Join Midcoast Conservancy friends, board, and staff for a morning hike in the Sheepscot Headwaters at the Bolen Hill Trails, followed by lunch from the grill, potluck options, and beverages at Lake St George State Park. 

This year’s Goosepecker Trekker hike and lunch will be in Liberty on Midcoast Conservancy’s new Bolen Hill Trail network. This 2.2-mile moderately challenging hike is on 1,100 acres of Midcoast Conservancy and Lake St. George State Park lands. The hike begins at 10:00 AM at the Bolen Hill Trailhead on Rte 3 in Liberty.

Lunch will follow immediately afterward around noon at Lake St George State Park. This loop hike will go to the top of Bolen Hill, follow the Ridge and descend a series of switchbacks back to the trailhead. The trailhead and kiosk are on the north side of Rte 3, 1/5 mile west of the entrance to the state park.

Come for the hike and lunch or just come for lunch. Grilled organic hotdogs and tofu pups are on the menu, drinks and chips will also be provided. If you like please bring a side dish to share. Bring lawn chairs and for the hardy, a swimming suit for a post-hike plunge! Please note, there is an entry fee because the event is on state park land. Hope you can join us! 

The headwaters of the Sheepscot River includes areas with beautiful mature forest, wetlands, and forested wetlands. More than 1700 acres of nearly contiguous protected land contributes to the health of this important river. The Sheepscot is important for brook trout and many ocean-run fish species including the endangered Atlantic salmon. The Sheepscot is one of only eight rivers in the U.S. identified as critical habitat for the endangered Atlantic salmon.

This is a free event, but use of this trail requires a Lake St. George State Park fee of $5 for those participants under 65 yrs old who do not have a 2026 Maine State Parks pass. Please register below to let us know you are coming.

Refund Policy

Enjoy a presentation on the history, building techniques, stylistic development and aesthetics of stone walls with the author of The Granite Kiss, Kevin Gardner.

During this collaborative program, organized by Midcoast Conservancy, Lincoln County Historical Society, and Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, Kevin Gardner, author of The Granite Kiss, will delve into how and why New England came to acquire its thousands of miles of stone walls. Participants will learn the ways in which walls and other dry stone structures were built, how their styles emerged and changed over time, and their significance to the famous New England landscape. Kevin will touch on the differences in approach between historical and contemporary wall-builders and offer restoration tips and techniques, as well as information about design, acquisition of materials, preservation, and analysis. 

Throughout the presentation Kevin will occupy himself building a miniature wall or walls on a tabletop, using tiny stones from a five-gallon bucket. Copies of his book, The Granite Kiss, will be available for sale, as well as his most recent book, Stone Building – How To Make New England Style Walls and Other Structures The Old Way. There will be plenty of time for questions during which participants are encouraged to bring up specific problems or projects on their own properties.

After the presentation enjoy a walk on the Pownalborough Courthouse Trails. These lovely trails follow massive and beautiful historic stone walls, including a 19th century cemetery wall on the property, allowing participants to see some fine examples of exactly what Kevin talks about.    

All are welcome! Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Program Fee: $10/pp. Registration is required.

This program has reached capacity. To be added to the waitlist please email Zoe Thomas, zoe@midcoastconservnacy.org

Refund Policy.

Get outside and meet new people at these Welcoming Walkabouts gear toward LGBTQIA+ community members, along with their allies. Each walk will be led by Sarah Masters, in collaboration with Midcoast Conservancy and Georges River Land Trust on a variety of trails throughout the summer. Treks will include a short hike with time to foster community connections with each other and with nature. This new collaboration is being forged to help create an intentional, safe, and accessible outdoor experience for all community members. 

Children and dogs are welcome. Please keep dogs leashed and remove their waste. If you take photos at the event, please make sure you have permission from others.

All preserves, events, and programs managed by Midcoast Conservancy or Georges River Land Trust are open to everyone. 

Sarah Masters is a local journalist covering regional arts programming. She started The Washington Grunge, a rural community for LGBTQIA+ folks and families, to provide an inclusive and affirming space in her home region. 

All are welcome! Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

While this is a free event, we appreciate your registration which is essential for our planning.

Sign up for Welcoming Walkabouts hosted by Georges River Land Trust here.

Breath into a single day, let joy fill each moment and flow into the soul of the earth. 

Join us for a day of intentional wellness and gratitude. Breathe in the forest as we hike to Pond Cabin on the shore of Little Dyer Pond. Open the day with greetings to the natural world through the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address. Relax the mind and enliven the body with yoga flow into shavasana with reiki energy work.  Gather around the fire, under the pines overlooking the pond, for a delicious lunch of honorably harvested local foods. Write poems of blessing and humor to offer the smoke and be taken to the realm of spirits. Raise your voice in song to the waters and land, accompanied by flute and drum. Walk the path, pausing to lay among the roots, listen to the trees, and laugh with the falling leaves. Close the day in a circle, deeply moved and ready to rejoin the world. 

Pond and Pines Retreat will be led by Sloane Lepage, Sarah Plummer, and Zoe Thomas. Sloane specializes in energy work, reiki, song, and sound. Sarah runs Maine Outdoor Yoga melding the Maine outdoors with the power of yoga. Zoe is the Community Engagement Manager for Midcoast Conservancy, bringing a deep connection to the land and compassion for the soul.     

