What’s New

Winter melts into spring, lynx kittens, outdoor skills fun, Friends’ upcoming events, and more…

Some seasonal transitions occur over the lapsing of days or weeks, as with the gentle warming of soil in late May or the buildup of goldenrod fluff on our sweaters after several fall hikes. Other times, nature throws out a plot twist. After a historically low snow year, the Katahdin region received up to 30 inches of fresh snow at the end of March! A brief late season gift to skiers and snowshoers, the fresh powder began succumbing to strong sunshine and then rain almost immediately. It may look like winter on the ground, but it sounds like spring: drip, drip, squish, squelch. Maine’s infamous Mud Season will be in force soon.

In light of the very seasonal wetness, please heed the advice of national, state, and local authorities and take safety precautions if you are traveling to view the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th. Find the latest statewide information on the VisitMaine Solar Eclipse page. The National Park Service Rangers will be at family-friendly events all eclipse weekend around the region. Find details at the KAWW Eclipse page and listed below.

Looking a little further ahead, we have several exciting dates to announce! Find dates below and plan to join us for a casual member “meet and greet” at a pub near you–and mark your calendar for August 17th for the Grand Opening of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and Woods and Waters Day!

Also this month, in Priority Park Progress we highlight an important scientific project funded by the A Monumental Welcome capital campaign and share news from the Katahdin Learning Project. Don’t miss Behind the Signs for updates and happenings direct from the park service at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, or Ripple Effect, a curated selection of notes from the Katahdin region and greater conservation community.

Priority Park Progress

Last year, you heard from Friends about the A Monumental Welcome campaign. The campaign is funding a variety of efforts to improve and enhance the visitor experience in the monument, and we’re excited to begin sharing campaign success stories with you as we enter 2024 and these projects get underway.

This month, we’re spotlighting species inventory projects funded by Friends and its donors. As an emerging NPS unit, Katahdin Woods and Waters is not supported by the Inventory & Monitoring program. Existing estimates on wildlife species is informed by hunting permits and casual observations by visitors and park staff. In 2024 and 2025, Friends’ funding for Priority Park Projects includes evaluating the presence of threatened Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and other wildlife species to comply with federal regulations, protect species, and avoid hazards. Friends will also be funding inventory studies of the northern bog lemming (Synaptomys borealis). Northern bog lemmings are listed in Maine as a state-threatened species with potential to be listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Although rare, the lemmings have been detected in neighboring Baxter State Park. With more survey areas, it is anticipated that the monument also provides bog lemming habitat.

Friends News –

Mark your calendars now for these upcoming events, and stay tuned for updates in your inbox, social media feeds, and at friendsofkww.org!

Friends’ “Membership May” Meet & Greet Series – Join staff, board, and volunteers at a brewpub near you for a casual opportunity to meet members, ask questions, and get a sneak peek at our fresh strategic plan. (The pizza is on us!)

Thursday, May 9th – 5:30-6:30 p.m. Virtual, Zoom

Tuesday, May 14th – 4-6 p.m. Knife Edge Brewing Co, Millinocket

Tuesday, May 21st – 12-1:30 p.m. Mason’s Brewing Company, Brewer

Tuesday, May 28th – 4-6 p.m Maine Beer Company, Freeport

Teacher Camp – Educators of all types are invited to join us for a day

of learning and connecting on Tuesday, June 24th in Patten. For more information, contact klp@friendsofkww.org.

Grand Opening of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and Woods and Waters Day – Tekαkαpimək Contact Station will open to the public the weekend of August 17 & 18, with a special Woods & Waters Day celebration the night of August 17th at Ktaadn Resorts (New England Outdoor Center) in Millinocket. More details to follow!

Immersive Outdoor Learning 

Friends’ place-based education program, the Katahdin Learning Project, is growing! In March we welcomed Ronan, our spring seasonal Place-Based Educator. Ronan will work with KLP until the end of the school year teaching outdoor enrichment lessons in the Millinocket middle and high schools. Outdoor enrichment periods are a new student-driven program made possible with funding from the Maine Outdoor Learning Inititiave*, allowing learners to dictate the topics they’re passionate about. With Ronan at the helm, we’re excited to see the creativity and curiosity unfold! He will also assist with the planning and delivery of April Vacation Camp and other programs across the region.

Earlier in March, KLP led a visit to the University of Maine for 24 high school outdoor education students. Linking up with Maine Bound Adventure Center for a kayak roll clinic, students learned how to roll a whitewater kayak and perform a canoe “t rescue”–essential skills for exploring the waterways in the Katahdin region. PLUS students got an inside look at campus life with a university tour!

Attention locals: we are planning another UMaine visit, and this time, we’re going rock climbing! The trip takes off after school lets out for a half day on May 10th and is open to any 6th -12th grade student in the Katahdin region. For more information and to register (plus a sneak peek of summer programs) visit: friendsofkww/org/Katahdin-region-outdoor-collective

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• Did you know...that every unit of the National Park Service has an official four-letter abbreviation? The abbreviation for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is KAWW (the pronunciation is up to you).
• Reminder! KAWW North Entrance and Loop Roads remain closed for the winter season. Stay current on condtions here.
• Rangers are getting ready for a busy weekend of events leading up to the April 8th eclipse! Find them in Houlton on April 6, in Patten on  April 7th, and in Island Falls on April 8th for the eclipse itself. Details are on the KAWW events calendar.
• Dreaming of your first Katahdin Woods and Waters summer camping trip? Watch this helpful video at nps.gov/kaww/planyourvisit
• Visit (and bookmark) the KAWW page at recreation.gov to plan your summer trips and get ready to snag your favorite spot when reservations open later this month!
  

