2025 Impact Report, Woods & Waters Day tickets on sale, the Overlook reopens, and more…
The landscape in Katahdin Woods and Waters is constantly changing, shaped by many things, including beavers! Walking on the trails and old logging roads visitors will often see their handiwork–and perhaps the resulting pond that wasn’t there last year… Photo credit: Ross Knowlton (Learn more at nps.gov/kaww/learn/nature/beavers.htm)
It’s already July? The garden is popping, the grass needs mowing, the kids are on summer vacation, and…we just want to get outside! So that we all can hit the trail, the river, or at least the backyard, this belated June eNews is here just to deliver a few quick, but important, updates!
“Bittersweet” was the cliched feeling we got at Friends as we said goodbye to our amazing colleague Meghan Cooper last month. Meghan arrived at Friends in 2019, when the organization was a young and scrappy start-up trying to support a park service unit that needed, well, pretty much everything! From membership coordinator to her final Friends’ role, director of development, Meghan readliy learned new skills and worked hard to ensure that Friends was meeting and exceeding our goals in fundraising, outreach and engagement, and financial responsibility–all while pushing the team to view development as a community effort that all can be a part of. We will miss her wry humor, quick problem solving, and grace in the face of a last-minute request. Meghan is headed to the Twin Cities in Minnesota for a new adventure, where she’ll continue to do amazing work in support of a wonderful youth-focused non-profit.
Development Coordinator Sarah Andre is excited to be taking on the role of Development Director. She is looking forward to continuing to build relationships with folks she has met over the last five years at Friends. You can reach her at sarah@friendsofkww.org. With this transition, that means that…Friends is hiring! Check out our Development Coordinator job posting on the blog for all the details.
As summer heats up and we approach the 10th anniversary celebration of Katahdin Woods and Waters on August 15th, things may be a little quieter in the office as we spend more time in the monument with members, learning outside with local youth, or preparing for our Woods and Waters Day celebration, but we are always happy to chat with you. Drop us a line at (207) 808-0020 or reply to this email if you have any questions–and don‘t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the fun updates!
2025 Impact Report & Audited Financials Published
If you came to one of our Membership May events last month, you may have picked up a copy of Friends’ 2025 Impact Report. If not, we hope you take a few moments to check it out and reflect along with us on a year with major accomplishments and growth, amidst the unprecedented challenges facing our National Park Service. You can find our 2025 Impact Report on the About Us page of our website. (Prefer a printed copy? Email sarah@friendsofkww.org.)
Advocacy, celebrating dark skies, and youth adventures are some of the highlights from 2025. Photo credits from L: FKWW, JM Naturescapes, FKWW
eceived a clean audit, under the leadership of our Finance Committe Chair Logan Edwards and the hard work of the staff finance team (did we say how much we‘ll miss you, Meghan?).
And lastly, but most importantly, wewant to recognize everyone who made Friends’ work possible in 2025. From the anonymous $10 bill left in a donation box at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to major foundation grants, and every gift in between, we couldn’t do our work without all of YOU. We take your trust in Friends seriously and work hard all year to make the greatest impact with your generous support. We hope you appreciate your role in the growth and success of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Friends’ youth and community programming in the Katahdin region–from road improvements to wildlife habitat restoration, and classroom visits to overnight camping trips. Thank you!
Don‘t miss a very special Woods & Waters Day this year, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument! Join us in reflecting on a decade of milestones met, while charting an ambitious future for the monument and Katahdin region communities. Delicious foo
Tickets and host opportunities available now! We hope to see you in August at New England Outdoor Center. Photo credit: Northern Oak Media
d, Maine Beer Company on tap, unique silent auction items, and an opportunity to play a part in the monument’s next chapter – don’t miss this evening to remember on the shores of beautiful Millinocket Lake!
When: Saturday, August 15th, 5-9 p.m.
Where: New England Outdoor Center, Millinocket
Dinner: Buffet featuring seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, Maine Beer Company on tap (ticket includes one pour)
Music: Groove to crowd favorites with the return of Lazers in the Jungle
PLUS: Remarks from Friends’ leadership and the National Park Service
Tickets: $50/pp with host options available – on sale now!
Behind the Signs – News from the NPS at Katahdin Woods and Waters
The wait is over! Friends was proud to support the Loop Road Overlook Modernization Project and excited to see this important work completed on June 25 with this announcement on NPS’ social media:
Don’t overlook the overlook! Photo credits from R: NPS/ K. Stauffer, NPS/ B. Winsor
Over the past two years, the maintenance crew has been hard at work revitalizing this scenic stop along the Katahdin View Loop Road. You can now enjoy a new picnic area featuring six new picnic tables, benches, a picnic shelter, and a vault toilet, all designed to make your visit even more comfortable. Of course, the real star of the show is the view. With sweeping vistas of Katahdin and the surrounding landscape, it’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic, or simply take in the scenery. Whether you’re driving the Loop Road or searching for a lunch spot with a view, make sure to add the Katahdin View Loop Road Overlook to your next visit.
Stay in the loop! Follow Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on Facebook and Instagram
PLUS…
Before you head into Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, always start at the official NPS Katahdin Woods and Waters website homepage for current conditions, activities, maps, and more!
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is open for the season! Visit Thursday-Monday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (closed Tuesday & Wednesday).
An abundance of former logging roads makes the monument a biking destination. Photo credit: G. Majka, NPS
One of the best ways to experience the monument in the summer is on a bicycle! Learn about biking on the roads and trails of Katahdin Woods and Waters, including what types of bikes are permitted and where you can go.