Price: $150.00/pp.
Participants must be 16+.

Questions? Please reach out to Zoe Thomas.

Join Midcoast Conservancy in collaboration with the Maine Forest Service and Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District for a hands-on workshop focused on using live staking as a practical shoreline restoration technique. Participants will learn how native trees and shrubs can stabilize streambanks, shorelines, and other areas where erosion is a concern. 

Live staking uses dormant cuttings from native trees and shrubs that quickly develop roots and help stabilize soil. This simple and effective restoration technique can be used at home or in your community to reduce erosion, improve habitat, and protect water quality.

What to Expect:

• Learn how live stakes reduce erosion and improve habitat and water quality.

• Guidance from Maine Forest Service District Forester Jared Gregory.

• Hands-on planting demonstration.

• Learn practical techniques you can apply at home or in your community.

• The program will conclude with pizza and conversation so bring all your questions and an appetite!

• All tools and materials will be provided.

Participants will leave with a better understanding of how native trees and shrubs can be used as a simple, low-cost restoration tool and how live staking can support healthier landscapes. 

What is Live Staking?

Live staking is a low-cost, natural “bioengineering” technique used to repair eroding shorelines. It involves taking dormant cuttings from specific native trees and shrubs—like willows and dogwoods—and planting them directly into the ground. Because these species are incredibly resilient, the “stakes” will grow a new root system, effectively creating a living wall of vegetation.

Why is it necessary?

• Reduces erosion: The new root systems act like “rebar” for the soil, binding it together and preventing it from washing away during heavy rains.

• Protects water quality: By stabilizing the bank, we prevent sediment from clouding the water and harming aquatic life.

• Cooler habitats: As these stakes grow into mature shrubs, they provide shade that keeps water temperatures cool for native fish.

All are welcome! Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

While this is a free event, we appreciate your registration which is essential for our planning.

Learn to start a fire with ease in this hands-on workshop at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Whether you’ve struggled all your life to get campfires lit, always worry when starting a fire after a rain, or are looking to improve your woodstove fire starting skills, this workshop will leave you feeling confident. 

We often hear from people staying at our campsites and cabins about how difficult it was to start the fire, or how excited they were that they finally got a fire started. When you’re relying on a fire to cook your dinner or dry your clothes, it’s essential that you have the skills to easily make it happen. Learn the difference in types of wood, where to find dry kindling, different styles of fire structure and when to use them, and how to be prepared before you light the match.

Come with a friend you want to camp with, bring the entire family, or join alone. We will make sure you walk away with the skills needed to start a fire successfully anytime you want.   

This is a free program, but space is limited and registration is required.

Refund Policy.

Have a child who needs cross county ski equipment for the winter?
Why not lease them a set of skis, boots, and poles from Midcoast Conservancy! Keep the equipment all winter to ski wherever you want, including Hidden Valley, and return them in April.

Available for youth aged 3-12
Ski Lease Package: $75 per participant.
The individual who will use the skis must be present to ensure a proper fit. Feel free to email in advance to ensure we have the correct size skis and boots available.

Once you have your skis, register here to join us on Sunday mornings January 10 - February 21 for Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Cross country skiers of all ages and abilities can join.

Interested in Ski Lessons during Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club? Register for lessons here. Whether you’ve always wanted to learn to cross country ski or you’ve skied before but could use some new skills, we’ll meet you where you’re at in a fun no-pressure environment.

Questions? Contact Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org

Refund Policy.

Have a child who needs cross county ski equipment for the winter?
Why not lease them a set of skis, boots, and poles from Midcoast Conservancy! Keep the equipment all winter to ski wherever you want, including Hidden Valley, and return them in April.

Available for youth aged 3-12
Ski Lease Package: $75 per participant.
The individual who will use the skis must be present to ensure a proper fit. Feel free to email in advance to ensure we have the correct size skis and boots available.

Once you have your skis, register here to join us on Sunday mornings January 10 - February 21 for Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Cross country skiers of all ages and abilities can join.

Interested in Ski Lessons during Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club? Register for lessons here. Whether you’ve always wanted to learn to cross country ski or you’ve skied before but could use some new skills, we’ll meet you where you’re at in a fun no-pressure environment.

Questions? Contact Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org

Refund Policy.

Have a child who needs cross county ski equipment for the winter?
Why not lease them a set of skis, boots, and poles from Midcoast Conservancy! Keep the equipment all winter to ski wherever you want, including Hidden Valley, and return them in April.

Available for youth aged 3-12
Ski Lease Package: $75 per participant.
The individual who will use the skis must be present to ensure a proper fit. Feel free to email in advance to ensure we have the correct size skis and boots available.

Once you have your skis, register here to join us on Sunday mornings January 10 - February 21 for Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Cross country skiers of all ages and abilities can join.

Interested in Ski Lessons during Midcoast Conservancy Ski Club? Register for lessons here. Whether you’ve always wanted to learn to cross country ski or you’ve skied before but could use some new skills, we’ll meet you where you’re at in a fun no-pressure environment.

Questions? Contact Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org

Refund Policy.