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  Ripple Effect

  News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond

  • Be informed! Check for updates and advisories before you head north for the eclipse – Visit Maine Total Eclipse Guide & Katahdin Chamber of Commerce Eclipse Events.
  • The Maine Land Conservation Conference is on April 12-13th in Topsham – featuring Dr. Bonnie Newsom’s keynote on Weaving Wisdoms: Introducing the New NSF Science Technology Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science.
  • We heart this shoutout to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument from Outside Online‘s “Best Places to Travel in 2024.”
  • The Private for Public Podcast from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife explores our treasured (and sometimes fraught) tradition of public access to private land, including a recent episode on “recreating in Maine’s working forests.”

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  Sponsor Spotlight

  It’s the start of a new sponsorship year! We are so excited to spend the next twelve months introducing you to our corporate supporters: businesses who make their values part of the bottom line. 

  Always the first to say YES each year to our Katahdin level sponsorship, we are beyond grateful for Richardson’s Hardware. This 4th generation run business has grown significantly from its 1948 establishment in Patten, Maine to today. When locals get the itch for spring gardening, we’ll escape to Richardson’s greenhouse across the road!

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. To learn more, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on April 3rd, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

Eclipse excitement, cross-country ski report, Vacation Camp, park projects, and more…

The Katahdin Region and northern Maine are buzzing with preparations as a rare astronomical event approaches on April 8th. Katahdin Region communities are on the solar eclipse “path of totality,” meaning viewers will see the moon cover the entirety of the sun except for the corona, or sun’s atmosphere.

Take care, though! April is not peak season in our region for some good reasons. For those planning to travel to Maine for this very special experience, it will be crucial to follow the well-worn advice of “know before you go.” At Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the North Entrance Road and Katahdin View Loop Road will remain closed for the winter season, and others may be unsafe depending on weather conditions. Start with visitmaine.com’s eclipse page to learn where and how to safely view the eclipse–some local towns have big plans and can’t wait to welcome you.

Read on to learn about plans from the National Park Service to greet monument visitors on the Swift Brook Road this summer. We share highlights from our February break Vacation Camp and Brian’s trip Washington, D.C. Visit the Friends blog for my notes from a two-day tour of groomed cross-country ski trails in the region from north to south, starting with our staff outing at the north gate entrance pictured above.

Priority Park Progres

Last year, you heard from Friends about the Monumental Welcome campaign. The campaign is funding a variety of efforts to improve and enhance the visitor experience in the monument, and we’re excited to begin sharing campaign success stories with you as we enter 2024 and these projects get underway.

We all know the drive along Swift Brook Road to the start of Loop Road can be long and if it’s your first time, somewhat confusing. The Hunt Farm parcel of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument affords a great stopping place along the way to stretch your legs and get oriented, but little infrastructure has been available. A new project aims to change that by constructing a parking area for approximately 10 vehicles off the Swift Brook Road and by providing a vault toilet and information kiosk. With increased visitation expected in coming years, this new area will offer clarity to visitors embarking on their journey into the monument.

Friends News

February Vacation Camp  Connects Youth, Nature, & Community – Last week, the Katahdin Learning Project facilitated our 3rd February Vacation Camp, a free, four-day program for local elementary grade youth. Camp goals are to deepen relationships with the outdoors, spark pride in the Katahdin region, and foster a sense of stewardship for natural places. So many campers returned from 2023 that lessons built off last year’s themes to delve into more complex topics such as public lands and protecting wildlife–while having a lot of fun. We were especially excited towelcome Ranger Crystal from Katahdin Woods & Waters NM to lead some programs.

Since the first Vacation Camp, educators have seen participants’ comfort in the outdoors, understanding of land stewardship, pride in their community, and knowledge of natural resources grow. However, what happens with these students after they “age out” of Vacation Camp? We knew there was an opportunity to continue making connections, so a Youth Ambassador and Leadership program was born! Middle and high school students from the Katahdin region can now continue to attend vacation camp in volunteer roles. These young volunteers went through an application process, interviews, and attended training – all valuable first experiences. They even had the opportunity to meet rangers from Baxter State Park and the National Park Service to learn about careers in the field.

Thank you to our partners for their help with the planning and facilitation: Katahdin Gear Library, Millinocket Memorial Library, Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, and Outdoor Sport Institute. Community supporters help camp stay free and accessible: Syntiro, Our Katahdin, Katahdin Collaborative, Millinocket Elks Club, and Northern Forest Center.

Friends goes to Washington – On February 7th, Executive Director Brian Hinrichs and board member Lucas St. Clair represented Friends in visits with Maine’s delegation for NPF Hill Day. “It was a chance to thank our senators and representatives for supporting appropriations to NPF and for supporting the Great American Outdoors Act, both of which are having direct impact in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. These are dollars spent locally to the benefit of all visitors, and we are grateful!”

