Federal shutdown impacts, Stars Over Katahdin wrap-up, fall education program highlights, gate closures, and more…
Setting up camp before Stars Over Katahdin, September 23rd. Photo credit: Justin Miller
It is a difficult moment for our national parks, the dedicated workforce of the National Park Service who are nearly all currently furloughed, and for our gateway communities. Please know that Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, like philanthropic park partners across the country, is working in creative and responsive ways to support this special place and all who care for it. Your care and concern for the national monument is powerful, and your donations, advocacy, and support of regional businesses makes a difference!
Below is a frank update from Friends’ Executive Director Brian Hinrichs. Please reach out if you have additional questions or thoughts to share. Finally – enjoy this stunning image of Katahdin rising beyond the vibrant foliage of the national monument – a reminder to pause and appreciate the beauty that surrounds here in the Katahdin region, and throughout our country – from vast landscapes to tiny parks. Thanks for caring for them.
A Message from Friends’ Executive Director Brian Hinrichs
Friends,
We are entering day 30 of the federal government shutdown. After Friends provided emergency funding to keep Tekαkαpimək Contact Station open for two critical weekends, the building is now closed for the season. The monument’s roads, trails, and overlooks remain mostly open, but services and maintenance are limited – and the regular seasonal closure of Loop Road is approaching on November 3rd. Please be extra cautious if you’re planning a trip into the monument.
What does this all mean?
We have our immediate concerns and questions about the shutdown. How are furloughed NPS staff doing, now that they’ve missed multiple paychecks, and with no end in sight? Has any damage occurred to the natural and cultural resources within the monument, as it remains open but with just one person monitoring nearly 90,000 acres? Will those potential visitors who cancelled plans or drove in to find locked doors return in the future? And what about the park projects that are now stalled, is there any hope they get done before the snow flies?
Our biggest concern, though, is that this moment fits a trend that has been accelerating over the last 10 months: long-term damage to the National Park Service workforce. NPS year-round staffing is already down 24% after firings, retirements, and buyouts, and seasonal positions were only filled with a 60% success rate this year. What will that hiring look like next year and beyond? Who will sign up for the constant threats of a “reduction in force”, missed paychecks, and job descriptions that expand with each passing day? The morale of current park staff has been severely damaged all year, and it is hard not to see the very mission of NPS as being under attack.
So it begs the question, what can we do now? Shutdown or no shutdown, we need to prevent further cuts and restore funding and staffing to the National Park Service. That is a message you can bring to your elected federal officials. At Friends, this is what we are advocating for, while we assess this rapidly changing landscape for park partners like us. In the meantime, we will continue to serve our community by inspiring the future stewards of this special place and bringing people together to appreciate the beauty, history, and future of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
In gratitude,
Stars Over Katahdin – A Night of Wonder and Learning
Click image to view full gallery of images! Photo credit: JM Naturescapes/Justin Miller
Can you believe it? More than a month has passed since we gathered for the 12th annual Stars Over Katahdin! The moon is again waxing, and our hearts remain full with gratitude for everyone who made this night so special. If you were among the estimated 400 people who showed up to experience the magic, are one of our amazing corporate or nonprofit sponsors underwriting the event, or provided the cultural and scientific activities that delighted and educated the crowds – thank you!
I have been to many sky watches and I have to say that these were the most polite and respectful group of folks I have ever dealt with. …they were engaging, testing my knowledge on a variety of topics…I walked away realizing that the night sky is ingrained in the local culture with their passion. -Rich Demidio, volunteer astronomer
If you are inspired to learn more or take action to protect this spectacular resource, check out the links below to get started – and if you have further questions about stargazing or have a special moment to share from that night, let me know by replying to this email.
⭐Dark Sky Maine – Promotes an appreciation of the night sky through education and by supporting measures that use appropriate lighting to provide security on the ground, promote the health of humans and nocturnal wildlife, while maintaining dark skies overhead.
⭐International Dark Sky Association – Restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
Gathering at the campsite before a night of stargazing. Photo credit: Justin Miller
By October, Friends’ place-based education program, Katahdin Learning Project, is back in full swing with regular school programming, visiting classrooms from Patten to Millinocket. Fall is the busiest time of year for KLP, with the schedule of programs through January filling almost as soon as registration opened! We know our students and teachers value these programs, and education staff are just as excited to reconnect with familiar students and meet new faces in the fresh outdoor air. Alongside school visits, in September, 18 local middle and high school kids had a blast at the annual Stars Over Katahdin youth camping trip, where students make memories and friends at a just-for-them dark skies experience.
Fall programming is Education Coordinator Elise Goplerud’s favorite time for KLP. “The crisp weather, chance to reconnect with students after the summer, and endless opportunities for learning make it a special time of year.” Recently, Elise spent the day teaching teens in Millinocket all about fire. Students in the high school’s Outdoor Ed II class practiced building fires safely from materials found on the land – no easy feat on a rainy and windy day, but they succeeded before the bell rang! The class took away the value of learning tree species, Leave No Trace principles, and weather awareness from the experience. Later, an English class recalled the fire as inspiration for a writing exercise, and a final group learned to cook over both flames and coals.
Another recent lesson brought first graders out the back door of the school and into the woods outside to practice observation and awareness skills – with plenty of time and opportunity to touch and smell fall flora and say hello to two spotted salamanders found peeking out of the forest duff.
Built with intention, outdoor lessons like these nurture connections with nature while linking classroom learning and practical life skills. Place-based education at its best!
2025 saw Tekαkαpimək Contact Station come to life – inspiring and educating visitors of all ages! Photo credit: bottom right James Florio, others FKWW
An incredible first season of visitation at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station came to a bittersweet end on Monday, October 13 – Indigenous People’s Day. The federal shutdown had forced the closure of the contact station and the furloughing all but one law enforcement ranger at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on October 1st. Friends’ board of directors voted to grant a special one-time donation to keep Tekαkαpimək open and staffed for two weekends in early October, one of the most popular times to visit. Although saddened by the shutdown, we are grateful. Your support made a quick response possible – providing safety, visitation support, and learning the to the hundreds of visitors to the Katahdin region during peak foliage season.
Above are some of our favorite scenes from the summer: Teacher Camp in June, Firefly the Hybrid perfoming on Woods & Waters Day, and a family immersed in the interactive exhibits. Although 2025 has brought some unexpected and frustrating twists including an abrupt end to the summer season, we remain excited for the future and will continue to keep our community up-to-date through this eNewsletter, social media, and friendsofkww.org/blog.
Gates will swing closed for the season next week. Photo credit: Taylor Walker
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Be advised that during the federal shutdown, parklands remain “as accessible as possible” with services limited or unavailable. Information from the Department of the Interior can be found at doi.gov/shutdown.
Hunting is allowed in KAWW east of the East Branch of the Penobscot only. Hunters must observe all Maine state hunting laws, and rules and maps specific to the monument may be found at nps.gov/KAWWhunting
Gates will close on or around Saturday, November 1. As they do each November, gates on the Swift Brook Road and Old River Road (north and south monument entrances) will close to vehicular traffic for the winter season. Foot travel is not restricted at any time.
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
Thank you to our Deasey level sponsor Trust for Public Land! TPL believes that access to nature is essential to our happiness, health, and well-being. They are partnering with communities across the country, creating thousands of parks and protecting millions of acres of public land where it’s needed most.
Events like Stars Over Katahdin are possible with the support of all our yearly sponsors at every level. If you do business with one of our sponsors, please tell them you appreciate their support!Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn how your organization can be a sponsor in 2026, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on October 29, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
Fall into the outdoors – October eNews
Posted: November 5, 2025 by Sarah Andre
Federal shutdown impacts, Stars Over Katahdin wrap-up, fall education program highlights, gate closures, and more…
It is a difficult moment for our national parks, the dedicated workforce of the National Park Service who are nearly all currently furloughed, and for our gateway communities. Please know that Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, like philanthropic park partners across the country, is working in creative and responsive ways to support this special place and all who care for it. Your care and concern for the national monument is powerful, and your donations, advocacy, and support of regional businesses makes a difference!
Below is a frank update from Friends’ Executive Director Brian Hinrichs. Please reach out if you have additional questions or thoughts to share. Finally – enjoy this stunning image of Katahdin rising beyond the vibrant foliage of the national monument – a reminder to pause and appreciate the beauty that surrounds here in the Katahdin region, and throughout our country – from vast landscapes to tiny parks. Thanks for caring for them.
A Message from Friends’ Executive Director Brian Hinrichs
Friends,
What does this all mean?
We have our immediate concerns and questions about the shutdown. How are furloughed NPS staff doing, now that they’ve missed multiple paychecks, and with no end in sight? Has any damage occurred to the natural and cultural resources within the monument, as it remains open but with just one person monitoring nearly 90,000 acres? Will those potential visitors who cancelled plans or drove in to find locked doors return in the future? And what about the park projects that are now stalled, is there any hope they get done before the snow flies?
