered egg, oil, dry milk powder or sugar and vary the amount of water to produce different consistencies and it becomes pancakes or cake.
Traditional
1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
6 Tbs. water
1Tbs. oil
At Home: Mix all dry ingredients together and put into a covered jar or other portable storage container.
In Camp: Preheat 2 Tbs. oil in a 6-inch iron skillet over the coals (no flames). Add water and oil to dry ingredients and turn onto a floured board. The batter is very tender and should be handled as little as possible.
Pat into a circle not more than 1-inch thick. Place carefully in hot oil in skillet. Cook one minute to sear; flip over to sear other side. (Searing makes a crust on each side and allows the inside to remain moist while baking.)
Reduce heat (by removing some coals), bake slowly, turning often to prevent burning, until a knife pricked into the center comes out clean, about 15 to 20 minutes.
The secret to bannock is very slow baking and frequent turning. Bake in an open 6-inch iron skillet over hardwood coals (no flames) or charcoal.
Variations:
Cheese Bread - Add 2 Tbs. Parmesan or 1/4-cup grated cheddar to batter.
Onion Bread - Add 1 tsp. onion flakes or 1/8-cup finely grated onion to the batter.
Breakfast Bread - Add 2 Tbs. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon to the batter.
Pancakes - Add 2 Tbs. dry milk powder and 1 Tbs. powdered egg mix and increase water until batter is thin enough to pour.
Return to top of page.
|
 Enjoy an outdoor performance of Celtic, nautical life and early American music featuring Castlebay, the popular local duo of Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane, returning for their 11th consecutive appearance at Colonial Pemaquid. Co-sponsored by the Friends of Colonial Pemaquid.
- Concert is held at 1:00 PM and repeated at 3:00 PM.
- Rain date is Monday, September 3.
- Cost: $5 or free to members.
- Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, 2 Colonial Pemaquid Dr., New Harbor, ME
- For more information call: (207) 677-2432.
Return to top of page.
Glenn "Doc" Dochtermann showing surf fishing technique and equipment.
Join in on the last session of surf fishing for the year at Fort McClary State Historic Site. This 2-hour session is for beginners and all those interested in learning more about fishing. Program includes a 30-minute talk about the marine fish of Maine followed by a 30-minute talk on lures and equipment. Then it is out to the beach for 1-hour of fishing. Bring your own equipment; it is not provided.
Upon arrival at the Historic Site, ask the booth attendant for the Surf Fishing Program meeting location.
Date & Time: Friday, September 7 at 6 p.m.
Location: Fort McClary State Historic Site, Kittery Point
For More Information: Call Glenn Dochtermann, Vaughan Woods State Park Manager, at (207) 384-5160.
Return to top of page.
 The Great Maine Outdoor Week and the weekend series is a project of the Maine Outdoor Coalition, a network of partners dedicated to increasing connection to the outdoors for all people in Maine.
The events are led by outdoor oriented organizations, including the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, and companies to celebrate the how, where, and what of being active outside in Maine. Our goal is to connect our friends and neighbors with the natural world, to promote fun, physical activity, & good health.
Activities occur across the state and at a variety of participation levels, introductory to advanced. Many are children and family oriented, some even allow attendance by dogs.
Return to top of page.
Enlisted mess reenactment at Ft. McClary State Historic Site.
Forests scale granite-
But scrape back the bygone years
and hear the waves crash.
The attractive Tunk Mountain and Hidden Ponds hiking trail off State Route 182 (Blackwoods Byway) provides not only scenic views of Downeast Maine’s ponds, forests, and hills, but also a chance to time travel – though some imagination is required. If you were to step back roughly 13,000 years and travel along this route, the first thing you might want to know is that you would need a boat for the first half-mile or so. Not until you reach approximately 230’ in (modern) above-sea-level elevation would you have hit land. "Back in the day" only as you climb the sloping granite of Tunk Mountain’s south face would you have been on dry land. The ponds today laying below the mountain would then have largely been submerged land below cold ocean waters following in the crushing footsteps of glacial ice sheets. More on this somewhat complicated dance of glaciers, depressed land, and sea level change can be found in a downloadable fact sheet from the Maine Geologic Survey.
Return to top of page.
Please Join Us!
Date: Monday, September 10th , 2018
Location: Lake George Regional Park, 10 Main St, Canaan, ME 04924
Time: 7:00AM - 3:00PM
The Maine Conservation Corps (MCC) will be holding
their annual 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance on Monday, September 10th, 2018. This annual event brings MCC Members, Staff, and community
volunteers together to serve in remembrance of victims, survivors, and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks. This year the event will be held at Lake George Regional Park
in Canaan. Improvements will be made to the trails to provide recreation
opportunities to visitors. MCC welcomes you to join us in honoring the victims and survivors of 9/11 by getting out and giving back to a local community! Volunteers are
welcome to come by and help out anytime between 7:00AM and 3:00PM!
