Events and Programs
Timber Frame Workshop
Each course is a four-day, hands-on experience, where nine students will have the opportunity to build a complete timber frame and participate in every step of the hands-on process from designing and cutting timbers to raising the finished structure while working with two expert instructors.
Framing with large dimensional timbers is a traditional method of erecting buildings of any size from houses to barns. Adding to the fun we make use of historic mortis and tenon joinery, a method that predates modern fasteners like bolts and nails. These buildings are both rugged and beautiful. Timber frame construction can be a satisfying way to make use of harvested trees from personal woodlots to build your own house, barn, or any outbuilding.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent.
Days will begin at 8 AM and end at approximately 4 PM. Additional details will be included with your registration confirmation.
Tuition is $450 for Midcoast Conservancy and MOFGA members and $500 for all others.
Registration is required and capacity is limited to 9 people per session.
Registration
Review our refund policy here.
Naturalist Workshop Series-Vernal Pools
Yay! It’s Vernal Pool season!
Come learn about the amazing web of life that abounds in our vernal pools. Bonnie Potter, who has been exploring vernal pools for decade, will be our guide.
Of all the interesting ways to observe the advance of spring, vernal pools are one of the most fascinating. A vernal pool is a temporary woodland pond or small body of water, often overlooked, which plays a central role in the life cycle of many amphibians and turtles and the organisms that rely on them. They have important implications and impacts on local wildlife, outdoor recreation, and forestry operations. We invite anyone to come and learn why vernal pools are so important to protecting Maine’s woodlands.
Participants will learn about the species of frog, turtle, and salamander that rely on vernal pools; learn to identify and count egg masses; and learn about the complex dynamics that make vernal pools so fascinating.
This is an all-ages event—children are welcome with adult supervision. During the event, we will walk approximately 1.5 miles on forest trails, pausing to visit a number of vernal pools.
A note to educators
There is immense value in getting students outside, even for short amounts of time, to explore the natural world. Research is continuing to show that taking kids outdoors benefits social-emotional learning and leads to greater focus when students return to the classroom. For many teachers, this may seem daunting for a plethora of reasons from short class blocks, behavioral concerns, ticks, access to trails, and the perceived difficulty of meeting learning goals in an unconventional setting. Teachers may also be new to learning about the ecology of their setting. This Naturalist Workshop Series is designed to help address the concerns and challenges of taking students outside and grow your comfort level facilitating class learning goals within and beyond the playground.
Each program will provide an opportunity to observe an educator teaching to a group of students. We will provide supplemental materials for teachers to bring back to school, content you can use with students, and time at the end to ask questions and brainstorm ways you can transfer the lesson to your school's unique setting.
We hope you will step outside with us and bring what you experience back to your schools!
Registration
Project Canopy Walking Tour
With funding from the Maine Forest Service’s Project Canopy Program, Midcoast Conservancy has developed a new educational walking tour at our Hidden Valley Nature Center.
The tour is complete with wonderful new informational displays and offers views and comparisons of MC’s management through the years and incorporates both Low Impact Forestry and Maine Audubon's Forestry for Maine Birds. Join us for our inaugural tour walk guided by our forest managers.
This is a free event, but registration is required.
Registration
Timber Frame Workshop
Each course is a four-day, hands-on experience, where nine students will have the opportunity to build a complete timber frame and participate in every step of the hands-on process from designing and cutting timbers to raising the finished structure while working with two expert instructors.
Framing with large dimensional timbers is a traditional method of erecting buildings of any size from houses to barns. Adding to the fun we make use of historic mortis and tenon joinery, a method that predates modern fasteners like bolts and nails. These buildings are both rugged and beautiful. Timber frame construction can be a satisfying way to make use of harvested trees from personal woodlots to build your own house, barn, or any outbuilding.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent.
Days will begin at 8 AM and end at approximately 4 PM. Additional details will be included with your registration confirmation.
Tuition is $450 for Midcoast Conservancy and MOFGA members and $500 for all others.
Registration is required and capacity is limited to 9 people per session.
Review our refund policy here.
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Adventure Morning
Join us for a morning adventure on the trails or water at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
Never biked on trails or snow before but want to give it a try? Get fitted with one of our mountain or fat bikes and learn the basics from a biking expert before heading out on the trails. Been mountain biking for years but want to learn more about bike maintenance? Come join our bike maintenance tutorial so you can keep your bike in tip top shape.
Interested in learning to navigate the water by kayak or canoe? Hike with us down to Little Dyer Pond to learn the basics of paddling and boat handling. Head out on the water to discover beaver activity, otter slides and the secrets of the marsh grasses.
Interested in learning to cross country ski but don’t know how to start? Join us for a lesson. Rent equipment or bring your own and learn to kick and glide, turn, slow down and climb hills on skis. Always wanted to try skate skiing but don’t have equipment? Rent a set of combi skate skis and let our instructors get you started.
No matter the season, we have adventures awaiting!