Our biggest concern, though, is that this moment fits a trend that has been accelerating over the last 10 months: long-term damage to the National Park Service workforce. NPS year-round staffing is already down 24% after firings, retirements, and buyouts, and seasonal positions were only filled with a 60% success rate this year. What will that hiring look like next year and beyond? Who will sign up for the constant threats of a “reduction in force”, missed paychecks, and job descriptions that expand with each passing day? The morale of current park staff has been severely damaged all year, and it is hard not to see the very mission of NPS as being under attack.
So it begs the question, what can we do now? Shutdown or no shutdown, we need to prevent further cuts and restore funding and staffing to the National Park Service. That is a message you can bring to your elected federal officials. At Friends, this is what we are advocating for, while we assess this rapidly changing landscape for park partners like us. In the meantime, we will continue to serve our community by inspiring the future stewards of this special place and bringing people together to appreciate the beauty, history, and future of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.
In gratitude,
Stars Over Katahdin – A Night of Wonder and Learning
Can you believe it? More than a month has passed since we gathered for the 12th annual Stars Over Katahdin! The moon is again waxing, and our hearts remain full with gratitude for everyone who made this night so special. If you were among the estimated 400 people who showed up to experience the magic, are one of our amazing corporate or nonprofit sponsors underwriting the event, or provided the cultural and scientific activities that delighted and educated the crowds – thank you!
If you are inspired to learn more or take action to protect this spectacular resource, check out the links below to get started – and if you have further questions about stargazing or have a special moment to share from that night, let me know by replying to this email.
⭐Dark Sky Maine – Promotes an appreciation of the night sky through education and by supporting measures that use appropriate lighting to provide security on the ground, promote the health of humans and nocturnal wildlife, while maintaining dark skies overhead.
⭐International Dark Sky Association – Restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.
⭐National Park Service Virtual Resources:
⭐Plus, be sure to check out our Stars Over Katahdin photo album on Facebook – beautifully shot by JM Naturescapes. We’re already excited to start planning next year’s event!
Back to School with Katahdin Learning Project
By October, Friends’ place-based education program, Katahdin Learning Project, is back in full swing with regular school programming, visiting classrooms from Patten to Millinocket. Fall is the busiest time of year for KLP, with the schedule of programs through January filling almost as soon as registration opened! We know our students and teachers value these programs, and education staff are just as excited to reconnect with familiar students and meet new faces in the fresh outdoor air. Alongside school visits, in September, 18 local middle and high school kids had a blast at the annual Stars Over Katahdin youth camping trip, where students make memories and friends at a just-for-them dark skies experience.
Fall programming is Education Coordinator Elise Goplerud’s favorite time for KLP. “The crisp weather, chance to reconnect with students after the summer, and endless opportunities for learning make it a special time of year.” Recently, Elise spent the day teaching teens in Millinocket all about fire. Students in the high school’s Outdoor Ed II class practiced building fires safely from materials found on the land – no easy feat on a rainy and windy day, but they succeeded before the bell rang! The class took away the value of learning tree species, Leave No Trace principles, and weather awareness from the experience. Later, an English class recalled the fire as inspiration for a writing exercise, and a final group learned to cook over both flames and coals.
Built with intention, outdoor lessons like these nurture connections with nature while linking classroom learning and practical life skills. Place-based education at its best!
Click here to learn more about outdoor education programs and view the KLP catalog.
Tekαkαpimək Inaugural Season Closes
An incredible first season of visitation at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station came to a bittersweet end on Monday, October 13 – Indigenous People’s Day. The federal shutdown had forced the closure of the contact station and the furloughing all but one law enforcement ranger at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on October 1st. Friends’ board of directors voted to grant a special one-time donation to keep Tekαkαpimək open and staffed for two weekends in early October, one of the most popular times to visit. Although saddened by the shutdown, we are grateful. Your support made a quick response possible – providing safety, visitation support, and learning the to the hundreds of visitors to the Katahdin region during peak foliage season.
Above are some of our favorite scenes from the summer: Teacher Camp in June, Firefly the Hybrid perfoming on Woods & Waters Day, and a family immersed in the interactive exhibits. Although 2025 has brought some unexpected and frustrating twists including an abrupt end to the summer season, we remain excited for the future and will continue to keep our community up-to-date through this eNewsletter, social media, and friendsofkww.org/blog.
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
Sponsor Spotlight
Thank you to our Deasey level sponsor Trust for Public Land! TPL believes that access to nature is essential to our happiness, health, and well-being. They are partnering with communities across the country, creating thousands of parks and protecting millions of acres of public land where it’s needed most.
Events like Stars Over Katahdin are possible with the support of all our yearly sponsors at every level. If you do business with one of our sponsors, please tell them you appreciate their support!.png)
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn how your organization can be a sponsor in 2026, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on October 29, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
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