Maine State Parks to Offer FIRST DAY HIKES on January 1, 2016. Guided Hikes FREE to All!!!

Maine State Parks,  along with other state parks around the country, are celebrating the New Year by offering 4 guided hikes on January 1, 2016.

Admission to First Day Hike attendees is free. 

Lily Bay State Park, Beaver Cove – 12 noon to 3:30 p.m.  Join us for a leisurely 3.5 mile hike through the woods and near the shoreline of majestic Moosehead Lake. We'll conclude the hike with a bonfire and hot beverages. Bring your own snacks. Wear warm clothes and sturdy boots or snowshoes. Meet at the entry booth parking lot. FMI: 695-2700

Popham Beach State Park, Phippsburg - 10:00 a.m. – An easy 1-mile hike on the Fox Island tombolo investigating tidal pools. Wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Meet at the side parking lot. FMI: 389-1335

Sebago Lake State Park, Casco - 10:00 a.m. – Join us for a leisurely 1.5 mile woodlands hike to investigate the wonders of the season. Snacks will be provided. Wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Meet at the day use area boat launch. FMI: 693-6231

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport - 2:00 p.m. – Join us for a leisurely 0.3 mile guided walk to enjoy 'Winter in the Woods' and learn how plants and animals survive the cold winter months. Wear warm clothes and sturdy footwear. Plan on one hour; no dogs please. Meet at the picnic shelter by the second parking lot. FMI: 865-4465

Explore the Season's Changes at Vaughan Woods State Park in South Berwick

Date: September 26 & 27, 2014 - part of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend!
Time: Saturday, Sept. 26: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Sunday,  Sept. 27: 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Vaughan Woods State Park, 28 Oldfields Road, South Berwick, ME 03908
Event Type: Family fun, easy, nature/wildlife appreciation, no dogs please, not wheel chair accessible.
Free with park admission fee. Registration is not required.

FMI: (207) 384-5160 Vaughan Woods State Park.
Join Vaughan Woods State Park staff and local experts for “Explore the Season’s Changes” – a program as part of the Great Maine Outdoor Weekend! Learn about:

• Fur Bearers & Adaptations
• Fish Migration Patterns
• Reasons for Fall Leaf Colors
• Impacts of Estuary Changes
• Names of Migrating Birds
  & MORE!

    Remember: Two chances to catch this great program at Vaughan Woods - on Saturday & Sunday!

SECOND ANNUAL CAST IRON COOK-OFF AT BRADBURY MOUNTAIN, Pownal, Maine

 

Be part of this fun event, register now!

POWNAL – The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands is holding their second annual Cast Iron Cook-off at Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, Maine on September 12, 2015.

Capitalizing on Maine’s perfect fall weather for camping, the booming popularity of cast iron cookery and the tradition of using cast iron to cook over a campfire, this day promises to be fun for all. Come and show off your cooking skills and win some great prizes! Not a cook? That’s OK! All park visitors and campers are welcome to watch the Cast Iron cooking and events on 9/12. Come early and see the Girl Scouts cooking to earn merit badges! Check out event competitors cooking setups and methods! See our local cast iron cooking expert, Registered Maine Guide and L.L. Bean employee Georgette Kanach, give a demonstration of how to cook with cast iron – sharing both her passion for cast iron cookery and tasty samples! Learn a bit of the history of cast iron cookware, as well as its proper care and cleaning, from Park Manager Fritz Appleby! Do you want to just have some fun? Enter into our cast iron skillet toss or bean bag toss for a chance to win a prize! New this year is a cast iron swap meet, open to all, at 9:30AM on September 12 at the day use group shelter.

“We are excited to have LL Bean, “Get Real. Get Maine!” and Wicked Joe Coffee on board as sponsors of the events! There will be some fantastic prizes and fun for all.” said Park Manager, Fritz Appleby.

