Events and Programs
Winter Solstice Celebration
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.
Pond Cabin Yoga
Embark on a refreshing snowshoe and hike journey through the tranquil woods, where a warm cabin awaits with a comforting fire. Indulge in a 60-minute vinyasa flow class with Maine Outdoor Yoga followed by a guided meditation to leave you feeling revitalized and balanced.
Afterward, enjoy light refreshments, soothing herbal tea, and Hot Wassail before we make our way back, celebrating our rejuvenated state of mind. Don’t forget to dress in layers, bring your yoga mat and water, and feel free to borrow our snowshoes and poles if needed.
Naturalist Workshop Series-Deciduous Trees in Winter
Deciduous trees in winter present many of us with questions.
Join Maine Master Naturalist Susan Cottle for a walk and talk in the woods exploring deciduous trees for the answers.
Learn how you can tell one leafless tree from another and why some deciduous trees hang onto their dead leaves until spring.
Find out what’s happening inside these apparently sleeping trees and how they wake up come spring to bud out and grow new leaves. Explore how deciduous trees differ in more ways than leaves and needles from conifer trees. Gaze up into the forest canopy to identify deciduous trees by the shapes of their crowns, then get up close and personal with bark identification. Come walk the winter woods exploring the role of deciduous trees—year round—in the forested landscape.
This is a great Naturalist Workshop to join in combination with the one on December 6 when we’ll focus on evergreen trees!
For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org.
This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.
All are welcome! Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Pond Cabin Yoga
Embark on a refreshing snowshoe and hike journey through the tranquil woods, where a warm cabin awaits with a comforting fire. Indulge in a 60-minute vinyasa flow class with Maine Outdoor Yoga followed by a guided meditation to leave you feeling revitalized and balanced.
Afterward, enjoy light refreshments, soothing herbal tea, and Hot Wassail before we make our way back, celebrating our rejuvenated state of mind. Don’t forget to dress in layers, bring your yoga mat and water, and feel free to borrow our snowshoes and poles if needed.
Pond Cabin Yoga
Embark on a refreshing snowshoe and hike journey through the tranquil woods, where a warm cabin awaits with a comforting fire. Indulge in a 60-minute vinyasa flow class with Maine Outdoor Yoga followed by a guided meditation to leave you feeling revitalized and balanced.
Afterward, enjoy light refreshments, soothing herbal tea, and Hot Wassail before we make our way back, celebrating our rejuvenated state of mind. Don’t forget to dress in layers, bring your yoga mat and water, and feel free to borrow our snowshoes and poles if needed.
Youth Ski Lease-Final Chance
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 3-17
Ski Lease Package: $75 per participant.
The individual who will use the skis must be present to ensure a proper fit. Come early to get the right sized gear!
Once you have your skis, register here to join us on Winter Sunday mornings for our Ski Club at Hidden Valley Nature Center. Cross country skiers of all ages and abilities can join us Sunday mornings for a community ski club at Midcoast Conservancy’s Hidden Valley Nature Center. 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.
Want to learn to ski?
Learn more and register here for our Ski Lessons.
Questions? Contact Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org.
Naturalist Workshop Series-Evergreen Trees
Join us for a walk in the woods focused on everything evergreen!
As we walk through the woods of midcoast Maine towering pines, hemlocks and fir trees stand green all year against a backdrop of greys and browns. What makes these evergreens special enough to keep their needles year round?
Maine Master Naturalist Susan Cottle will guide us on a walk and talk at Hidden Valley to delve deep into the history and anatomy of the evergreen tree.
During this program participants will learn not only the definition of an evergreen but how to tell them apart by their bark, cones, and needles. We’ll discuss which evergreen trees have needles, whether every tree with needles really is an evergreen, and which evergreens are conifers. Susan will explain what makes evergreens different from other trees in the ways they reproduce and their role on the landscape.
Many evergreen species predate other tree types in Maine because of their powerful abilities to handle the difficult conditions they face in this northern region of the world.
This is a great Naturalist Workshop to join in combination with the one on January 17 when we’ll focus on non-evergreens—aka deciduous trees!
For questions, please reach out to Zoe Thomas at zoe@midcoastconservancy.org.
This is a free event, but registration is encouraged.
All are welcome! Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Full Moon Hike
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.
OUTDOOR GEAR SALE and Youth Ski Lease
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
OUTDOOR GEAR SALE and Youth Ski Lease
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
BEECH TREE DISEASES: HISTORY, HARM, AND PROGNOSIS
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.
North Head Hike and Pizza at HVNC
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.
Volunteer Trail Day at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join Midcoast Conservancy for a volunteer trail work day Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson!
The trails at Hidden Valley Nature Center run the gamut from narrow footpaths that wind along cliff faces to major arteries that allow us to drive our ranger to cabins and campsites. None of these would remain open if not for volunteers like you!
Join us for a morning on the trails clearing, cutting back, building bog bridges or digging out drainage ditches. Each volunteer day gives us a chance to maintain and improve our expansive trail network at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Bring work gloves, study shoes, water and a snack. We will provide the tools and expertise!
No experience is required, just an interest in being outside with like-minded people giving back to a public trail. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Email zoe@midcoastconservancy.org with questions.
This is a free volunteer opportunity, but registration is encouraged.
afterschool mountain bike ride
Take to the trails at Hidden Valley Nature Center on this afterschool mountain bike ride. Sarah Plummer, local yoga and outdoor adventure instructor from Maine Outdoor Yoga, will lead this group ride along the trails at HVNC. Participants will learn the basics of mountain biking on this fun and challenging beginner to intermediate ride.
Please wear sneakers and bring water in a well-fitting backpack. We will provide you with a mountain bike and helmet unless you prefer to ride your own bike and/or bring your own helmet. The group will meet at the Welcome Center at 3 pm and return to the Welcome Center before 4:30 pm. Parents are welcome to check out a bike to ride independently, hike the trails, or leave and return after the program. This program will run rain or shine.
This program is free, but registration is required.
Full Moon Hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center
Join us for a full moon hike at Hidden Valley Nature Center.
Enjoy an evening illuminated by the glow of the full Harvest 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 seasonal appropriate clothing. Please bring water and a 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.
Weather date: October 6
This is a free event, but registration is required and space is limited.