Join Midcoast Conservancy for a hike at HVNC; a unique opportunity as part of our Naturalist Workshop Series!

There are 25 miles of trails at Hidden Valley Nature Center, which means there are always new places to check out. On this hike we will follow the Bowl Loop trail up to North Head where towering cliffs, covered in folios and crustose lichens, drop off in opposing directions. On the way we will pass between giant rocks, perfect for adventurous bouldering, and along a narrow trail frequented by more deer than people. In total this hike will be about 2.5 miles long taken at a slow pace that allows us time for curiosity.

After the hike, join us for pizzas in the brick bake oven shared around a fire at the Bezon Barn. What better way to celebrate fall! 

While there is no age limit for this program, children under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.

For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org. 

This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.

Refund Policy.

Join Midcoast Conservancy for a volunteer trail work day at Trout Brook Preserve!

We will focus on replacing and stabilizing the entrance bridging and may do some lopping and re-blazing if we have enough time and hands. October is the best month for trail work so don’t miss out on the fun!

No experience is required, just an interest in being outside with like-minded people giving back to a public trail. Bring work gloves, study shoes, water and a snack. We will provide the tools and expertise!

Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Email isobel@midcoastconservancy.org with questions. 

This is a free volunteer opportunity, but registration is encouraged.

Join our local Maine Forest Service District Forester, Jared Gregory, for a walk and talk at Hidden Valley Nature Center focused on tree diseases, specifically those affecting the American beech tree (Fagus grandifolia).

Most of us are familiar with these towering beauties with their surfboard shaped leaves, folded beach umbrella buds, and elephant leg trunks. They tower over our yards and bring shade to the Maine forest, but, beech trees are suffering from two distinct diseases that are threatening their health and survival on the Maine landscape. Join us as we learn the science behind the beech bark and beech leaf diseases.

At the start of this Wednesday Wander we will learn how to identify American beech in our forests. We will talk about the role of beech historically and how our forests have changed since European settlement, with a focus on the exotic pests and diseases that have reshaped the forested landscape, especially those impacting beech.

The conversation will conclude with a discussion on how to prepare for Beech Leaf Disease from a forest stewardship perspective and an overview of the mitigation efforts against other exotic forest health issues (some stories do have happy endings!).

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

Registration is encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

Fallen leaves are all around us, alerting us to the coming colder months, but they are hardly the only sign that winter is around the corner. In small and sometimes hidden ways the flora and fauna in the forest is transitioning. Join Maine Master Naturalist Susan Cottle at Whitefield Salmon Preserve to discover the shift happening from summer’s frenetic activity to winter’s seeming tranquility. On our walk we’ll look for clues of change, both obvious and not so easily seen.

This is a great walk for curious souls of all ages so come alone or bring the whole family. The group will meet at the preserve parking lot at 1:00 pm. Please bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. This trail is easy and interesting so come enjoy a Sunday stroll through the woods.

For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org. 

This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.

Refund Policy.

Join us for a full moon fire at Hidden Valley Nature Center.

The full moon is a time for reflection and celebration!

We invite you to join us for a community fire at Hidden Valley Nature Center, by the shore of Haybale Pond under the full Beaver Moon. Invite a friend, bring the whole family or come alone to enjoy fire and moonlight.

We will gather just past the Bezon Barn around the fire circle by Hi Hut; please wear seasonal appropriate clothing. Feel free to bring food, a poem or song to share, or simply bring yourself. Come anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 PM.

All are welcome, youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a free event, but registration is requested.

Refund policy.

Join Emma Polhemus, a Maine Conservation Corps member hosted by Midcoast Conservancy, for a hands-on workshop focused on the use of nature-based strategies for shoreline erosion. 

Nature-based strategies work with the strengths of nature, from roots to shoots to leaves, to stabilize eroding soils and shorelines with plants and biodegradable materials. Unlike stone riprap and other “gray infrastructure,” nature-based strategies also preserve or even enhance important shoreline habitat for wildlife. At this hands-on workshop, we’ll use an eroding bank at Whitefield Salmon Preserve on the West Branch of the Sheepscot River as a case study to talk about how nature-based strategies can be personalized to fit different environments and causes of erosion.

We’ll also work together to demonstrate some best management practices like water bars, swales, and live stakes on-site. Over time, these practices will slow down runoff and restore healthy native vegetation to the area to keep sediment and pollutants from entering the river. 

There will be plenty of chances to get your hands dirty, but everyone is welcome to participate at their own comfort level, whether that be jumping into digging water bars and planting vegetation, or simply coming to listen in and chat with Emma and others working on nature-based strategies across the state.

For questions, please reach out to Emma at emma@midcoastconservancy.org. 

This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.

Refund Policy.

Outdoor Gear Sale!
Midcoast Conservancy owns more outdoor gear than we can use and so we are offering it to you! This two-day sale will include second hand mountain bikes and fat tire bikes (youth and adult sizes), cross-country skis, boots, and poles for the whole family, and snowshoes in various sizes. The sale will take place in and outside of the Welcome Center at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley.

Most of the gear is in excellent or gently used condition; some may need repairs and will be priced accordingly. As we are shifting our recreation model from transactional daily gear rentals to seasonal youth ski leases, we are selling some gear and holding onto what can be used on organized group outings. We are excited to get the gear into the hands of people who can use it regularly on trails throughout the midcoast, including at our Hidden Valley. 

Cross country skis have NNN bindings with compatible boots. Also available are combi skate/classic scaleless skis, and some very affordable older three pin skis for lovers of vintage equipment. Mountain bikes are Trek Roscoe, and fat tire bikes are Reid Titan and Hercules. Snowshoes are in a variety of brands, binding styles, and sizes. 