Registration
Foraging Edible and Medicinal Mushrooms: An Identification Workshop With Greg Marley
Everyone is fascinated by wild mushrooms. From foraging and eating, to medicinal use and the use of psychedelics to improve learning and address depression. The only thing standing in the way is acquiring the knowledge and confidence to tell the good mushrooms from those that can sicken you. The good news is that there are a handful of common, easily identified, great edibles or medicinals that can satisfy most peoples hunger for mushrooms. Maine is home to a number of world-class edible mushrooms easily found as you enjoy a walk through the woods and fields.
This day-long class helps to build the basic knowledge needed to identify common mushrooms and to begin a lifetime of wild mushrooming. The class will combine indoor lecture and outdoor experience in the forest to explore identification features, ecology and the seasonal occurrence of mushrooms. We will look at edible as well as common poisonous mushrooms and may end the day by cooking some of the mushrooms we find. Learn a few common edible and medicinal mushrooms and build skills to identify more.
Come prepared for a mild hike and a fun learning day. Participants are invited to bring fresh examples of mushrooms from their local woods and fields. No experience is needed.
Cost: $70 ($80 for non-members)
Age Limit: 12+
Registration Required, below, limit of 22.
Greg A Marley Bio
Greg Marley has been collecting, studying, eating, growing and teaching mushrooms for over 45 years. He spreads his love of mushrooms to hundreds through walks, talks and classes held across New England for over 35 years. Marley is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi, (Downeast Books , 2009) and the award-winning Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares; The Love Lore and Mystic of Mushrooms, (Chelsea Green, 2010). As a volunteer mushroom identification consultant to Poison Centers across New England, he provides expertise in mushroom poisoning cases. When not mushrooming, Marley works as a mental health clinician and behavioral health consultant specializing in suicide prevention.
Registration
Timber Frame Workshop
Each course is a four-day, hands-on experience, where nine students will have the opportunity to build a complete timber frame and participate in every step of the hands-on process from designing and cutting timbers to raising the finished structure while working with two expert instructors.
Framing with large dimensional timbers is a traditional method of erecting buildings of any size from houses to barns. Adding to the fun we make use of historic mortis and tenon joinery, a method that predates modern fasteners like bolts and nails. These buildings are both rugged and beautiful. Timber frame construction can be a satisfying way to make use of harvested trees from personal woodlots to build your own house, barn, or any outbuilding.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent.
Days will begin at 8 AM and end at approximately 4 PM. Additional details will be included with your registration confirmation.
Tuition is $450 for Midcoast Conservancy and MOFGA members and $500 for all others.
Registration is required and capacity is limited to 9 people per session.
Registration
Review our refund policy here.
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Timber Frame Workshop
Each course is a four-day, hands-on experience, where nine students will have the opportunity to build a complete timber frame and participate in every step of the hands-on process from designing and cutting timbers to raising the finished structure while working with two expert instructors.
Framing with large dimensional timbers is a traditional method of erecting buildings of any size from houses to barns. Adding to the fun we make use of historic mortis and tenon joinery, a method that predates modern fasteners like bolts and nails. These buildings are both rugged and beautiful. Timber frame construction can be a satisfying way to make use of harvested trees from personal woodlots to build your own house, barn, or any outbuilding.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent.
Days will begin at 8 AM and end at approximately 4 PM. Additional details will be included with your registration confirmation.
Tuition is $450 for Midcoast Conservancy and MOFGA members and $500 for all others.
Registration is required and capacity is limited to 9 people per session.
Registration
Review our refund policy here.
Adventure Morning
Join us for a morning adventure on the trails or water at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
Never biked on trails or snow before but want to give it a try? Get fitted with one of our mountain or fat bikes and learn the basics from a biking expert before heading out on the trails. Been mountain biking for years but want to learn more about bike maintenance? Come join our bike maintenance tutorial so you can keep your bike in tip top shape.
Interested in learning to navigate the water by kayak or canoe? Hike with us down to Little Dyer Pond to learn the basics of paddling and boat handling. Head out on the water to discover beaver activity, otter slides and the secrets of the marsh grasses.
Interested in learning to cross country ski but don’t know how to start? Join us for a lesson. Rent equipment or bring your own and learn to kick and glide, turn, slow down and climb hills on skis. Always wanted to try skate skiing but don’t have equipment? Rent a set of combi skate skis and let our instructors get you started.
No matter the season, we have adventures awaiting!
Registration
Chainsaw Safety Course
Cost: $130 ($150 for non-members)
Age limit: 16+
Registration is required, limit of 15.
This one-and-a-half day course designed for beginners at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson is for participants who have little or no experience with a chainsaw, though it can also be an effective refresher for more experienced individuals who have developed some bad habits with a saw. This is the gateway course to learning more advanced practices.
The focus of this course is overwhelmingly on safety: safe posture, safe practices, safe clothing, and safe habits.
The first half day session (Saturday 10/19, 8:00 am to 1:30 pm) will be under our pavilion as instructors provide some basic information about chainsaws, maintenance, safety clothing, introduce participants to good practices, and provide relevant background material. The second day is intended to be a full day of practice and application (Sunday, 10/20, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm).