Sponsor Spotlight
This month we are sharing appreciation for our Deasey level sponsor NorthLight Foundation, envisions a world where the Earth’s environment is healthy, protected, and sustained for future generations. And thank you to Barnard level sponsor Katahdin Trust, longtime supporter of Friends and the national monument – standing behind their belief that “a community that works together thrives together!”
Your business or organization can be a part of the movement to preserve and protect Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument for the benefit of local communities and visitors from around the world. We are happy to customize a sponsorship package that works best for your brand. Call (207) 808-0020 or email sarah@friendsofkww.org today to learn more.
This blog post was adapted from an email sent on July 2nd, 2026. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
June eNewsletter – We don’t want to miss a thing
Posted: July 14, 2026 by Sarah Andre
2025 Impact Report, Woods & Waters Day tickets on sale, the Overlook reopens, and more…
It’s already July? The garden is popping, the grass needs mowing, the kids are on summer vacation, and…we just want to get outside! So that we all can hit the trail, the river, or at least the backyard, this belated June eNews is here just to deliver a few quick, but important, updates!
“Bittersweet” was the cliched feeling we got at Friends as we said goodbye to our amazing colleague Meghan Cooper last month. Meghan arrived at Friends in 2019, when the organization was a young and scrappy start-up trying to support a park service unit that needed, well, pretty much everything! From membership coordinator to her final Friends’ role, director of development, Meghan readliy learned new skills and worked hard to ensure that Friends was meeting and exceeding our goals in fundraising, outreach and engagement, and financial responsibility–all while pushing the team to view development as a community effort that all can be a part of. We will miss her wry humor, quick problem solving, and grace in the face of a last-minute request. Meghan is headed to the Twin Cities in Minnesota for a new adventure, where she’ll continue to do amazing work in support of a wonderful youth-focused non-profit.
Development Coordinator Sarah Andre is excited to be taking on the role of Development Director. She is looking forward to continuing to build relationships with folks she has met over the last five years at Friends. You can reach her at sarah@friendsofkww.org. With this transition, that means that…Friends is hiring! Check out our Development Coordinator job posting on the blog for all the details.
As summer heats up and we approach the 10th anniversary celebration of Katahdin Woods and Waters on August 15th, things may be a little quieter in the office as we spend more time in the monument with members, learning outside with local youth, or preparing for our Woods and Waters Day celebration, but we are always happy to chat with you. Drop us a line at (207) 808-0020 or reply to this email if you have any questions–and don‘t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for all the fun updates!
2025 Impact Report & Audited Financials Published
If you came to one of our Membership May events last month, you may have picked up a copy of Friends’ 2025 Impact Report. If not, we hope you take a few moments to check it out and reflect along with us on a year with major accomplishments and growth, amidst the unprecedented challenges facing our National Park Service. You can find our 2025 Impact Report on the About Us page of our website. (Prefer a printed copy? Email sarah@friendsofkww.org.)
While you’re there, you can also find the 2025 audited financial statements. As we have for the past several years, Friends r
eceived a clean audit, under the leadership of our Finance Committe Chair Logan Edwards and the hard work of the staff finance team (did we say how much we‘ll miss you, Meghan?).
And lastly, but most importantly, we want to recognize everyone who made Friends’ work possible in 2025. From the anonymous $10 bill left in a donation box at Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to major foundation grants, and every gift in between, we couldn’t do our work without all of YOU. We take your trust in Friends seriously and work hard all year to make the greatest impact with your generous support. We hope you appreciate your role in the growth and success of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and Friends’ youth and community programming in the Katahdin region–from road improvements to wildlife habitat restoration, and classroom visits to overnight camping trips. Thank you!
Woods & Waters Day – Tickets on Sale Now!
Don‘t miss a very special Woods & Waters Day this year, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the designation of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument! Join us in reflecting on a decade of milestones met, while charting an ambitious future for the monument and Katahdin region communities. Delicious foo
d, Maine Beer Company on tap, unique silent auction items, and an opportunity to play a part in the monument’s next chapter – don’t miss this evening to remember on the shores of beautiful Millinocket Lake!
Full weekend itinerary to be posted in July will include cultural demonstrations, excursions, and more! Visit the Woods & Waters Day page for updates, suggested lodging, and more.
Behind the Signs – News from the NPS at Katahdin Woods and Waters
The wait is over! Friends was proud to support the Loop Road Overlook Modernization Project and excited to see this important work completed on June 25 with this announcement on NPS’ social media:
Over the past two years, the maintenance crew has been hard at work revitalizing this scenic stop along the Katahdin View Loop Road. You can now enjoy a new picnic area featuring six new picnic tables, benches, a picnic shelter, and a vault toilet, all designed to make your visit even more comfortable. Of course, the real star of the show is the view. With sweeping vistas of Katahdin and the surrounding landscape, it’s the perfect place to stretch your legs, enjoy a picnic, or simply take in the scenery. Whether you’re driving the Loop Road or searching for a lunch spot with a view, make sure to add the Katahdin View Loop Road Overlook to your next visit.
Stay in the loop! Follow Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument on Facebook and Instagram
PLUS…
Sponsor Spotlight
This month we are sharing appreciation for our Deasey level sponsor NorthLight Foundation, envisions a world where the Earth’s environment is healthy, protected, and sustained for future generations. And thank you to Barnard level sponsor Katahdin Trust, longtime supporter of Friends and the national monument – standing behind their belief that “a community that works together thrives together!”
Your business or organization can be a part of the movement to preserve and protect Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument for the benefit of local communities and visitors from around the world. We are happy to customize a sponsorship package that works best for your brand. Call (207) 808-0020 or email sarah@friendsofkww.org today to learn more.
This blog post was adapted from an email sent on July 2nd, 2026. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
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