Pictured above from left: David Ellwood, PhD (Schoodic Institute), Veronica Torres (Friends of Acadia), Sarah Unz (National Park Foundation), Eric Stiles (Friends of Acadia), Kevin Schneider (Acadia National Park), Lucas St. Clair (Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters), Senator Angus King Jr., Nick Fisichelli, PhD (Schoodic Institute), Will Shafroth (National Park Foundation), Brian Hinrichs (Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters), Elizabeth Hersh-Tucker (National Park Foundation).

Share your thoughts – Strategic planning continues this winter with the expert guidance of Solid Ground Consulting. Friends’ staff and board as well as NPS have been working through big questions to guide our future. Now, we want to hear from you!

Click here to complete a short survey!

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• Winter trail condtions from the North Gate are updated with each grooming at nps.gov/kaww/planyourvisit/winter-trail-conditions. (Check often – March is usually our snowiest month!)
• Can I watch the solar eclipse at Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument? Find anwers to your questions at nps.gov/kaww/solar-eclipse
• Dreaming of summer camping getaways? Browse the sites at KAWW now and get ready to book later this spring at recreation.gov.
• Several seasonal summer jobs at KAWW are open for applications now. See the opportunties at nps.gov/kaww/getinvolved/workwithus
• Funds from the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund will flow to KAWW this summer for two exciting maintenance projects – clearing the old Telos Tote Road for improved hiking and mountain biking and rehabilitating the historic 1929 Deasey Fire Lookout.
  

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  Ripple Effect

  News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond

  • Just east of the region and the very last town in the US that will experience the total eclipse on April 8th, see what Houlton has in store for Maine Eclipse Festival Weekend!
  • Listen to NPF’s very own Lise Aangeenbrug, NPF’s Chief Program Officer, as she talks about NPS’ overall economic impact on communities and regions, keeping a healthy symbiosis between public and private interests, combatting overtourism, and hidden gems in the park system.
  • Winter Wonderland Adventure at Millinocket Memorial Library: Calling all young winter explorers!  A ranger from Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument will lead a journey through a winter wonderland to discover the secrets of winter survival for plants and animals on Tuesday, March 19 (learn more and register here).
  • Cheers to the young adventurers of Stearns’ High School’s Outdoor Ed class for their overnight ski trip to Haskell Hut. “We skied a total of 13 miles, enjoyed views of Stair Falls, slept in a backcountry cabin, and had a rousing game of Monopoly….We appreciated help with gear and logistics from the Katahdin Learning Project.”
    

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  Sponsor Spotlight

  Thank you to our Lookout sponsor National Parks Conservation Association! NPCA is a tireless advocate for our national parks, historic sites, and monuments. Thank you for your work and support of Friends.

And thank you to New York Puzzle Company for their Deasey sponsorship! Thanks for putting 1% for the Planet to work with Friends!

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. Are you ready to join us in 2024? Visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on February 29, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

Development Coordinator Sarah Andre shares some of her favorite ski spots in the Katahdin Region. A resident of southern Maine, traveling to the Katahdin Region in winter is her favorite perk of working for Friends! The photos and words below reflect conditions on January 29th, 2024. As of February 29th, a major rain and warming event has closed many local ski destinations. All photos credit FKWW.

I love to cross-country ski. Maybe you do, too. Growing up in the eighties, my first ski trips were on short wooden skis with rubber buckles that went over my regular snow boots (lined with plastic bread bags) on the lumpy snowmobile trails around our home in the western Maine foothills. That wasn’t that much fun by itself, but fortunately my parents knew the power of a bag of m’n’ms and a “secret” camp in the woods, upon whose porch we’d rest. On the high school Nordic team I mastered classic and skate techniques, and gained a lifelong passion, if not podiums.

Today, I live just a few miles inland from Casco Bay where the skiing gets worse each year. Compared to just a few years ago, snowstorms are smaller, less frequent, and very often immediately followed by rain and rising temperatures. Driving past our local golf course that functions as a touring center in winter, only a few slushy white islands dot the rolling brown landscape and summon a weird sadness that feels too frivolous to indulge. I taught my children to ski here over the last ten years, with the hope to give them a source of joy in winter, a place with icy blue skies and frozen eyelashes, woodland critters’ dramas told in footprints, and clouds of exertion that culminate with scenic vistas, eagle sightings, and tepid hot cocoas sloshed on your gloves. Only time will tell if they keep on skiing after I no longer facilitate, but we have had a lot of fun sliding in the snow so far!

For now, we skinny skiers hope this year is an exceptional outlier in its dearth of snow, and so head north to sustain our passion. I am privileged to travel to the Katahdin Region regularly for work, but I hope that this post will inspire other enthusiasts to head north! It has been just four weeks since my two days of fabulous skiing in the Katahdin Region, and I fear that the snowpack will be challenged by the warmth and rain falling at the end of February 2024. Fortunately, the folks who maintain trails in the national monument and the region report on conditions regularly so you can check up on the three spots I hit, plus several more, before you go. Don’t miss the links below my trip report! All three destinations I visited are available to skiers for no charge, but please visit the links to check hours and restrictions!