The goal is that each student will leave the course being keenly aware of how to evaluate practices, and equipment for safety. It is also a goal that each student will have the opportunity to operate a chainsaw in a controlled and supervised setting. Most students in the course will practice starting a saw, making straight up-and-down cuts (bucking), felling a tree, and bore cuts. Students’ interests and aptitudes always dictate the extent of the course. Some Level I students will practice directional tree felling techniques if they feel comfortable doing so.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent. Students should come prepared with all the food and water they will need.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on our Chainsaw Safety Courses. MOFGA members may also take advantage of discounted pricing.
Registration
Review our refund policy here.
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Advanced Chainsaw Safety Course
Cost: $130 ($150 for non-members)
Age limit: 16+
Registration required, limit of 8 students
Rain Date: November 3.
This one day course is designed for folks who have some previous experience with a saw and are looking to practice skills that are beyond the Level 1 Course offering. Much of the material from the beginner’s course will be reviewed, such as Personal Protective Equipment and safe handling, which will serve as a great and important refresher. More attention will be paid to saw maintenance, and the primary focus will be put on cutting techniques for bucking and directional tree felling. The goal of this course is for participants to leave prepared to do a significant amount of work with their saw. This course will be great for folks who intend to manage their woodlot and process firewood.
Completion of Level 1 training or a considerable amount of previous experience with a chainsaw is strongly recommended. Anyone with questions about their suitability for the course can contact the instructor, Tim Libby, at tim@midcoastconservancy.org.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on our Chainsaw Safety Courses. MOFGA members may also take advantage of discounted pricing.
Registration
Adventure Morning
Join us for a morning adventure on the trails or water at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
Never biked on trails or snow before but want to give it a try? Get fitted with one of our mountain or fat bikes and learn the basics from a biking expert before heading out on the trails. Been mountain biking for years but want to learn more about bike maintenance? Come join our bike maintenance tutorial so you can keep your bike in tip top shape.
Interested in learning to navigate the water by kayak or canoe? Hike with us down to Little Dyer Pond to learn the basics of paddling and boat handling. Head out on the water to discover beaver activity, otter slides and the secrets of the marsh grasses.
Interested in learning to cross country ski but don’t know how to start? Join us for a lesson. Rent equipment or bring your own and learn to kick and glide, turn, slow down and climb hills on skis. Always wanted to try skate skiing but don’t have equipment? Rent a set of combi skate skis and let our instructors get you started.
No matter the season, we have adventures awaiting!
Registration
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Adventure Morning
Join us for a morning adventure on the trails or water at Hidden Valley Nature Center!
Never biked on trails or snow before but want to give it a try? Get fitted with one of our mountain or fat bikes and learn the basics from a biking expert before heading out on the trails. Been mountain biking for years but want to learn more about bike maintenance? Come join our bike maintenance tutorial so you can keep your bike in tip top shape.
Interested in learning to navigate the water by kayak or canoe? Hike with us down to Little Dyer Pond to learn the basics of paddling and boat handling. Head out on the water to discover beaver activity, otter slides and the secrets of the marsh grasses.
Interested in learning to cross country ski but don’t know how to start? Join us for a lesson. Rent equipment or bring your own and learn to kick and glide, turn, slow down and climb hills on skis. Always wanted to try skate skiing but don’t have equipment? Rent a set of combi skate skis and let our instructors get you started.
No matter the season, we have adventures awaiting!
Registration
Earth-based Skills Youth Series
Step into the forest and a world before modern technology to gain wilderness survival skills and knowledge!
Track animals through the winter woods, build simple snares, and learn about camouflage. Make a survival shelter worthy of a cold fall night and search for seasonal wild edibles. Focus on fire, from a leave no trace one match teepee to the magic of fire by friction. Learn safe knife handling so you can carve a coal-burned spoon or bowl. Use rope lashing skills to construct a simple stick tripod chair to use by the fire. And walk silently barefoot through the trees observing the natural world in new ways.
Each month will focus on a different earth-based skills topic, building a knowledge of life in the forest throughout the year.
For 7-13 year olds, 12 kids per outing.
Join us for one class or come each month to immerse yourself in earth-based skills!
Registration
Home Firewood Production Basics
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED
This workshop will cover the basics of home firewood production from the selection of wood species, cutting a number of different diameters of wood, a variety of hand and mechanical splitting techniques, as well as storage/drying options for the homeowner.
Taught by Kirk Niese, a long-time low-impact forestry practitioner and instructor. This course was developed from Kirk’s extremely popular “Home Firewood Production” talk given annually at the Common Ground Country Fair and designed to be an in-depth learning experience.
Note the rain date for this event is Sunday, April 28.
Registration for this event is required and space is limited.
This event is not meant for anyone under the age of 16.
Please review our refund policy here.
Naturalist Workshop Series - Vernal Pools
Yay! It’s Vernal Pool season!
Come learn about the amazing web of life that abounds in our vernal pools. Bonnie Potter, who has been exploring vernal pools for decade, will be our guide.
Of all the interesting ways to observe the advance of spring, vernal pools are one of the most fascinating. A vernal pool is a temporary woodland pond or small body of water, often overlooked, which plays a central role in the life cycle of many amphibians and turtles and the organisms that rely on them. They have important implications and impacts on local wildlife, outdoor recreation, and forestry operations. We invite anyone to come and learn why vernal pools are so important to protecting Maine’s woodlands.
Participants will learn about the species of frog, turtle, and salamander that rely on vernal pools; learn to identify and count egg masses; and learn about the complex dynamics that make vernal pools so fascinating.
This is an all-ages event—children are welcome with adult supervision. During the event, we will walk approximately 1.5 miles on forest trails, pausing to visit a number of vernal pools.
A note to educators
There is immense value in getting students outside, even for short amounts of time, to explore the natural world. Research is continuing to show that taking kids outdoors benefits social-emotional learning and leads to greater focus when students return to the classroom. For many teachers, this may seem daunting for a plethora of reasons from short class blocks, behavioral concerns, ticks, access to trails, and the perceived difficulty of meeting learning goals in an unconventional setting. Teachers may also be new to learning about the ecology of their setting. This Naturalist Workshop Series is designed to help address the concerns and challenges of taking students outside and grow your comfort level facilitating class learning goals within and beyond the playground.
Each program will provide an opportunity to observe an educator teaching to a group of students. We will provide supplemental materials for teachers to bring back to school, content you can use with students, and time at the end to ask questions and brainstorm ways you can transfer the lesson to your school's unique setting.
We hope you will step outside with us and bring what you experience back to your schools!
Registration
Chainsaw Safety Course
Cost: $130 ($150 for non-members)
Age limit: 16+
Registration is required, limit of 15.
This one-and-a-half day course designed for beginners at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson is for participants who have little or no experience with a chainsaw, though it can also be an effective refresher for more experienced individuals who have developed some bad habits with a saw. This is the gateway course to learning more advanced practices.
The focus of this course is overwhelmingly on safety: safe posture, safe practices, safe clothing, and safe habits.
The first half day session (Saturday 4/13, 8:00 am to 1:30 pm) will be under our pavilion as instructors provide some basic information about chainsaws, maintenance, safety clothing, introduce participants to good practices, and provide relevant background material. The second day is intended to be a full day of practice and application (Sunday, 4/14, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm).
The goal is that each student will leave the course being keenly aware of how to evaluate practices, and equipment for safety. It is also a goal that each student will have the opportunity to operate a chainsaw in a controlled and supervised setting. Most students in the course will practice starting a saw, making straight up-and-down cuts (bucking), felling a tree, and bore cuts. Students’ interests and aptitudes always dictate the extent of the course. Some Level I students will practice directional tree felling techniques if they feel comfortable doing so.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent. Students should come prepared with all the food and water they will need.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on our Chainsaw Safety Courses. MOFGA members may also take advantage of discounted pricing.
Registration
Review our refund policy here.
Naturalist Workshop Series - Vernal Pools
Due to on the ground conditions following the recent snowstorm and forecast for continued sleet, rain, and unsettled weather, we have unfortunately cancelled this event. If you already registered, we will contact you about refunding your registration fee.
Signs of Spring - Vernal Pools, Buds and Catkins
Spring has sprung at Hidden Valley Nature Center. The woods are alive with the sounds, sites and smells of the awakening forest. Vernal pools, filled with the rains of spring, are just beginning to show signs of life, promises of frogs, salamanders and insects soon to hatch. Trees are adorned with swollen buds ready to burst into the first green leaves of the season. And catkins hang on the branches of willows, birches and aspens waiting for the wind to carry their pollen to other catkins.
Join Maine Master Naturalist Heather Hardy to immerse yourself in these emerging signs of spring. Visit a number of different vernal pools to see what, if anything, is developing beneath the surface. Identify different tree species by their spring buds and flowers. And look for early signs of skunk cabbage and other first plants just emerging. Feel free to bring your journal if you’d like to sketch the things you discover along the way.
Be prepared for muddy trails with proper footwear and don’t forget your water bottle. Meet at the Welcome Center at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
A note to educators
There is immense value in getting students outside, even for short amounts of time, to explore the natural world. Research is continuing to show that taking kids outdoors benefits social-emotional learning and leads to greater focus when students return to the classroom. For many teachers, this may seem daunting for a plethora of reasons from short class blocks, behavioral concerns, ticks, access to trails, and the perceived difficulty of meeting learning goals in an unconventional setting. Teachers may also be new to learning about the ecology of their setting. This Naturalist Workshop Series is designed to help address the concerns and challenges of taking students outside and grow your comfort level facilitating class learning goals within and beyond the playground.
Each program will provide an opportunity to observe an educator teaching to a group of students. We will provide supplemental materials for teachers to bring back to school, content you can use with students, and time at the end to ask questions and brainstorm ways you can transfer the lesson to your school's unique setting.
We hope you will step outside with us and bring what you experience back to your schools!
Registration
Full Moon Hike and owl chat at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join us for a full moon hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the moon and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; the group will listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.
This final full moon hike of the season will start a little differently. We will be welcoming a screech owl named Willow, brought to us by Dan Weekes, from Pollination Station in Alna. He will introduce Willow to hike participants and do a short talk about the owl before the hike begins. This will take place in front of the Welcome Center and last 15-20 minutes after which Dan will leave with Willow and the hike will proceed.
Hikers should dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. Your Maine Master Naturalist guide will lead the group on a moderate hike of several miles along some of the many trails at HVNC. We will be out for 2 hours.. The hike will be about 40 minutes each way, and of moderate ease. Snowshoes are available by reservation, or participants can bring their own, in the event of snow.
Weather date: Mar. 25th
Registration is required and space is limited so sign up today!
Review our refund policy here.
Registration
Full Moon Hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join us for a full moon hike (or snowshoe, if there is snow on the ground) at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the moon and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; the group will listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.
Meet at the gate at HVNC; hikers should dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. Your Maine Master Naturalist guide will lead the group on a moderate hike of several miles along some of the many trails at HVNC. We will be out for 2 hours.. The hike will be about 40 minutes each way, and of moderate ease. Snowshoes are available by reservation, or participants can bring their own, in the event of snow.
Weather date: Feb. 24th
Registration is required and space is limited so sign up today!
Review our refund policy here.
Registration
2024 Biathlon
Mark your calendar!
Midcoast Conservancy will host its annual Biathlon at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson. All ages and skill levels are encouraged to participate! This is a non competitive, fun atmosphere with the goal of getting people outside and introduced to the sport of biathlon.
There are races/categories for Nordic skiers, snowshoers and even fat bikers! Don't have your own gear but want to enter the race? Not to worry: Midcoast Conservancy will be renting skis, snowshoes and fat bikes to racers to use for the race and until 3PM on race day. The shooting range will be equipped with paintball guns. All paintball guns are provided by Midcoast Conservancy. Each racer will receive safety training on how to use the paintball gun.
Races will begin about 9 am and continue into the early afternoon. All day long there will be bonfires, along with great food and warm drinks Spectators are encouraged. Please consider volunteering if you’re not planning to race; we can always use extra hands! Please leave your dog at home for this event.
Race categories are based on self-selected skill levels upon registration, and there is a special category for youth racers.
$20 for adults, $10 for anyone 18 and younger. Register now to guarantee your spot. We will be collecting payment on the day of the race. Space is limited- day-of registrations as space provides.
Bad weather make-up date: Feb. 10th
Register here!
Full Moon Hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join us for a full moon hike (or snowshoe, if there is snow on the ground) at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the moon and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; the group will listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.
Meet at the gate at HVNC; hikers should dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. Your Maine Master Naturalist guide will lead the group on a moderate hike of several miles along some of the many trails at HVNC. We will be out for 2 hours.. The hike will be about 40 minutes each way, and of moderate ease. Snowshoes are available by reservation, or participants can bring their own, in the event of snow.
Weather date: Jan. 25th
Registration is required and space is limited so sign up today!
Review our refund policy here.
Registration
Youth Cross-Country Ski Clinic
__________________________________________
Midcoast Conservancy will be offering its multi-session winter Youth Cross-country Ski Clinic each Saturday, beginning January 6 through February 10, from 9:30 am - 11:00 am at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson.
The six session Youth Cross Country Ski Clinic for kids ages 5-14 is the perfect setting for skiers of different levels to gain skills and confidence while enjoying HVNC’s trails. Instructors use creative, non-competitive methods to get the skiers out on the trails having fun each week.
Cost is $70 for members and $80 for non-members. Review our refund policy here.
All attendees must complete the Skills Assessment and Liability Waiver through the following buttons, and register through the below form. Thank you!
rEGISTER HERE!
Full Moon Hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join us for a full moon hike (or snowshoe, if there is snow on the ground) at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Enjoy a crisp evening illuminated by the glow of the moon and discover a new way of being in the woods. At night, sounds become more pronounced; the group will listen for owls and the rustling of nighttime foragers along the trail.
Meet at the gate at HVNC; hikers should dress warmly, wear shoes with good grips and bring a hiking stick if desired, along with a snack, drink and flashlight or headlamp. Your Maine Master Naturalist guide will lead the group on a moderate hike of several miles along some of the many trails at HVNC. We will be out for 2 hours.. The hike will be about 40 minutes each way, and of moderate ease. Snowshoes are available by reservation, or participants can bring their own, in the event of snow.
Weather date: Dec. 27th
Registration is required and space is limited so sign up today!
Review our refund policy here.
Registration
Advanced Chainsaw Safety Course
Cost: $130 ($150 for non-members)
Age limit: 16+
Registration required, limit of 12 students
This one day course is designed for folks who have some previous experience with a saw and are looking to practice skills that are beyond the Level 1 Course offering. Much of the material from the beginner’s course will be reviewed, such as Personal Protective Equipment and safe handling, which will serve as a great and important refresher. More attention will be paid to saw maintenance, and the primary focus will be put on cutting techniques for bucking and directional tree felling. The goal of this course is for participants to leave prepared to do a significant amount of work with their saw. This course will be great for folks who intend to manage their woodlot and process firewood.
Completion of Level 1 training or a considerable amount of previous experience with a chainsaw is strongly recommended. Anyone with questions about their suitability for the course can contact the instructor, Tim Libby, at tim@midcoastconservancy.org.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on our Chainsaw Safety Courses. MOFGA members may also take advantage of discounted pricing.
Registration
Chainsaw Safety Course
Cost: $130 ($150 for non-members)
Age limit: 16+
Registration required, limit of 15 students
This one-and-a-half day course designed for beginners at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson is for participants who have little or no experience with a chainsaw, though it can also be an effective refresher for more experienced individuals who have developed some bad habits with a saw. This is the gateway course to learning more advanced practices.
The focus of this course is overwhelmingly on safety: safe posture, safe practices, safe clothing, and safe habits.
The first half day session (Saturday 10/21, 8 a.m. to 1:30) will be mostly indoors as instructors provide some basic information about chainsaws, maintenance, safety clothing, introduce participants to good practices, and provide relevant background material. The second day is intended to be a full day of practice and application (Sunday, 10/22, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
The goal is that each student will leave the course being keenly aware of how to evaluate practices, and equipment for safety. It is also a goal that each student will have the opportunity to operate a chainsaw in a controlled and supervised setting. Most students in the course will practice starting a saw, making straight up-and-down cuts (bucking), felling a tree, and bore cuts. Students’ interests and aptitude always dictate the extent of the course. Some Level I students will practice directional tree felling techniques, if they feel comfortable doing so.
Midcoast Conservancy does not provide overnight accommodations as a part of this workshop, but there are rustic cabins and campsites at HVNC available for rent. Students should come prepared with all the food and water they will need.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on our Chainsaw Safety Courses. MOFGA members may also take advantage of discounted pricing. Review our refund policy here.
Registration
Timber Frame Workshop, October 12-15
Each course is a four-day, hands-on experience, where nine students will have the opportunity to build a complete timber frame and participate in every step of the process from harvesting trees to raising the finished structure, working with two expert instructors to learn the basics of sustainable forestry and sawmill operation, building design principles, and hands-on building techniques for constructing a simple frame.
Timber framing, sometimes referred to as post and beam building, is a historic way of building that uses specific joinery to erect a building made from large beams. The buildings are both rugged and beautiful. Timber frame construction can be a satisfying way to make use of harvested trees from personal woodlots to build a shed, barn, or even a house.
Tuition is $450 for Midcoast Conservancy and MOFGA members, and $500 for all others. Scholarships may be available; email info@midcoastconservancy.org to apply. Tuition includes use of all necessary tools and a Midcoast Conservancy membership.
Days will begin at 8 AM and end at approximately 4 PM. Additional details will be included with your registration confirmation email. \
Please note that registration is required and capacity is limited to 9 people for each 4-day session. Review our refund policy here.
Wednesday wanders
This week: Palermo Preserve!
Join us for our Wednesday Wanders guided hike series to explore Midcoast Conservancy’s preserves, from the popular destinations to the hidden gems! Maine Conservation Corps member Linc Oliver-O’Neil, along with a team of volunteer naturalists, will lead you on a weekly stroll through the beautiful forests, fields, wetlands, and salt marshes of Midcoast Maine. Throughout the season, we will wander through 20 preserves and along 30 miles of trails while we observe and learn about the natural world around us.
Guided hikes happen every Wednesday from June 7th to October 25th, and are free to attend. Here is the hike schedule - please check individual program post each Wednesday just in case details change. Happy Wandering!
No registration is required. Participants should meet at the designated trail head/meeting area. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.
Race Through the Woods—Cancelled
DUE TO VERY POOR TRAIL CONDITIONS AFTER THIS RAINY SUMMER, WE HAVE MADE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO CANCEL THE RACE FOR SAFETY REASONS. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Join us for the 12th Annual Race Through The Woods trail race, sponsored by First National Bank, on Saturday, September 30 at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, Maine.
Racing starts at 9:00AM. Racers will have two course options to choose from: a 13 mile course or a shorter 5 mile distance. (Both share the course with same start time). This single loop course brings you over steep hills, through the woods, past beautiful ponds and has about 1,000 feet elevation.
Race fees are $40 for the 13, and $30 for the 5 miler. Prices for both races will increase by $5 AFTER AUGUST 1, 2023.
Long sleeve technical shirts will be available for purchase with registration, with a limited number available for purchase the day of. Prizes will be given to first place finishers (men and women) and in age categories. Prizes will include gift certificates donated by sponsors and PIE!
We will be pouring beer from Sheepscot Brewing and cider from Tin Top and plan on having some snack food for sale.
Registration IS REQUIRED through our friends at Race Entry and closes one week before race. Click the green button below to register!
This race is currently capped at 125 entrants, with a waitlist. There will be NO day of registration.
No refunds, no bib transfers. If you are unable to race, your registration fee will be considered a donation to Midcoast Conservancy.
Wednesday wanders
This week: Griggs Preserve!
Guest Naturalist: Susan Cottle
Join us for our Wednesday Wanders guided hike series to explore Midcoast Conservancy’s preserves, from the popular destinations to the hidden gems! Maine Conservation Corps member Linc Oliver-O’Neil, along with a team of volunteer naturalists, will lead you on a weekly stroll through the beautiful forests, fields, wetlands, and salt marshes of Midcoast Maine. Throughout the season, we will wander through 20 preserves and along 30 miles of trails while we observe and learn about the natural world around us.
Guided hikes happen every Wednesday from June 7th to October 25th, and are free to attend. Here is the hike schedule - please check individual program post each Wednesday just in case details change. Happy Wandering!
No registration is required. Participants should meet at the designated trail head/meeting area. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.
Coyote and the Boy Ben—POSTPONED
DUE TO WEATHER, THIS SHOW HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
STAY TUNED FOR A NEW DATE!
We were all children once…We all have families with Moms and Dads who care for us. And so this is a marionette show about these wonderful relationships of our life…and in the lives of the wild ones who share our planet with us. This is a story of a Mother Coyote searching for her little pup who has run off to play with a butterfly, and a boy called Ben who found himself in the forest after joyfully following a bunny.
We invite you to come and join us in their touching and unforgettable meeting. Native Peoples’ oral histories passed down stories similar to this regarding Coyote’s benevolence toward them.
Performance by the Song Dog Puppeteers. All marionettes and stage created by our wondrous artist Melissa Glendinning, original music composed by Elizabeth Starr, and performed by our own Maine musicians.
Attending children will also have the opportunity to create their own coyote mask. Elizabeth makes them from simple cardboard and then the children give the mask its singular coyote character…and then take it home.
Note: This is a family-friendly, free event. Registration is required so please register using the form below. Thank you!
Live Edge 2023
Put on your dancing shoes and join us for the 11th annual Live Edge Music Festival at Hidden Valley Nature Center. A fun-filled day of live music, great local food, and beer—all set in the midst of HVNC’s 1,000 acres of trails, pond shore frontage, and bogs.
Four great Maine bands will keep you grooving: The Hot Suppers, Papa Tim & the Desperate Men, The Boneheads, and our perennial closers, Primo Cubano!
Food from Pinnacle Grill Truck and The Pizza Guys. Beer from Sheepscot Brewing, cider from Tin Top Cider, and more to wet your whistle!
Tickets are $25 at the door.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Please note: Food and beverage sales are cash only.
Thanks to our awesome sponsors:
Bangor Savings Bank, Colby & Gale, Mexicali Blues and Ames True Value!
Wednesday wanders
This week: Peter’s Pond Preserve!
Maine Master Naturalist volunteers Jane Harrison and Kit Pfeiffer will lead a nature walk with a focus on common lichens at Peter’s Pond on Wednesday, September 6th. We'll be gathering at the trailhead in the Dutch Neck Community Center parking lot at 10 AM. The hike features some uneven and slick terrain, and will conclude by 12 PM.
The preserve is ideal to see many kinds of lichens, on trees, logs, soil and the rock ledges overlooking the pond. Bring a hand lens if you have one— there will also be some to borrow. It helps to see them up close. Prepare to be amazed!
No registration is required. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.
Dead and Dying Wood Workshop-cancelled
THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED. NEW DATE TBD.
Join Joe Roy, MDIFW Private Lands Biologist, Jared Gregory, Maine Forest Service District Forester, and Tim Libby, Midcoast Conservancy Forest and Lands Manager in our demonstration forest at the Hidden Valley Nature Center for a workshop for landowners and land managers focused on the benefits of dead wood in our forests.
The workshop will focus on forest management planning for wildlife, types of habitat provided by dead wood, the relationship to carbon storage, and actions landowners and land managers can perform on their own.
Registration is free but required.
We are pleased to partner with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Forest Service.
Full Moon Paddle
Joins us on a full moon paddle on secluded Little Dyer Pond!
We will meet at the Welcome Center 15 minutes before the official start time so that we can start walking promptly on schedule. We will hike 1 mile tothe pond and our canoes. If we are lucky, the full moon will be rising on the far shore and we’ll paddle the pond, exploring the wetlands, beaver lodges, and shoreline looking for beaver and otter activity, and listening for loons and owls calling.
Make sure you are wearing water-proof or quick-dry clothing; it’s always a good idea to bring layers (a windbreaker or fleece are great options). Try to avoid both cotton and denim. Make sure you have sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and bring your own water bottle. We should be on the water no longer than an hour and a half, and land at the same location we launched from.
We will provide canoes, paddles, adult life jackets, and a limited number of child life jackets if needed (ages 3 and up). Please, be sure to bring bug repellent and a headlamp.
Registration is free but required, and all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday wanders
This week: Goose River Peace Corps Preserve
Guest Naturalist: Fern expert Hildy Ellis
Join us for our Wednesday Wanders guided hike series to explore Midcoast Conservancy’s preserves, from the popular destinations to the hidden gems! Maine Conservation Corps member Linc Oliver-O’Neil, along with a team of volunteer naturalists, will lead you on a weekly stroll through the beautiful forests, fields, wetlands, and salt marshes of Midcoast Maine. Throughout the season, we will wander through 20 preserves and along 30 miles of trails while we observe and learn about the natural world around us.
Guided hikes happen every Wednesday from June 7th to October 25th, and are free to attend. Here is the hike schedule - please check individual program post each Wednesday just in case details change. Happy Wandering!
No registration is required. Participants should meet at the designated trail head/meeting area. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.
Low Impact Forestry Tactics
CANCELLED! (Due to illness of instructor)
Get familiar with human scaled tools, practical strategies and intuitive processes to make working in the woods productive, safe and fun.
Objectives:
Learn techniques to be an effective and careful practitioner of low impact forestry methods and principles.
Plan accessing, harvesting and extraction of woodland resources to maximize returns while minimizing efforts.
Try out a wide variety of small scale forestry tools both old and new.
Build confidence in yourself as a positive and necessary partner in the healthy ecology of small woodlots.
Instructor: Eli Berry is a low impact logger, farmer and nurseryman from Washington Maine where he operates Crystal Lake Farm and Nursery.
Registration for this event is required. Please review our refund policy here. Thank you!
Wednesday wanders
This week: Maguire Preserve!
Guest Naturalist: Susan Cottle
Join us for our Wednesday Wanders guided hike series to explore Midcoast Conservancy’s preserves, from the popular destinations to the hidden gems! Maine Conservation Corps member Linc Oliver-O’Neil, along with a team of volunteer naturalists, will lead you on a weekly stroll through the beautiful forests, fields, wetlands, and salt marshes of Midcoast Maine. Throughout the season, we will wander through 20 preserves and along 30 miles of trails while we observe and learn about the natural world around us.
Guided hikes happen every Wednesday from June 7th to October 25th, and are free to attend. Here is the hike schedule - please check individual program post each Wednesday just in case details change. Happy Wandering!
No registration is required. Participants should meet at the designated trail head/meeting area. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.
Trail Skills And Sustainability Workshop
Elevate your trail building and maintenance skills during this free two-part workshop designed to teach basics in trail erosion control and hone chainsaw skills.
Designed as a training for our trail crew volunteers, we welcome anyone interested in learning more about sustainable and safe trail building!
The morning session from 9:00 am-1:00 pm will focus on trail erosion control, followed by a lunch break from 1:00 - 2:00 pm, then an afternoon session in chainsaw skills from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Come for one or both sessions! Both sessions will start at the Bezon Barn at Hidden Valley Nature Center, about a ~¼ mile walk from the parking area along the service road.
Please note: If you are interested in the afternoon session, please bring your chainsaw, chaps, steel toes, and ear and eye protection. You should be comfortable using a saw. To learn the basics of chainsaw use, consider taking one of our chainsaw safety courses!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Linc Oliver-O’Neil at landmcc@midcoastconservancy.org or call (401) 529 5738.
Registration is free, but required.
We are pleased to partner with Maine Conservation Corps for this program.
Full Moon Paddle
Joins us on a full moon paddle on secluded Little Dyer Pond!
We will meet at the Welcome Center 15 minutes before the official start time so that we can start walking promptly on schedule. We will hike 1 mile tothe pond and our canoes. If we are lucky, the full moon will be rising on the far shore and we’ll paddle the pond, exploring the wetlands, beaver lodges, and shoreline looking for beaver and otter activity, and listening for loons and owls calling.
Make sure you are wearing water-proof or quick-dry clothing; it’s always a good idea to bring layers (a windbreaker or fleece are great options). Try to avoid both cotton and denim. Make sure you have sturdy shoes that you don’t mind getting wet and bring your own water bottle. We should be on the water no longer than an hour and a half, and land at the same location we launched from.
We will provide canoes, paddles, adult life jackets, and a limited number of child life jackets if needed (ages 3 and up). Please, be sure to bring bug repellent and a headlamp.
Registration is free but required, and all participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday wanders
This week: Trout Brook Preserve!
Guest Naturalist: Chuck Dinsmore
Join us for our Wednesday Wanders guided hike series to explore Midcoast Conservancy’s preserves, from the popular destinations to the hidden gems! Maine Conservation Corps member Linc Oliver-O’Neil, along with a team of volunteer naturalists, will lead you on a weekly stroll through the beautiful forests, fields, wetlands, and salt marshes of Midcoast Maine. Throughout the season, we will wander through 20 preserves and along 30 miles of trails while we observe and learn about the natural world around us.
Guided hikes happen every Wednesday from June 7th to October 25th, and are free to attend. Here is the hike schedule - please check individual program post each Wednesday just in case details change. Happy Wandering!
No registration is required. Participants should meet at the designated trail head/meeting area. Dress appropriately for possible buggy conditions, and bring binoculars if desired.