Appleby went on to say “Cast iron cooking and camping are just a natural fit. The current boom in cast iron popularity and the renewed public interest will be enhanced at our event.”

How to Register

Contestants must be registered to camp at Bradbury Mountain State Park on the nights of September 11 and 12, 2015 and may not check in until after 1PM on the 11th.  The competition will be limited to 16 participants.  To register and reserve your spot to participate, please call Bradbury Mountain State Park at (207) 688-4712 by 5PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2015. After that, any available spots will be allocated on a “first come, first served” basis. There is no scheduled rain date.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to the top 3 winners as judged, by members of the Pownal Fire and Rescue unit, in each of the 3 categories of cooking: Appetizer, Entrée and Dessert. Contestants may compete in any and all of the 3 categories.

 

For more information on the Cast Iron Cookoff, Contact: Fritz Appleby, (207) 688-4712

 

For more information about this event, or other Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: www.maine.gov/bradburymountain or www.parksandlands.com

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf

August Events Announced for Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport, Maine.

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

August Events

 

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park426 Wolf Neck RoadFreeport, Maine 04032

Contact: Andy HutchinsonPhone/FAX: (207) 865-4465Date: July 29, 2015

For Immediate Release

(Please run daily through August 31st, 2015)

Freeport, Maine: Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park offers nature programs daily in August at 2:00 PM, through August 31. Nature programs start at the circle of benches at the end of the second parking lot unless otherwise noted and may include walks, talks, and activities in a beautiful natural setting. Programs last about one hour unless otherwise noted, weather permitting. 

No reservations are needed. Nature programs are free with park admission. Admission is $1.00 for ages 5-11; $3.00 for Maine residents ages 12-64; $4.50 for non-residents ages 12-64; $1.50 for non-residents 65 and older. Persons under 5 and Maine residents 65 and older are free. For more information or to arrange for group visits, please call 865-4465.

8/1 Welcome Tour – Get to know the things that live in the park's forest and on its shores on this eye-opening tour. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/2 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/3 Hike with the Ranger – Enjoy the best that the park has to offer in this season on a hike with a knowledgeable guide.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/4 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/5 The Shore Tour - Learn about our varied shores through talks, activities, and views along the accessible path. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/6 Small Wonders – Discover the extraordinary things that are right before your eyes.  Hand lenses provided. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/7 In the Pines – Tour the pine forest on our accessible path and see why Maine is the Pine Tree State. Wheelchair accessible.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/8 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/9 Tide Pools – Visit this informal program on the rocky shore near Googins Island to discover the secrets of a tide pool, any time between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.  Free with park admission.  Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

8/10 Casco Bay Walk – Enjoy views of islands and rocky shores on this one-mile walk along the beautiful Casco Bay trail. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/11 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/12 Secrets of the Shore – Discover the secrets of life in the salt marsh, mud flat, and rocky shore. 2:00 PM, meet at the semicircle of benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/13 Dragonflies & Damselflies – Learn about these amazing insects in fact and folklore. 2:00 PM, meet at the semicircle of benches by the second parking lot, 1hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/14 Know Your Neighbors – Get to know the various ecological communities at the park. 2:00 PM, meet at the semicircle of benches by the second parking lot, 1hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/15 Stroll with the Ranger – Take a relaxed tour with the ranger on our wheelchair-accessible path. Wheelchair accessible.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/16 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/17 Tiny Pioneers – Discover the wild, fascinating micro-world of the mosses and lichens that surround us. Hand lenses provided. Free with park admission. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/18 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/19 Forest Detective – The forest is an open book, if you know how to read it. Learn how on this fascinating tour of natural history. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/20 Fond of Fronds – Come to identify and understand the multitude of fern and moss species that inhabit our forests. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/21 Tree Hunt – Stop by the benches to get your papers for this fun, self-guiding hunt, and then come back afterwards to see how well you did. Wheelchair accessible.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/22 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/23 Stories in Stone – Get to know the story of Maine’s rockbound coast on this walk with talks and activities. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/24 Edge of the Sea – Enjoy walk, short talks, and activities on the natural history and ecology of our varied shore. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/25 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/26 Casco Bay Walk – Enjoy views of islands and rocky shores on this one-mile walk along the beautiful Casco Bay trail. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/27 Tide Pools – Visit this informal program on the rocky shore near Googins Island to discover the secrets of a tide pool, any time between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., weather permitting.  Free with park admission.  Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport.  865-4465.

8/28 Secrets of the Shore - Discover the secrets of life in the salt marsh, mud flat, and rocky shore. 2:00 PM, meet at the semicircle of benches by the second parking lot, 1hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/29 Know Your Neighbors – Get to know the various ecological communities at the park. 2:00 PM, meet at the semicircle of benches by the second parking lot, 1hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/30 Osprey Watch – Get a close look at one of the osprey nests and osprey families, weather permitting.  2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible.  Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

8/31 Wild Relatives – Everyone has them!  Get acquainted with the wild relatives of things in and around your home on this tour. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.  

 

Wolfe's Neck State Park is

1 hour and 25 minutes north east of Lebanon Maine via Route 295.

A GREAT place to go with the family!!!

 

 

 

   

For more information, please call the park at (207) 865-4465, or visit us online: www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods

Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and ForestryBureau of Parks and Lands / Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park

www.parksandlands.com

Maine Department of Agriculture Offers SURF FISHING Program at Several Popular Maine State Parks!!

Summer Nature Exploration for Kids Every Sunday at Wolf's Neck State Park

 

FREEPORT, MAINE ­­– Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is offering a new series of public programs designed for children ages 7-10 and their caregivers.

These new programs focus on hands-on nature discovery and nature awareness. Programs will include projects and experiments, active games involving stealth and creativity, and multi-sensory exploration.

Summer Nature Explorations invites any kids who want to get to know the plants and animals of the park better, or who just want to feel more at home in the natural world, to come to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park.

Programs are one hour long and are free with park admission. They take place on Sunday afternoons from July 7 through August 30 at 1:00 pm. Kids and their caregivers are welcome to come to one, several, or all programs.

Please preregister by calling the park at 207-865-4465. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is located on Wolf Neck Road in Freeport, ME.

For more information about the park, go to www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods. For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, go to http://www.parksandlands.com.

Maine Opens Doors To State Parks and Historic Sites FREE to Maine Residents on Father's Day!

 

Maine residents free admission to state parks on Father’s Day   

Press Release

AUGUSTA, Maine — All Maine State Parks and historic sites will treat Maine residents to a free admission on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 16, 2013.
“I encourage Maine families to explore and enjoy our wide variety of State Parks and historic sites on Father’s Day. There is a lot to see, and all visits are affordable every day, especially Father Day,” said Governor Paul R. LePage.
Commission of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Commissioner Walt Whitcomb was equally enthusiastic. “June is ‘Get Outdoors Month’ and Maine State Parks get you out there. Our park staff and devoted volunteers have the parks ready for visitors. Father’s Day could be a lot of fun at any of our parks and historic sites,” said Whitcomb.
DACF Division of Parks and Lands Director Will Harris encouraged Maine residents and visitors alike to explore the many offerings provided by Maine State Parks. “Each of our state parks and historic sites have programs suited for all ages and cover a wide range of outdoor interests. Many are using our Maine State Park Passport program as an incentive to visit all the parks, and the addition of our new Geocaching feature is very popular. We hope everybody comes out and has fun,” said Harris.
The details of the free parks admission are: Maine Residents Day, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday, June 16; all vehicles bearing Maine license plates will be allowed free entrance to Maine state parks and historic sites. No rain date will be available. The open admission does not apply to Baxter State Park or the Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect, though admission to Fort Knox State Historic Site will be free that day.
For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com
For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to:http://www.maine.gov/acf