Old River Road, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (North Entrance)

The Friends staff met at our office in Patten at 10 a.m. to carpool the roughly 25 miles to the North Entrance.  My colleague Ruger and I had departed our homes in southern Maine when the sky was still dark, so it was nice to ride with someone else for the final stretch especially since Route 159 is really dirty and has a few frost heaves (read, bring your higher clearance vehicle and be vigilant). In the summer this entrance provides access to paddling, hiking, camping and biking along the Old River Road. The road is gated in winter, providing a perfect spot for a groomed ski and snowshoe trail.

The National Park Service crew grooms soon after each new snow event all the way to Big Spring Hut, which is nearly 10 miles one way. We leisurely trekked along level terrain to the Oxbow Picnic Area, a fine spot to enjoy lunch and be back by mid-afternoon. The sole skier in our party, as the rest of the group stepped into snowshoes, I clicked into a pair of touring “off-trail” skin skis. Slightly wider than a traditional classic cross-country ski, they were the perfect choice for gliding through a few inches of fresh powder atop a firm machine-groomed base. In fact, I felt fairly guilty zipping along comfortably while my colleagues grew warm from the relatively steeper effort of picking their feet up to move forward!

In a nutshell: Old-fashioned ski touring on a wide trail, perfect for group social skis. Don’t expect pristine corduroy or set track, but DO expect a blissful absence of the sounds of civilization. We had fun spotting many different animal tracks and trying to identify them.

Katahdin Area Trails at ktaadn resorts (New Enland outdoor center)

The next morning I had a scheduled meeting at Ktaadn Resorts to begin plannig summer events. I was so excited to check these trails out that I set out early in the single digits Fahrenheit! Having run throughout the multi-use system in the warmer months, I knew it was a fun network with a lot of “topographical interest,” and sure enough, I was not feeling cold after fifteen minutes. I started at the trailhead across from River Driver’s Restaurant, where plenty of snowmobilers were taking off for a different set of trails. This day I started with skate skis and was a little concerned at the start–the trail was hard-packed and pocked with footprints. I considered turning back for my touring skis and switching to “recreational” mode but after a few turns into the woods, the trail smoothed out, post-holes disappeared, and the skating

conditions were fast and fun. I had about an hour and a half, which was enough time to ski the Lakeside Trail, part of Katahdin View, and  Twin Pines loops. Like any network with lots of trails and intersections, a person can get turned around. I am really good at getting turned around, but the quantity of trail markers, blazes, and most importantly, “you are here” numbered signs meant that I never got too far off my intended route. I can’t wait to go back and explore the rest of the network when I have a whole day to get lost! I squeezed in a delicious breakfast sandwich at the Knife’s Edge Brewing Co before zipping back down the hill for our meeting, then joined my colleagues back at KE for the wood-fired pizza afterwards. Tough day, I know…

In a nutshell: Well-designed multi-use trail network provides fun, technical terrain. There was no set classic track, so if you like to skate, enjoy! Classic skiers may choose a wider, or possibly even a light backcountry touring ski with metal edges, especially on very hard packed or icy snow. Watch out for: amazing views of Katahdin! If you have limited time, pass on the Lakeside Trail–it doesn’t actually get you to the lakeside, which was mildly disappointing.

Penobscot River Trails, Grindstone

Oh, Penobscot River Trails! A true gem in the Katahdin Region, it lives up to the descriptors listed on the website: “world class facility,” “Olympic quality ski trails,” and “pristine riverside wilderness.” Popular with day-trippers from the Banor metro area, PRT is a must-check-out destination for all Maine cross-country skiers. I build it into all my winter work trips! On this day, fueled by belly full of pizza, I departed Ktaadn Resorts and drove to Medway, then the 10-ish miles north to the trailhead on Route 11. It’s hard to explain how lovely the visitor center is, with its heated bathrooms, self-service free equipment rentals, Swix waxing bench for guest use, and even a refrigerator and microwave! On the weekends and at other times by chance, I’ve been greeted by a friendly staff person who tends the woodstove and offers assistance. On weekdays, however, it’s usually just you and the guest log, which is fun to read through. Who knew so many folks were visiting the region from far away? On this day, the couple who set out after me were from Brooklyn, NY.

I again chose skate skis, because I’m familiar with the “Olympic quality ski trails.” The first 1-2 km from the visitor center were actually pretty rough, even showing dirt in places and universally covered with little cones and needles. The trail at the beginning is also quite narrow with two sets of classic tracks, so I was glad to emerge from the wooded section and into the open where you can scoot across a very small field to access the Tote Road. PRT has very specific use guidelines. The Tote Road is groomed wide for skating and all skiers are welcome. Snowshoers must stay to the far edge. Most of the Riverside Trail is double tracked for classic skiing only. This was a little sad for me, as the Riverside Trail is much more beautiful and has more rolling terrain, but joy filled my heart as I channeled my inner Jessie Diggins. When I used to teach youth cross-country skiing, when a kid would “get” skating for the first time they often wouldn’t want to stop. They ski away with a goofy grin and pretend they can’t hear you yelling to come back because their mom is waiting in the parking lot. That is how it feels to skate along the Tote Road. You’ll feel like you’re flying along the ridiculously simple trail network marked with rustic wooden signs and rewarded with stops at warming huts that are probably nicer than your house.

