Explore Maine's Federal Lands
Books by NRCM Members
Summer Jumble
Members Discounts & More!
Explore Maine's Federal Lands: Natural, National Treasures
Summer in Maine is famously short. We want to take advantage of every glorious day. In preparation for it, we pull together our Explore Maine publication, with the goal of inspiring you to get out and discover new and exciting places in Maine’s environment. NRCM staff and members once again did not disappoint, sharing a few of their picks based on opportunities provided by federally protected lands located right here in Maine. We also provide options for your summer reading list, the best part of which is that the books we feature have been written by our own supporters! As always, this year’s include everything from an award-winning children’s book to home-grown mysteries to conservation success stories to naturebased creative nonfiction—all thoughtfully reviewed by NRCM staff and members. We hope you enjoy this publication as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. See you outside!
—Allison Wells, Editor, Senior Director of Communications
Maine’s Acadia National Park is a popular hotspot for Mainers and visitors alike. But did you know Maine also hosts other protected federal lands that make great exploration destinations? Located throughout the state, these federally protected areas are great escapes for a wide range of usage. It’s more important than ever to show your support right now for these lands.
Time to start putting together your summer reading list, and NRCM members can help. Find great books for you and your whole family, written by NRCM members. This year's books include fiction, children's books, poetry, and nonfiction. There's something for everyone!
We have shared crossword puzzles, word searches, and other fun activities in past Explore Maine newsletters, and this year, we have another fun summer word jumble for you to do! If you get stuck, email us for the answers at nrcm@nrcm.org. If you complete the puzzle, take a photo or email it to us at that same address for your chance to win some NRCM swag!
Get one of our limited-edition caps or t-shirts featuring our new logo! Visit our online NRCM gear shop to get your caps, tees, & more!
Use our Explore Maine map to find great places to hike, canoe, bird watch, snowshoe, & more on Maine's public lands and special places. We've recently added some accessible trails, with more coming soon! Do you know of an accessible trail we could add to our map? If so, please email us at nrcm@nrcm.org.
There’s nothing better than spending time in the woods or on a lake or pond this time of year. Many Maine sporting camps & guide services, and a rowing company in Belfast, offer great discounts to NRCM members as a way to promote their business while providing us an opportunity to thank our members for supporting our work. Learn more & get your voucher today.
Featured Apps: Merlin & eBird
“I’m so grateful to have Merlin and eBird with me in the field. As a relatively new birder, Merlin has been essential for helping me identify birds—its sound recognition and step-by-step ID tool are incredibly useful and beginner-friendly. I also love that any birds I submit in Merlin are automatically added
to my eBird life list. eBird is especially great for group outings. When I go birding with my mom, we use the share function so only one of us needs to log our sightings—and then we can easily send the list to the other afterward. I highly recommend both Merlin and eBird to all birders and encourage everyone to spread the word about these fantastic apps!” —Kate Phillips, NRCM Advocacy Associate
Are you an author? Artist? Musician? Nature-based business owner?
If so, we invite you to send us information about your work so we can consider it for our 2025 edition of Explore Maine.
Banner photo: The 100 Mile Wilderness, courtesy of Anya Fetcher