To get involved, please contact our Community Outreach
Coordinator:
Chantelle Hay
(207) 624-6089
Corps.Outreach@maine.gov
Return to top of page.
Maine Conservation Corps (MCC), an AmeriCorps program, serves
throughout the state of Maine accomplishing conservation initiatives in state
parks, public lands, land trusts, and more. This year, MCC has enacted a new
guideline to give back to State Parks and the Bureau of Parks and Lands. This ongoing initiative
encourages MCC members to volunteer in State Parks above and beyond their time
serving. Members gain a greater understanding of positions within the park, the
work that goes into maintaining parks for the public, and get a taste of what
being a ranger in Maine is all about. Thus far, 65 volunteer hours have been
contributed to parks in both the northern and southern regions, with many more
to come!
Thank you MCC Members!
Return to top of page.
 |
|
It is nice to report that, in an example of partnerships and resources coming together, the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) recently worked with Bureau of Parks and Lands staff to support ongoing stewardship of the Cutler Coast Public Lands along Washington County’s Bold Coast. MITA staff and volunteers cleaned boat loads of marine debris from the wild and challenging-to-access shores of the Cutler Coast Public Lands. Bureau staff assisted with debris removal while also delivering rough cut cedar lumber for upcoming trail improvement work. Though MITA and the Bureau routinely work together along the Maine coast, this was a first project at the Cutler Coast. And participants were thanked by the minke whale, harbor porpoise, and harbor seals encountered on the return trip to the staging area in Cutler harbor!
If you or your organization would like to give back to trails through volunteerism, please visit our volunteer page.
Return to top of page.
|
 The Allagash Wilderness Waterway just completed the rebuilding of 180 feet of boardwalk on the Allagash Falls Portage Trail. The project was funded by an $8,000.00 Recreational Trails Program grant.
All materials were delivered to the site by canoe and hand carried 1,500 feet to the location of the board walk.
The boardwalk is constructed of locally harvested, three inch thick, milled live edge eastern whiter cedar. It replaces a similar walkway constructed in the mid-1980’s.
Allagash Park Ranger, Trevor O’Leary was instrumental in accomplishing this project. The project was completed by staff at Michaud Farm: Trevor O’Leary, Caleb Lewis, Nathan Fuller; a two person Maine Conservation Corps crew, University of Maine at Fort Kent Intern Alissa Lutz, and Boy Scout Troop# 81 from Westbrook Maine.
Return to top of page.
|
 |
|
Rowell Cove and Dunn Point
Renovation of the Rowell Cove and Dunn Point boat launches at Lily Bay State Park has begun. The ramps will be open over Labor Day weekend, with work resuming on September 10th.
|
 |
|
Discovering the Allagash: A Canoeing Guide to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, North Maine Woods by Jeff Sims
Chronicling his adventures on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway beginning with his first visit in 1990 with Boy Scouts and a fellow Scout Leader, Sims does more then reminisce. He covers every aspect of the canoeing and camping experience from the skilled eyes of a seasoned camper, accomplished canoeist and dedicated Eagle Scout. The book includes over 100 photographs, up-to-date and historic maps, campsite details, and a wealth of practical suggestions to make your Allagash paddle a success.
|
|
Autumn: A Season of Change by Peter J. Marchand
Explore the wonders of autumn and the mysteries of nature associated with the season with this guide by gifted writer and naturalist Peter Marchand. The season is explained through the creatures that are so often asked about: monarchs, ladybugs, birds, frogs and turtles, the colorful display of trees, and a few surprises; all the while following themes to compare and contrast survival strategies. This a great guide for autumn enthusiasts, and for parents and teachers who help children to explore the outdoors and discover the answers to the whys generated by their joyously endless curiosity.
Return to top of page.
|
|
 |
Androscoggin Riverlands State Park
Bradbury Mt. State Park
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
Fort McClary State Historic Site
Mount Blue State Park
- September 1, 2018: Backyard Birds
- September 1, 2018: Jr. Ranger Program for Kids (Ages 6-12)
- September 1, 2018: Coffee with the Ranger
- September 1, 2018: Scavenger Hunt
- September 1, 2018: Movie Night
- September 2, 2018: Coffee with the Ranger
- September 2, 2018: Guided Paddle
- September 2, 2018: Jr. Ranger Program for Kids (Ages 6-12)
- September 3, 2018: Gold Panning Demo
- September 3, 2018: Backyard Birds
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park
- September 1, 2018: Stories in Stone
- September 2, 2018: Forest Detective
- September 3, 2018: Stroll With the Ranger
- September 8, 2018: Steamer Dig
- September 9, 2018: Guided Tree Hunt
- September 15, 2018: Stroll with the Ranger
- September 16, 2018: Ready, Set, Sleep!
- September 22, 2018: Secrets of the Shore
- September 23, 2018: What's in the Box?
- September 29, 2018: Hike with the Ranger
- September 30, 2018: Fall in the Forest
Great Maine Outdoor Week - A Project of the Maine Outdoor Coalition
Return to top of page.
|