In a nutshell: Just do it! PRT updates conditions very regularly so you will know what to expect. Be aware that the parking lot can be very busy on the weekends.

links

• Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument Winter Trail Conditions
• KAWW Winter Activities Homepage
• KAWW Winter Recreation Map
• Katahdin Area Trails – Ktaadn Resorts Ski Trails
• Katahdin Region Trail Conditions & Grooming Reports
• Penobscot River Trails Homepage
• Katahdin Gear Library

If you’ve made it this far in my post, you must be a cross-country skier! I’d love to hear from you–where and how do you ski in

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and around the region? And are changing winters affecting the places and the way you ski? Send me an email, and I hope to see you on the trails.

-Sarah Andre, Development Coordinator

A welcome blanket of snow, grooming reports, new look for the Overlook, and more…

Winter is finally settling in at Katahin Woods and Waters and in the region, after a few frustrating false starts! Snow in the northern forests provides more than “snowglobe” photo ops and snow days, although those are both wonderful things. Snowpack makes a cozy cover from predators and the elements for small animals like mice and grouse. Deep snow in winter means our rivers will be refreshed with ample cold water in spring for salmon and trout. And we people need snow to do many of our favorite activities such as snowshoeing, skiing, and building forts (on snow days, of course).

We’ve been hearing from many of you excited to start your winter adventures in Katahdin Woods and Waters, and seeing your photos pop up on social media. Don’t forget to tag @friendsofkatahdinwoodsandwaters or send an old-fashioned email–we love to see friends enjoying time on the land.

Read on for all the January highlights and a preview of what’s coming up this winter!

But first: You did it! Our Annual Appeal raised more than $177,000 through the end of 2023, meeting our goal and then some. Thank you!

Priority Park Progress

Last year, you heard from Friends about the A Monumental Welcome campaign. The campaign is funding a variety of efforts to improve and enhance the visitor experience in the monument, and we’re excited to begin sharing campaign success stories with you as we enter 2024 and these projects get underway.

Let’s start with a big one: a redesign of the iconic Katahdin Overlook on the scenic Loop Road. This project will be completed over two years, and NPS is currently wrapping the design phase. Changes to look forward to in the new design include amenities such as picnic tables, signage, and a pavilion for visitors to enjoy shade and rain protection, a parking loop to accommodate larger vehicles, and an accessible two-stall vault toilet. Future visitors will find accessible paths, trails, and waysides to explore the area surrounding the Overlook.

Once work can begin, the first year will see all the major excavation and groundwork being contracted out. The second year will include construction of all trails and paths, installing the vault toilet, working on the general landscaping of the site, and installing informative waysides and kiosks. We are proud to share that Friends has already granted $500,000 for this project to the National Park Service – thanks to the support of friends like you.

Friends Connecting Community to Nature

February Vacation Camp is almost here! Now in its third year, Friends’ education program, Katahdin Learning Project, will continue this collaborative program with our community partners including Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, Outdoor Sport Institute, and Katahdin Gear Library. Camp will be held over 4 days during the school break and is registration is now open to students in grade 2-5 from the Katahdin region free of charge. Each day will feature a fun new theme designed to connect students to their community and nature. We are especially excited to roll out a new camp initiative this year: Outdoor Leaders and Ambassadors. These middle and high school students will be mentored by KLP staff, develop professional and leadership skills, create their own mini-lessons and give our staff a hand as needed. These leadership and career readiness experiences are made possible through a partnership with Syntiro’s Gear Up Maine Program, which has helped prepare Maine students for postsecondary education since 1998. (Psst! Does this sound like a good fit for a Katahdin region middle or high school student you know? Reach out to elise@friendsofkww.org for more information!)

Staff and Board Migrations

Friends’ Board of Directors welcomed two new members in late 2023. Dan Wenk retired as the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park in 2019 after a 43-year career dedicated to the National Park Service. James E. Francis, Sr is the Historic Preservation Officer for Penobscot Nation and a historical researcher, photographer, filmaker, and graphics artist.

We also bid a bittersweet farewell to Friends’ longest-serving staff member, Projects Director Sam Deeran. From his home office in Herserytown Twp, Sam will be working as an independent contractor with organizations across the state seeking to undertake collaborative work. Thank you for all you’ve done for Friends, the monument, and our community, Sam!

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• Are you ready to explore career options with the National Park Service? Full-time, part-time, year-round, and seasonal positions are all posted at USAjobs.gov. Enter “Patten, Maine” in the search tool to see what is available. Never miss a job post by saving your search and setting up email notifications!
• Grooming reports from the park service are live! Enjoy a winter wonderland experience on nearly 10 miles of maintained trail from the north entrance. Bookmark the direct link for grooming reports: Winter Trail Conditions – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• Do take winter safety in the monument seriously–even small problems can become deadly when compounded by cold or adverse weather. Start here for tips and resources before you plan your trip.
• Attention educators! Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is offering FREE NPS programs designed especially for schools and youth groups, including ranger-led field trips, school visits, and virtual visits.

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Lookout level sponsor Elliotsville Foundation! EFI’s work is about strengthening communities and economies by expanding connections with the outdoors,  exemplified by the collaborative process to create Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the national monument.

