In my first month as the Parks and Lands Bureau Director, I’ve learned that the nature of my job doesn’t allow much time for nature itself. As a result, I was excited to slip away between meetings in Aroostook County earlier this month to visit Aroostook State Park. It’s one of the few State Parks I had never visited, and I had heard great things about the Park Manager, Scott Thompson, and Park Ranger, Alan Cleaves. Both Scott and Alan grew up nearby in the County, and Aroostook State Park seems part of their extended family; their local knowledge and strong commitment to the Park jumps out in the first few minutes of conversation with them.

Created in 1939, Aroostook State Park has the distinct honor of being Maine's first state park. Today the park totals nearly 800 acres, including boating and fishing access to Echo Lake, a challenging loop trail over the 1,200 foot Quoggy Joe Mountain, and a network of snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. The Park contains about 30 well-kept campsites, and Scott and Alan have used some creative ideas to bring new visitors to the park, including the Northern Maine Birding Festival. There’s also a great interpretive Natural History Hikes pamphlet that describes the Park’s forests and geologic history.

As I hiked the ~3-mile trail over the two peaks of Quoggy Joe, I took note of the trout lily, toothwort, and other spring wildflowers, the wide variety of early summer warblers, and the lovely views from the ridge overlooking the County’s forests and farmlands. I had the trail all to myself (excepting a few black flies) and encountered just a few locals fishing off the dock. I asked them what they liked about the Park. “It’s nice and quiet here,” they said. It is indeed. So if you ever have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to heed the pull of magnetic north, head to the County for an adventure or two, and be sure to make Aroostook State Park a key part of your itinerary.

• Park Guide & Map (PDF 24x18 inches  2 MB)
• Park & Trail Conditions
• Show your support of Aroostook State Park by purchasing the park sticker on your next visit!

(Photos: Andy Cutko, picnic table with valley overlook, Toothwort flower, and Park's sticker.)

Return to top of page.

We realize that dogs are an important part of many families, and we want everyone to enjoy the Maine State Parks, Historic Sites, and Public Lands. Here are a few reminders to help keep your visits fun:

On Maine's Public Lands:

1. At Campsites pets in must be kept leashed and under the control of their handler.

2. Outside of Campsites, pets must be kept under control. If the Public Land is within a town limit the State Leash law applies.

At Maine State Parks & Historic Sites: 

1. Beaches allow pets from October 1st through March 31st., provided they are leashed.  (No pets on State Park Beaches from April 1st to Sept. 30th.) This helps to protect the nesting sites of endangered piping plovers.

1. Campgrounds at State Parks:
   • No pets at Sebago Lake State Park Campground.
   • All other campgrounds allow pets as long as they are leashed and under the control of their handler, and their waste is picked up immediately. Pet owners may be assigned picnic or campsites in a less congested area of the park.

Outdoors in Maine brochure listing State Parks, Historic Sites, and Public Lands (PDF 6MB).

(Photo: Mike with Popeye)

Return to top of page.

Want a new  twist on camping? Maine State Parks has partnered with Tentrr as the first state park system to offer visitors a “glamping” experience by eliminating the stress of planning and setting up a site. Each Tentrr site comes fully equipped with a canvas wall tent on a raised platform, queen size bunk bed, wood stove, Adirondack chairs, fire pit, picnic table with storage, benches, and sun shower. Offering a more private experience with access to outdoor recreational activities, and each park's amenities make the State Parks a must stay destination.

Maine State Park Tentrr Sites & All Details:

• Bradbury Mt State Park, Pownal, ME
• Camden Hills State Park, Camden, ME
• Lamoine State Park, Lamoine, ME
• Mount Blue State Park, Weld, ME
• Peaks-Kenny State Park, Dover-Foxcroft, ME
• Rangeley Lake State Park,  Rangeley, ME
• Warren Island State Park, Lincolnvillle, ME -  Tentrr Site Coming Soon!

Return to top of page.

We met Bruce and Eileen Richards at the Wicked Maine Outdoor Festival, in benefit of the Girl Scouts, several weekends ago and had to share their story... here it is in Eileen's words:

In December 2013, at the age of 46, Bruce was diagnosed as legally blind and had to surrender his driver's license to the State of Maine. He was a very active person and owned his own business. But by February 2014, the business was sold and life began with no license and being home all day.

On weekends we would go out for rides and always ended up in the same areas and wanted to branch out more in the State. So, we purchased a State Park Pass and started to visit a couple of the parks. One day, at Camden Hills State Park, the person at the gate told us about the Passport Program and gave us the Passport. And our journey began. We traveled region by region, visiting as many State Parks as we could in one region at a time.

Getting the unique stamps at each Park was so much fun. You have to know the combination to open the brown box to find the stamp. We would explain to people what we were doing, hoping they might enjoy the fun also. Many times we would see a lot more out of state plates than Maine plates. It is a wonderful way to get to know our state. Eileen works at Colby College and loves to share the experience of the journey with new Faculty that come to Colby. 

Many times we have enjoyed going to the Songo Lock just to watch the boats coming and going through. Perfect to watch people fish and relax. It is one of our favorite places to visit.

We have been to 45 out of the 48 State Parks & Historic Sites and  have started to collect the prizes. We are looking forward to using our free camping at Cobscook State Park in the future....

• Learn more about the Passport Program.

Return to top of page.

Researchers at the University of Maine have recently completed a model that seeks to determine where Monarch butterfly roosts occur and the factors common among roost sites. Due to the large area this model covers, it is not feasible for the researchers to ground-truth it themselves. Instead, they have released their results in the Collector App and are seeking help from people like you.

Why Your Help is Needed:

The monarch butterfly conducts one of the most dramatic migrations in the world. Every fall, the great-great-grandchildren of butterflies who came north from Mexico in the spring will turn south and begin a 3,000 mile journey to their overwintering grounds.

Unfortunately, this migration is at risk. The numbers completing the migration have fallen by 90% in the past two decades. In an attempt to curb this decline, scientists across North America are working to learn more about the monarch and its behavior.

While migrating in the fall, monarchs rest at night, often congregating in groups several hundred or thousand strong. The criteria which determine where monarchs form these overnight roost sites are not well understood.

How You Can Help:

1. Download the Collector for ArcGIS Application by scanning the QR Code below, from your Smartphone’s App Store, or from  umaine.edu/mainecoopunit/tools, and then Read and Accept the Terms of Use
2. Open the Monarch Model Validator Map
3. Navigate to One of the Designated Points of Interest, or Create a New One Anywhere You Choose
4. Fill Out and Submit the Short Survey About the Location You Have Chosen

Questions?

Contact the U-Maine researchers at: monarch-model-group@maine.edu

Return to top of page.

The Girl Scouts have organized a special epic outdoor adventure at select Maine State Parks on July 14!

Get your troop involved!

Come share your love of the great outdoors with your Girl Scouts on July 14 and revel in the magic and wonder of nature together. It’s the perfect chance to get some fresh air, see memorable sights, and get inspired. They can even bring a friend along for the ride—who doesn’t have to be a Girl Scout!

During your troop's epic state park adventure, girls can:

• Go on a guided nature walk
• Observe and learn about animal habitats
• Make new friends

So come on. It’s time to celebrate the outdoors Girl Scout style at Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park (Freeport), Mount Blue State Park (Weld), and Ferry Beach State Park (Saco)!

Check eBiz for all the details!

Remember to share the fun on social media using the hashtag #GSoutdoors.

(Photo: Jocelyn Hubbell of the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands with Samantha Lott Hale, Girls Scouts Program Director and Regional Office Supervisor at the Wicked Maine Outdoors Festival that benefited the Girl Scouts.)

Return to top of page.

Vegan Chickpea Curry

Enough cooked Basmati rice (prepared but kept warm) for 2 people
1 large or 2 smaller onions, chopped
3 gloves of garlic, whole or smashed with the flat side of a knife
Juice from ½ a lime (about 1/8 cup)
1 or 2 Tbsp Curry paste/powder
1 can (13.5oz) coconut milk
1 can (16oz) chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3 medium tomatoes (chopped) or a handful of cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh basil, chopped
1 tsp maple syrup or brown sugar

Instructions

1. Chop the onions, garlic and juice the lime.
2. Add oil to a large skill over low-medium heat, add the onions and heat until opaque (about 5 minutes). Add the garlic, heating for a couple more minutes.
3. Add 1 tbsp of the curry paste/powder and the coconut milk until the curry is dissolved. This is where you taste test! Is the curry to your liking? If not strong enough, add more. I, personally, have 2 tbsp of mild and 1 tbsp of hot!
4. Add the soy sauce and chickpeas, which have been drained and rinsed. Stir and cook on medium heat for around 5 minutes, bringing the curry to a soft boil, but don’t let it cook too long on medium.
5. Add the chopped tomatoes, basil, lime juice and syrup (or brown sugar). Stir, and let the curry gently simmer for another couple minutes and taste it again. This is when you can add more curry or soy sauce, syrup (or brown sugar). I have also added a couple tbsp of peanut butter, or fresh cubed mango, or crushed pineapple, or a good handful of cashews.
6. Stir your cooked rice and serve with papadoms or naan bread!

(Contributed by Jen Neumeyer, Boating Facilities Secretary, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.)

Return to top of page.

Text to Subscribe to Park Alerts!

You can now text to subscribe to receive condition alerts directly from the field by Androscoggin Riverlands State Park staff. Just text DACF ANDRO to 468311. This is the latest state park added to our Trail, Waterway & Beach Condition Alerts. View all locations.

Androcoggin Riverlands State Park is a destination park for the residents of the Lewiston/Auburn area. This popular recreational getaway offers a 2,675-acre expanse and 12 miles of river frontage. More than half of Maine’s population lives within an hour’s drive of this park, which is the fifth largest in the State. An extensive trail network and undeveloped lands offer abundant recreational opportunities and habitat for wildlife. The Park is part of the larger Androscoggin Greenway and the Androscoggin River Water Trail. View the park brochure.

Return to top of page.