Youth Ski Lease

Have a child who’s still growing? Lease them a set of skis instead of buying a new pair each year. Keep them all winter to ski wherever you want, including Hidden Valley, and return them in April. Available for youth aged 3-17. Leasing is happening concurrent with the gear sale and at the same location. 

Dates & Times

• November 21, 2025 - 1pm - 4:30pm

• November 22, 2025 - 10am - 3pm

Refund Policy.

Outdoor Gear Sale!
Midcoast Conservancy owns more outdoor gear than we can use and so we are offering it to you! This two-day sale will include second hand mountain bikes and fat tire bikes (youth and adult sizes), cross-country skis, boots, and poles for the whole family, and snowshoes in various sizes. The sale will take place in and outside of the Welcome Center at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley.

Most of the gear is in excellent or gently used condition; some may need repairs and will be priced accordingly. As we are shifting our recreation model from transactional daily gear rentals to seasonal youth ski leases, we are selling some gear and holding onto what can be used on organized group outings. We are excited to get the gear into the hands of people who can use it regularly on trails throughout the midcoast, including at our Hidden Valley. 

Cross country skis have NNN bindings with compatible boots. Also available are combi skate/classic scaleless skis, and some very affordable older three pin skis for lovers of vintage equipment. Mountain bikes are Trek Roscoe, and fat tire bikes are Reid Titan and Hercules. Snowshoes are in a variety of brands, binding styles, and sizes. 

Youth Ski Lease

Have a child who’s still growing? Lease them a set of skis instead of buying a new pair each year. Keep them all winter to ski wherever you want, including Hidden Valley, and return them in April. Available for youth aged 3-17. Leasing is happening concurrent with the gear sale and at the same location. 

Dates & Times

• November 21, 2025 - 1pm - 4:30pm

• November 22, 2025 - 10am - 3pm

Refund Policy.

Join us for a full moon hike (or snowshoe) at Hidden Valley Nature Center.

Enjoy an evening illuminated by the glow of the full Cold Moon. Discover a new way of being in the woods, when sounds become more pronounced and sight takes a backseat to our other senses. The group will take moments of silence to listen for owls and nocturnal foragers along the trail, chat as we hike and revel in the brightness of earth's closest celestial friend. 

Meet at the Welcome Center at HVNC; hikers should wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink, and flashlight or headlamp. Your guide will lead the group on a moderate hike of 2-3 miles along some of the many trails at HVNC. We will be out for 2 hours. 

Should inclement weather occur, the full moon hike will be moved to the following evening, Friday December 5th.

All are welcome, youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

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

Refund policy.

Join Midcoast Conservancy for ecology exploration at one of our 25 diverse preserves!

Search for animal tracks in the snow, learn about invasive species and tree diseases, or improve your plant identification skills. Venture to the pond to check out a beaver lodge and talk about the amazing adaptations of this busy builder. Bring your binoculars to focus on birds and learn to identify those you spy. Examine mosses and lichens of all kinds on rocks, trees, and the forest floor. Delve into the role mushrooms play in the balance of the forest, how they grow, and what kinds flourish locally. Venture to a vernal pool to explore what lies beneath the surface and the importance of these seasonal wetlands. Find a quiet spot under a special tree to sketch the bark or write the feelings of the forest.

Naturalist Workshops are held the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and offer a different topic to be explored in depth, led by a naturalist but guided by the interests of the group.

These programs take place at preserves across our service area, from the Sheepscot headwaters to the shores of the Medomak and Hidden Valley Nature Center. Register now, and keep your eye out for updated program descriptions each month.

For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org. 

This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.

Refund Policy.

Join Midcoast Conservancy for ecology exploration at one of our 25 diverse preserves!

Search for animal tracks in the snow, learn about invasive species and tree diseases, or improve your plant identification skills. Venture to the pond to check out a beaver lodge and talk about the amazing adaptations of this busy builder. Bring your binoculars to focus on birds and learn to identify those you spy. Examine mosses and lichens of all kinds on rocks, trees, and the forest floor. Delve into the role mushrooms play in the balance of the forest, how they grow, and what kinds flourish locally. Venture to a vernal pool to explore what lies beneath the surface and the importance of these seasonal wetlands. Find a quiet spot under a special tree to sketch the bark or write the feelings of the forest.

Naturalist Workshops are held the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month and offer a different topic to be explored in depth, led by a naturalist but guided by the interests of the group.

These programs take place at preserves across our service area, from the Sheepscot headwaters to the shores of the Medomak and Hidden Valley Nature Center. Register now, and keep your eye out for updated program descriptions each month.

For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org. 

This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.

Refund Policy.

Come one, come all to celebrate the Winter Solstice at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center!

Over the last few months the nights have been getting longer and longer. We settle into the darkness earlier each evening and awaken when the sky is still black. On December 21st the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the official start of winter, after which the days will gradually get longer. 

Winter Solstice has been celebrated around the world for thousands of years with fires, singing, lantern light, and shared food. This year join us around a community fire at HVNC. We’ll warm our bodies with wassail and sugar baked apples, raise our voices in song, enjoy a solstice story, build peanut butter pine cones to hang from trees for the birds, and create spiral art with bird seed for the wild critters to enjoy.

Join a loved one or friend for a walk, reflecting on the exit of Autumn and the entrance of the colder months of winter, then return to the fire’s warmth as we burn the annual yule log.

Dress warm in colorful wools and fleeces and adorn yourselves in festive scarves and hats to brighten the shortest day of the year. Bring your mother and father, your children and grandchildren. Take the hand of your best friend or neighbor and lead them to this winter solstice celebration. Whatever the weather we will welcome in the winter together!     

All are welcome, youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

This is a free event, but registration is requested.

Refund policy.