And thank you to F.A. Peabody for their Hathorn level sponsorship! F.A. Peabody Insurance – “Because…Things Happen”

The mission of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters is to preserve and protect the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality and distinctive cultural resources of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of all generations.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on January 30, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

This year, guides, staff, members and volunteers shared with us their connection to the monument through #myparkstory. Their stories inspired us but there was something about all of them that felt really familiar.

Here’s a recap of the park stories we heard this year:

“In 2019, my relationships to people and place in the Katahdin Region deepened. Our staff was four full-timers. We took a trip to Haskell Hut, ate well, and laughed a lot. In spring, I did my first paddle of the East Branch with four friends (counting the dog-pal pictured). At summer’s end I had the good fortune to visit with the Baxter Youth Conservation Corps as they wrapped up bridge construction over Katahdin Brook.” Read more here.

-Sam Deeran, FKWW Projects Director

“We drove up to Katahdin Woods and Waters on a sunny February morning. After a nice lunch at Matagamon Lodge, we parked at the north gate and enjoyed four hours of skiing on nicely packed pulk trails–without another human encounter!… We’ve been supporters of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters since the very beginning and enjoy seeing the changes as they come. Signage has improved greatly! It’s a beautiful area to visit in all seasons.”

-Mary and J.R. Krevans, FKWW members, Bar Harbor

“Seven hours of driving logged on my son’s learner’s permit, a collective six books read, and 36 hours with almost no digital connection…We’ll be back again to experience that pace. And I like to think a trip like this can help us stay a bit more in the moment even at home the rest of the year.” Read more here.

-Sarah Andre, FKWW Development Coordinator

Kevin Slater, co-owner of Mahoosuc Guide Services talked to us this summer about his connection to Katahdin Woods & Waters through paddling. In 50 years of paddling the East Branch of the Penobscot, he’s learned that every paddling trip is a new experience–and he is an important witness to changes that slowly span the decades.   Read more here.

“In that moment, watching my friends sprint around the field showing each other what each telescope held made me realize the beauty of outdoors. The seasonal autumn feel against the beauty ahead of me began my love for the outdoors. And I think my friends fell in love too, without even realizing it.

Sure, Taylor’s Katahdin View Camps isn’t directly on the monument, but it still symbolizes the mix of community and nature that we strive for.” Read more here.

-Maggie O’Hara, FKWW High School Summer Educator

“Many evenings included guided discussions about how to recreate responsibly outdoors, plus storytelling around the campfire. The students learned history of the conserved lands that we visited,  the many types of land management styles, as well as the importance of protecting land for wildlife and recreation. Our reflections got deeper throughout the season. A student who first arrived shy and unsure of the outdoors was taking on leadership roles, volunteering answers to questions, and seeking more ways to get involved. In his own words: ‘It just feels really, really good to be out here in the wild’.” Read more here.

-Elise Goplerud, FKWW Education Coordinator

“Over the past several months, my first impressions of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument have been slowly taking shape. #Myparkstory is still being written, but it now has a first chapter spanning three seasons and three unique encounters with this landscape that feels more unusual and inspiring with every visit.” Read more here.

-Brian Hinrich, FKWW Executive Director

Our final park story for 2023 is from Candy! Candy McKellar– a longtime resident of the Katahdin region, educator, artist, early and ardent supporter of Katahdin Woods and Waters, is also a constant volunteer on Katahdin Learning Project field trips. She shared a few of her favorite and formative memories of the national monument.

“Sitting on the Lynx Pond viewing platform, before it was even completed, with my new friend Nancy Hathaway. On this late afternoon in the fall we watched a mother moose and her two calves graze along the far edge of the pond. Climbing Barnard Mountain and easing through the split in the giant boulder on the trip up. Watching school children spill out of the yellow bus and line up to head out on a hike, or circle around an educator or ranger for an environmental lesson–tailored to the age of the group and the uniqueness of ‘our park.'”

Taking time for nature, first snow, Annual Appeal continues, volunteer Candy’s #parkstory, December happenings, and more…

The most [wonderful?, chaotic?, conflicted?] time of year has arrived. Whether the slate of year-end holidays marks a time of joy or a time to persevere for you–one constant is that a LOT is going on. Nonprofit organizations like Friends necessarily contribute to the frenzy to ensure fundraising goals are met. With all the excitement that comes with the season, we can use a reminder to take time for reflection.

Pause for a moment and imagine you are standing in a quiet forest. Close your eyes and remember the smell and temperature of the air, the way the ground resists and sounds underfoot. December is a quiet month in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, after the fall hunting season ends and, typically, before the snow falls thick enough for skis and snowshoes. What sounds, sights and smells might you notice now?

We hope that you can visit a patch of quiet woods in these weeks before the year ends–whether you drive up the Swift Brook Road and park at the (seasonally closed) Loop Road gate for a walk with old friends, stop by a local nature preserve with your kids, or simply visualize your favorite sylvan space. Let the gratitude for these places inspire peacefulness now, and hope for the year ahead!

Friends’ Annual Appeal Continues through 2023 – Join In!

Thank you to everyone who has joined Friends’ annual appeal with a year-end gift so far. You are an amazing community that believes in protecting the ecological and cultural treasures of Katahdin Woods and Waters, the promise of our youth to be better stewards of the land, and the future of the Katahdin region in developing a sustainable outdoor recreation economy. Let’s see how much we can do in 2024!

