50 Events Celebrating 50 Years

Throughout 2009, you'll be invited to join us for hikes, canoe paddles, bird walks, film showings,
and more, in celebration of NRCM's 50th years protecting, conserving, and restoring Maine's environment.

Check back often to learn of upcoming events and activities for you and your family. For a list of all 50th anniversary events, click here.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Brownie and Ken will meet you at 8:30 a.m. at the Beech Mountain Trail Head. You access the trail head from the parking area at the southern end of Beech Hill Road. The beginning of this road is just south of Somesville, north of Echo Lake on Route 102.

Follow these links to directions to the trail head and more information on Beech Mountain.

Register today or contact Gretta Wark at gwark@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0108 for more information.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Join Brownie Carson, NRCM's executive director for a talk entitled, “50 Years of Environmental Protection for Maine: What We’ve Learned, What’s Next.” This year is NRCM’s 50th anniversary year and Brownie will share landmark victories from NRCM’s past, including those affecting Acadia and the down east coast. He will also talk about what has become one of Maine’s highest profile conservation issues – Plum Creek’s massive development proposal for the Moosehead Lake area. The presentation will feature images of Maine’s natural beauty and actions people can take to protect our environment, wildlife, and people.

The Schoodic Lecture Series is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Acadia National Park, Acadia Partners for Science and Learning, and Friends of Acadia. The lecture will start at 7:00 p.m. at the Moore Auditorium on the campus of the Schoodic Education and Research Center.

If you have questions about this event, please contact Gretta Wark at (207) 430-0108.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Join us as we paddle down the Kennebec River from Sidney to Augusta in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the removal of Edwards Dam.

NRCM staff members Diano Circo and Nick Bennett will meet you in Sidney at 9:00 a.m. to begin this trip, which ends in Augusta. Please bring your own canoe or kayak and join us on the Kennebec!

RSVP is required and space is limited. Register today!

Please note: Due to heavy rains resulting in high and fast-moving water on the Kennebec, this paddle may be postponed until August 15. If you register, we will notify you in advance if the trip needs to be rescheduled.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Black-backed Woodpecker

Birding at Moosehead with Bob Duchesne. Moosehead Lake boasts a variety of habitats that create some of the best bird diversity in the state. These species, more common to the boreal forest of Canada, draw bird enthusiasts to Maine from far and wide. These Maine specialties include Boreal Chickadees, Gray Jays, Spruce Grouse, and a variety of warblers, thrushes, and other songbirds.

We will leave from North Woods Outfitters (click here for directions) at 7:30 a.m.

Trip Leader: Bob Duchesne is a top-notch birder and popular bird trip leader. His book, Maine Birding Trail, was recently published. Bob has led trips throughout Maine and knows all of the Moosehead birding hotspots. He will be joined by his wife Sandi, also an experienced birder and trip leader.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Do you want to learn more about wind power in Maine from fellow Mainers with firsthand information? NRCM is sponsoring an educational wind power forum in Houlton.

Come hear what Mainers have to say about their specific and extensive experiences with wind power in the state. The panel discussion will take place at 6:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.) at the Houlton Southside School. The discussion will provide an opportunity for local community members to learn more about wind power in Maine.

Presentations will be followed by a question and answer session. This is a timely opportunity to learn more and have your questions about wind power in Maine answered.

Have questions about this event? Please contact Emmie Theberge at emmie@nrcm.org. Also, please RSVP for this event to Emmie as well.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Hike Ragged Mountain with John Gibson, author of 50 Hikes in Southern and Coastal Maine. John will lead a mountain hike to the summit of Ragged Mountain, which offers spectacular views.

This event is free and open to the public but space is limited to 12 people. Please RSVP to Stacie Haines at (207) 430-0127. The hike begins at 10:30 a.m.

What to bring: Water, lunch, sunscreen, and wearing boots is recommended.

** Rain date will be Sunday, July 26.

Friday-Sunday, September 25-27, 2009

Friday, September 25, 2009

Thursday, November 12

NRCM is co-hosting a presentation, By a Maine River – A Year of Looking Closely, with the Maine Tree State Arboretum, as part of the Arboretum’s Maine Author Series. The presentation, by Thomas Mark Szelog and Lee Ann Szelog, is based on their new book by the same name.

The Szelogs, authors of the award-winning book, Our Point of View – Fourteen Years at a Maine Lighthouse - document with photos and writings their experience looking closely at their 70 acres of the Maine woods through the passage of one full year. Tom set himself a challenge of finding and photographing—within the confines of their property—at least one interesting, surprising, beautiful, or memorable wildlife or nature image every week, for an entire year. The result is an unusual visual journal, a personal almanac, a keepsake unique to one time and one place yet conveying a universal message: we are not the only beings making a living from this land.

In this presentation, Lee Ann and Tom Szelog help us slow down and take a look at the world around us.  

The event includes a book signing and is free and open to the public. Refreshments provided. The start time for this evening event will be announced soon.