Events & News
Andy is greeted by Eagle Island Manager Owen Blease; Island staff Jenna and Chloe at the visitor gangway; the historic summer home of North Pole Explorer Admiral Robert Peary.
As my friend Rich and I paddled our sea kayaks out into Casco Bay on July 4th, he turned and asked, ‘so is this a work day or a play day for you?” I hadn’t really thought about it, and the uncertainty of my response made me smile. If the boundaries are occasionally blurred between work and play, I must have a great job! Our destination that day was Eagle Island State Historic Site, about two miles off the coast of Harpswell. The island is the former summer residence of Arctic explorer Admiral Robert Peary and his family, and the Peary home is well preserved to reflect conditions from a century ago. In fact, the site is now a National Historic Landmark, and Park Manager Owen Blease and Assistant Rangers Jenna Grossbarth and Chloe Kilborn do a fabulous job of maintaining the grounds and working with the Friends of Peary’s Eagle Island to welcome more than 4,500 visitors a year.
Eagle Island is one of nearly 70 coastal islands owned by the Bureau of Parks and Lands. The combination of recreational resources (e.g., campsites, beaches, trails) and ecological assets (e.g., nesting bird islands) make this stunning network of islands a true Maine treasure. Roughly 50 of the Bureau’s islands are managed through cooperative agreement with the Maine Island Trail Association, which provides outstanding stewardship and monitoring services to the state. I first camped on a MITA site more than 20 years ago, and as interest and demand has increased, the island ‘trail’ continues to grow and now covers more than 200 sites on public and private land. Late summer and early fall are great times to explore some of these places, so chart your course, be safe on the water, and have fun!
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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared August Tree Check Month; and asks you to be on the lookout for the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB).
It is important to look during August because this is when the ALB starts to emerge from trees. Continue reading article.
Asian Longhorned Beetle picture and identification details.
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The Town of Fort Kent celebrates its sesquicentennial year beginning August 3rd through Sunday, August 11th.
The Fort Kent Blockhouse will be open to visitors and the blockhouse wall will be the site of the August 8th noontime ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the levee extension project.
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Orange-Vanilla French Toast
- 1 Tbsp of Butter
- 4 slices of thick cut, day old, bread
- 3 eggs, beaten in a shallow dish
- 2 Tbsp of milk, cream or ½&½
- Juice & zest from a large orange
- 4 Tbsp of Brown Sugar
Leave out the bread slices the day before to dry because crusty bread makes the best French toast!
Add the butter to a cast iron skill, over med-low heat. Add the milk/cream to the beaten eggs in the shallow dish, add a Tbsp of the orange juice & zest. Mix until blended. Dip a bread slice in the egg mixture, soaking both sides. Before you set the bread on the skillet, add a sprinkle of the brown sugar, spreading to the edges. Watch carefully that the sugar doesn’t burn before it has a chance to caramelize. Once one side is golden brown (or to your liking) flip it, again watch it so it doesn’t burn. Cut and arrange on plate. I serve mine with either almonds or pecans and homemade whipped cream.
(Contributed by Jen Neumeyer, Boating Facilities Secretary, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.)
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The 2020 Maine State Park Pass will go on sale on August 15th. It is a great deal because the 2020 Park Pass is good for the remainder of 2019 and all of 2020; that's sixteen months for the price of twelve months! And, three of the season passes are collector's items - the Individual, Vehicle and Senior Vehicle passes are emblazoned with the Maine Bicentennial logo! Get yours ASAP!
Purchase Your 2020 Park Pass:
Please note that Maine State Park Passes are:
- Not accepted at Acadia National Park, Allagash Wilderness Waterway, Baxter State Park, Maine Wildlife Park, Peacock Beach, Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Penobscot River Corridor, Scarborough Beach, the Songo Lock, or Swan Island.
- For day-use only and does not include camping.
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Classroom campground created by Josh LaPrell's Montello School Kindergartners.
Josh LaPrell's kindergarten class at Montello School in Lewiston, Maine turned their classroom into a campground. They created a tenting area, complete with trees and “grass” for a carpet (which became the classroom library), a cabin area, and a picnic area. Wood siding was even added to the bulletin board to make it fit the campground theme.
In addition to learning in their camping environment each day, they also took part in some camping activities. They roasted marshmallows, which 9 out of 14 of the students had never done before. They then turned those marshmallows into s’mores!
The kindergartners did a camping research project, and learned all about camping, the associated activities and traditions, and the necessary gear and skills. For all but 2 of the students, camping was brand new to them; they had never even been in a tent before they joined Josh LaPrell's classroom.
(Photos courtesy of Josh LaPrell and his kindergarten class.)
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Make a difference! Monitor wild water quality, build bridges, monitor wildlife.
Volunteering with the Maine Conservation Corps is an easy, fun way to get outside, give back to your community, meet new people, and learn about the conservation efforts in Maine! No previous experience is necessary.
Opportunities throughout Maine – Join us!
For more information contact MCC Community Outreach Coordinator, Chantelle Hay.
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Do you know somebody at least 17 Years old that would like to get paid, earn an education award, and gain hands on skills, all while having an amazing adventure? The Maine Conservation Corps is seeking individuals for Field Team Member positions starting August 26th and going through October 18th, 2019!
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Pleasant River campsite at Gulf Hagas and view of the river from the site.
The first Upper Kennebec Region Management Plan has been adopted, after more than two years of effort on the part of the plan’s Advisory Committee and Bureau staff, and with extensive input from the public. The fifteen-year Plan addresses more than 43,000 acres of Public Reserved Lands which include the Holeb Unit west of Jackman, site of the famous Moose River Bow Trip, and the Cold Stream Forest Unit, acquired by the State in 2016 and extending north from the Kennebec River in The Forks.
Currently in development, as part of 5-year reviews of the Central Penobscot Region and Eastern Interior Region Management Plans, are plans for two other Public Land parcels acquired in 2016. These are the:
- Gulf Hagas tract, 1,264 acres in Bowdoin College Grant East Twp., and the
- Orient tract, 5,992 acres in the Town of Orient, on East Grand Lake.
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Before and after shots of the Oosoola boat launch in Norridgewock.
The Town of Norridgewock recently received a grant from the Boating Facilities Fund Grant Program. This allowed the town to replace damaged planks, place riprap around the ramp and install an ADA parking space at the Oosoola boat launch.
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The Augusta Symphony Orchestra of Maine will perform the Allagash Suite at LL Bean, Freeport on Sunday August 4th from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the flagship store's outdoor stage near the LL Bean boot. This free concert is part of the LL Bean summer concert series.
The Allagash Suite brings the Allagash Wilderness Waterway alive through a musical adventure that transports the listener on a vicarious trip down the Waterway. Sometimes rollicking, as when the locomotives sound off, loggers are fast at work, or through vocalizations of creatures of the Allagash, the suite is grand fun and joyous throughout. Even the peaceful Campfire Lullaby has a joyous lilt.
Those who have paddled the Waterway may find themselves transported back to their own journeys. For its composer, Nate Saunders, this music depicts his boyhood paddle of the Allagash. As a musician, violin maker, and Registered Maine Guide, Nate shares his adventure and love of the Waterway through his music.
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Almost Midnight by Paul Doiron
Warden Investigator Mike Bowditch is at it again much to the delight of fans of this fictional crime series set in Maine.
A strange summons from Billy Cronk, one of Mike's oldest friends and a man he had to reluctantly put behind bars for murder, arrives while Mike is on a fishing vacation. Billy wants him to investigate a new female prison guard with a mysterious past, and Mike feels honor-bound to help his friend. But when the guard becomes the victim in a brutal attack at the prison, he realizes there may be a darker cover-up at play and that Billy and his family might be at risk.
Then Mike receives a second call for help... leaving him with not one but two mysteries to solve.
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Maine: The Pine Tree State by John Hamilton
Visit Portland Head Lighthouse, hike the world-famous Appalachian Trail, camp on Mount Desert Island, attend the Great Falls Balloon Festival, sail windjammers in the Great Schooner Race, and more as you read about Maine's history, plants and animals, industries, sports, cities, famous people, and more in this fun, fact-filled book. Photos, illustrations, and maps supplement the text. For grades 4-7.
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A Maine Bicentennial Commemorative license plate is a great way to show your support for the State's first 200 years plus contribute funding to the state-wide celebratory events at the same time! Most of the $25 fee goes toward the anniversary events.
Order one online ($2 service fee applies) or get one through your local Bureau of Motor Vehicles Branch Office.
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Bradbury Mt. State Park - Pownal
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site - Bristol
Holbrook Island Sanctuary - Brooksville
Lake Saint George - Liberty
Popham Beach State Park
Reid State Park - Georgetown
Wolfe's Neck Woods - Freeport
- August 1, 2019 : Guided Tree Hunt
- August 2, 2019 : Stroll With the Ranger
- August 3, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 4, 2019 : Forest Detective
- August 5, 2019 : Hike with the Ranger
- August 6, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 7, 2019 : Forest Detective
- August 8, 2019 : Surf Fishing Program
- August 9, 2019 : Stories in Stone
- August 10, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 11, 2019 : Steamer Dig
- August 12, 2019 : Secrets of the Shore
- August 13, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 14, 2019 : Stroll With the Ranger
- August 15, 2019 : Maine Mammals
- August 16, 2019 : Guided Tree Hunt
- August 17, 2019 : Vacation Planner
- August 18, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 19, 2019 : Hike with the Ranger
- August 20, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 21, 2019 : Guided Tree Hunt
- August 22, 2019 : Stories in Stone
- August 23, 2019 : Forest Detective
- August 24, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 25, 2019 : Stroll With the Ranger
- August 26, 2019 : Secrets of the Shore
- August 27, 2019 : Osprey Watch
- August 28, 2019 : Casco Bay Walk
- August 29, 2019 : Stories in Stone
- August 30, 2019 : Hike with the Ranger
- August 31, 2019 : Guided Tree Hunt
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Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
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