#myparkstory/#yourparkstory

In the final Park Story of our yearlong series, meet Candy! Of course, many, many people already know Candy McKellar–as a longtime resident of the Katahdin region, educator, artist, early and ardent supporter of Katahdin Woods and Waters, or a constant volunteer on Katahdin Learning Project field trips. She shared a few of her favorite and formative memories of the national monument.

Sitting on the Lynx Pond viewing platform, before it was even completed, with my new friend Nancy Hathaway. On this late afternoon in the fall we watched a mother moose and her two calves graze along the far edge of the pond.

Climbing Barnard Mountain and easing through the split in the giant boulder on the trip up.

Watching school children spill out of the yellow bus and line up to head out on a hike, or circle around an educator or ranger for an environmental lesson–tailored to the age of the group and the uniqueness of “our park.”

Candy says she has always loved the outdoors and wanted to help preserve it for future generations–and continues to volunteer with Friends to educate local youth about the great outdoors right here!

Fall Education Program Wrap-up

Our education program Katahdin Learning Project’s fall program season wrapped in early November, and it was one of our best yet! Friends’ Education Coordinator Elise Goplerud notes some achievements marked during a fantastic two months of learning and growing outdoors.

• Expanded access to more schools by offering programs at three new outdoor sites in the Katahdin region,
• Reached more than 400 students in field trips, classroom visits, and community programs,
• Tested water quality with thirteen different groups at five different locations,
• Co-hosted a teen campout at our Stars Over Katahdin event, and
• Facilitated two career panels featuring speakers from the National Park Service, Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness, Maine Forest Rangers, Baxter State Park, Mt. Chase Lodge, Katahdin Area Trails and more for 40 local middle and high school students!

  

We are honored daily for the opportunity to help students from across the Katahdin region connect to the land and their community in new and deeper ways.

Don’t miss a moment – Follow Friends

Looking for more stories, photos, and connection to the monument and Friends? Head to our Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the month! With an average of two to three posts per week, we share more photos, links and moments than can be squeezed into this monthly newsletter. Connect with folks who share your passion for Katahdin Woods and Waters by catching up on our feeds. Be sure to “like” and “follow” us, and when you are inspired by something you see, share it!

Park News – Building for the Future

• In a season of houseguests, the need for more bathrooms becomes apparent. Although beyond the reach of motor traffic until May, the brand-new vault toilet at the Deasey Pond Trailhead will offer relief to visitors next season–not least for teachers with 30 students fresh off a 45 minute bus ride. ADA facilities at popular destinations in the monument are among many projects funded by A Monumental Welcome capital campaign.
• Are you ready to explore career options with the National Park Service? Full-time, part-time, year-round, and seasonal (2024) positions are all posted at USAjobs.gov. Enter “Patten, Maine” in the search to see what is available. Never miss a job post by saving your search and setting up email notifications.
• On November 13th, NPS offered a behind-the-scenes tour of Tekakapimek to Katahdin Collaborative members. Exhibitry has recently been installed, as the site gets ready to shut down for winter before final construction resumes in the spring.

  

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  Ripple Effect – We thought you might like to know…

  • Building the International Appalachian Trail exhibit is on view now at the Maine Historical Society in Portland through June 2024
  • Bangor Author’s Book Fair and Literary Festival happens December 9th and will feature 99 Maine authors, a keynote with Aislinn Sarnacki, and the launch of Rivers of Ink: Reflections on the Penobscot. Proceeds from the anthology will benefit A Monumental Welcome capital campaign!
  • Also on December 9th, the Wabanaki Winter Market will be held at the Collins Center for the Arts in Orono. Many of the artists contributing to Tekαkαpimək Contact Station will be selling pieces!
  • Maine’s Outdoor Recreation Economy is growing – 16% from 2021 to 2022, in fact, making our state the sixth in the nation for outdoor recreation as a percentage of GDP.
  • Apply now for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry limited-period Recreation Trails Coordinator position in the Katahdin region.
  • Katahdin Gear Library’s Trivia Night – Sharpen your knowledge and come out for a good time and cause on December 19th.

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  Sponsor Spotlight

  Thank you to our Deasey level sponsor Haley Ward! A 100% employee-owned technical consulting firm based in Bangor, Haley Ward is a key part of the construction team at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and important member of the Friends community.

  And we are welcoming and thanking Eaton Peabody, a Maine law firm who joined Friends this year at the Barnard level.

  

  Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports our mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2023, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

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  —This blog post was adapted from an email transmitted on December 5, 2023. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

Clouds part for Stars Over Katahdin, outdoor careers panel, e-Appeal challenge launched, and more…

Just two weeks ago, Friends hosted the 10th Annual Stars Over Katahdin, a community event celebrating Katahdin Woods and Waters’ Dark Sky Sanctuary. The weather forecast was uninspiring (surprise: rain), but the clouds parted throughout the day as we marveled at a partial solar eclipse and again at night for stellar viewing of the Milky Way and countless stars, planets, constellations, nebulae, and more!

The air is chilly, but our hearts are warm this season with gratitude for the community of astronomers who brought their valuable time, equipment, and expertise to us. We are also warmed by your generosity in response to our October e-Appeal challenge last week! Annual appeal letters are headed to mailboxes soon with moving messages from Rory, a participant in our youth education programs, and Logan, Friends’ board member. Both grew up in the Katahdin region and have become deeply connected and committed to the land we now steward as Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. I hope you will read their stories, and our news shared here today, and be inspired by all that we can accomplish for this place we love.

Stars Over Katahdin Shines

Despite a cloudy forecast, this year’s Stars Over Katahdin was a stellar success. During the day, attendees safely viewed the partial solar eclipse, watched a (model) rocket launch, and walked inside a scale model of the solar system. Rangers from Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument helped orient folks headed in to explore the Scenic Loop Road attractions and recruited some Junior Ranger Night Explorers!

As the sun set, a very special drumming and singing performance by the Turning Eagle Singers brought folks together with joined hands for a circle dance. Kids moved toward the crackling fire as the audience was treated to a lively telling of the mythical Orion, a teaser for the next solar eclipse, and some easy action steps to reduce our own light pollution! Although the clouds moved in and out early in the evening, they moved out to provide amazing stargazing and guided viewing of celestial objects through a variety of advanced telescopes.

This annual event, now ten years in, depends on generous volunteers who travel from the far reaches of Maine and New England to share their expertise and passion for the night sky. Friends is grateful for the opportunity to share the wonder of our dark skies each year.

To learn more:

International Dark Sky Places Certification

National Park Service – Night Skies 

The Future is Outdoors

Friends’ education program, Katahdin Learning Project, is opening students’ eyes to future careers in the conservation and outdoor recreation sectors. KLP has been providing free, place-based nature learning to schools in the Katahdin region since 2017. As the early cohorts of students have grown, so has our programming–deepening the connections between the landscape, the folks who work in it, and youth in the surrounding communities.

Early in October, seven professionals representing the outdoor sector, including Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, Maine Forest Rangers, Baxter State Park, Katahdin Area Trails, Katahdin Gear Library, and Outdoor Sport Institute spoke to Ashland 6th graders at the Island Falls Fish and Game center. The panel spoke about the many opportunities in the Katahdin region. The students listened thoughtfully and asked great questions. At the end of the day, many remarked that they didn’t know there were so many outdoor professions, and hands went up when asked if they could see themselves in one of these careers!

The career panel is such a popular concept with educators that KLP has scheduled two more in November, at Southern Aroostook Community School and Katahdin Middle High School, to reach 40 high school students.

A special program last week introduced East Millinocket School’s 4th graders to Shantel Neptune and Maddie Huerth from the Penobscot Nation Natural Resource Department when they joined us for a water quality lesson. Maddie and Shantel talked to the students about their work as water scientists while explaining the importance of healthy water to Penobscot people. Students then turned into community scientists; testing water on the East Branch of the Penobscot River for dissolved oxygen, conductivity, chlorine, alkalinity, and hardness. The fourth graders left with an understanding of how these tests, as well as turbidity and clarity, reveal the river’s health and how it is intimately connected to the health of salmon, otters, turtles, and more–including us humans.

Update on Wolfden Mining Proposal

As you know, it is not often that Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters shares an advocacy position. We formed shortly after courageous local, regional, and national advocacy efforts to establish the national monument and when the moment calls for it, we’ve taken positions to protect this special place. By now, news that a metallic mineral mine proposed for the Katahdin Region has been well-covered, as well as the required rezoning hearings in Millinocket and Bangor before Maine’s Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC). Friends thanks the many members, aligned organizations, and concerned citizens who have submitted testimony or spoke at the LUPC proceedings.

Friends’ full position statement can be found here on our blog. Written comment on Wolfden’s rezoning request will be accepted until Thursday, November 2nd. Learn more about the LUPC process and timeline here.

Park News – Know before you go!

• Bookmark the Current Conditions page on the NPS KAWW website. Road closures, including seasonal gating (happening soon!), can be found here.
• Hunting is permitted (with a Maine state license) on monument lands east of the East Branch of the Penobscot River. These areas are designated in dark green on this NPS monument map. Bear baiting, trapping, and chase dogs are not permitted. Hikers, wear your orange!
• Camping – Summer camping will close at the end of the month, but check recreation.gov for more information on reserving the popular Haskell and Big Spring Brook Huts this winter!

Ripple Effect

• If you know the Katahdin region, or have driven through it on the way to the monument’s north entrance, you have beheld Patten’s historic and prominent 1845 Regular Baptist Church. Down East Magazine peeks inside this unique building and profiles the woman on a quest to save it.
• Watch: Maine Public’s Borealis episode featuring Nyle Sockbeson’s (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy) Appalachian Trail journey. Nyle works for Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness and will join the panelists at KLP’s next career panel!
• Learn: about Land Back and find further resources from the Bomazeen Land Trust, who believe that “education is the most fundamental element of allyship and liberation.”

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Deasey level sponsor, Ktaadn Resorts! Home of the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC), Ktaadn Resorts has grown to include a brewery, event center, and miles of adjacent hiking and mountain biking trails built by Katahdin Area Trails, and is host to many Friends’ events.

And thank you to Trust for Public Land for their Barnard level sponsorship! TPL works alongside communities across the country to create, protect, and steward the nature-rich places that are vital to human well-being.

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports our mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2023, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email transmitted on October 25, 2023. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup