Hiking weather, park improvements, celebrating dark skies, cemetery visits, and more…
Leaves and sky on the East Branch. Photo credit: Ross Knowlton
Is fall your favorite season? If so, you are in good company. In October in the Katahdin region, it’s especially easy to love the outdoors. With a few easy layers–wool sweater, knit cap, light gloves–that can be stashed in your pack by late morning, there is no better time to take a hike! Lower in the sky each day, the sun’s intense summer heat has been swapped for a warm glow, lighting the last leaves from below as they fall.
Friends’ staff are reflecting this season on the intensity of 2024–from the completion of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and a moving celebration in August to a landmark year for our education program, Katahdin Learning Project. Like the mosaic of leaves sparkling on the inky surface of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, our community of supporters deserves a moment of appreciation. Our shared care and passion for this place makes this progress possible. Thanks for being a part of the crew.
Priority Park Progress
Projects large and small are moving along in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument!
On a recent day hike of Deasey Mountain, Executive Director Brian Hinrichs witnessed several infrastructure projects in motion or recently completed. Brian reported that “this included a full bridge replacement at Mile 0 of Loop Road, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (completed in September); rehabilitation of the historic Deasey Mountain Fire Lookout funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (completed in August); and the Hunt Farm Parcel Information Area, funded by Friends of KWW, anticipated to be completed in Spring 2025.”
Photo credit FKWW. Top: The Hunt Farm Information Area will provide parking for 10 vehicles on the Swift Brook Rd, plus vault toilet and picnic area as visitors begin their journey into the monument. Bottom L: The historic Deasey Mountain Fire Lookout was rehabilitated by students from Stephen T. Mather H.S. in New York City and the Maine Conservation Corps, supported by skilled staff from the NPS. Bottom R: This new bridge at Loop Road Mile 0 is an example of the salmon passage improvements throughout KAWW.
Stars Over Katahdin
On September 28th, Friends hosted the 11th annual Stars Over Katahdin. Thank you to our partners at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, Dark Sky Maine, our guest astronomers, and our year-long sponsors who made this event possible! The night included campfire chats, educational presentations, music by the Burnurwurbskek Singers, and observation of the dark skies of this International Dark Sky Sanctuary after the clouds parted. Students also participated in the program as part of the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) with additional lessons on nature journaling, constellations, and more! It was a busy and fun night with over 200 guests joining us in Patten. Stay tuned for information on next year’s event in the next few months.
Left, students learn about “critters of the night.” Right, after a cloudy start, the Milky Way! Photo credit: FKWW
Katahdin Learning Project – Community Highlight
Ashland Middle School students witness history. Photo credit: Amanda Barker
It’s key to our mission, and we know that for many of you, nothing is more important: outdoor, place-based education for Katahdin-region youth. And nothing gets us more excited than seeing our work expand to new communities and beyond our own Friends programming! Recently, our seasonal educator, Maggie, spoke with Ashland Middle School teacher Amanda Barker to learn how she was inspired by a lesson in the Stacyville Cemetary during KLP’s Teacher Camp in 2022. Ms. Barker is now making her passions for community and science fun for her students with hands-on lessons, field trips, and co-curricular connections. In a visit to the Ashland Municipal Cemetery, her students identified an assigned person and made a stone rubbing, collected data from stones to calculate average life spans and make inferences about diseases, and received a presentation from local Civil War reenactors at a memorial for local soldiers. We are so excited to hear that she has observed “…a closer connection of community and respect through this lesson. Students are willing to go back and…be more involved with the lesson.” Learn more about Teacher Camp and KLP on our website, Facebook, and Instagram!
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is closed to the public while Elliotsville Foundation completes construction of the building and surrounding site.
It’s not too early to think about seasonal summer jobs with the National Park Service. Learn how to find positions and build your resume at one of the Federal Resume Workshops offered by Acadia National Park staff in Ellsworth or online. (Applicants interested in KAWW welcome!)
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
You’re not just carving a face in your pumpkin, are you? Up your jack o’lantern game with these national park themed carving templates! Extra credit: design one for KAWW and tag Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters when you share it on socials.
If you are inspired by Ms. Barker’s cemetery lesson in Ashland, October is the perfect month to take a walk in your local cemetery. Your local historical society may offer “spooky” guided walks this time of year, such as the Darker Mt. Hope Cemetery Tour in Bangor, or a ghost-free self-guided walk.
The Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail comprises dedicated volunteers who maintain trails in KAWW and occasionally lead trips, too! Read about their recent trip to the monument’s north section on their blog.
Sponsor Spotlight
Events like Stars Over Katahdin are made possible by our year-long sponsors. Thank you!
Gideon Asen Law | Katahdin Trust | Lee Auto Mall | Maine Audubon
Natural Resource Council of Maine | Ellis Family Market | Shoebox Collaborations
Plus a special shout out this month to our Lookout level sponsor Eaton Peabody, Attorneys at Law! With offices in Portland and Bangor, the firm contributes time and resources to support community organizations throughout Maine. And thank you to Katahdin Trust for their Barnard sponsorship and providing community banking at its best since 1918!
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming sponsor in 2025, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on October 25, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
Autumn Light – October eNewsletter
Posted: November 1, 2024 by Sarah Andre
Hiking weather, park improvements, celebrating dark skies, cemetery visits, and more…
Is fall your favorite season? If so, you are in good company. In October in the Katahdin region, it’s especially easy to love the outdoors. With a few easy layers–wool sweater, knit cap, light gloves–that can be stashed in your pack by late morning, there is no better time to take a hike! Lower in the sky each day, the sun’s intense summer heat has been swapped for a warm glow, lighting the last leaves from below as they fall.
Friends’ staff are reflecting this season on the intensity of 2024–from the completion of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and a moving celebration in August to a landmark year for our education program, Katahdin Learning Project. Like the mosaic of leaves sparkling on the inky surface of the East Branch of the Penobscot River, our community of supporters deserves a moment of appreciation. Our shared care and passion for this place makes this progress possible. Thanks for being a part of the crew.
Priority Park Progress
Projects large and small are moving along in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument!
On a recent day hike of Deasey Mountain, Executive Director Brian Hinrichs witnessed several infrastructure projects in motion or recently completed. Brian reported that “this included a full bridge replacement at Mile 0 of Loop Road, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (completed in September); rehabilitation of the historic Deasey Mountain Fire Lookout funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (completed in August); and the Hunt Farm Parcel Information Area, funded by Friends of KWW, anticipated to be completed in Spring 2025.”
Photo credit FKWW. Top: The Hunt Farm Information Area will provide parking for 10 vehicles on the Swift Brook Rd, plus vault toilet and picnic area as visitors begin their journey into the monument. Bottom L: The historic Deasey Mountain Fire Lookout was rehabilitated by students from Stephen T. Mather H.S. in New York City and the Maine Conservation Corps, supported by skilled staff from the NPS. Bottom R: This new bridge at Loop Road Mile 0 is an example of the salmon passage improvements throughout KAWW.
Stars Over Katahdin
On September 28th, Friends hosted the 11th annual Stars Over Katahdin. Thank you to our partners at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum, Dark Sky Maine, our guest astronomers, and our year-long sponsors who made this event possible! The night included campfire chats, educational presentations, music by the Burnurwurbskek Singers, and observation of the dark skies of this International Dark Sky Sanctuary after the clouds parted. Students also participated in the program as part of the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) with additional lessons on nature journaling, constellations, and more! It was a busy and fun night with over 200 guests joining us in Patten. Stay tuned for information on next year’s event in the next few months.
Katahdin Learning Project – Community Highlight
It’s key to our mission, and we know that for many of you, nothing is more important: outdoor, place-based education for Katahdin-region youth. And nothing gets us more excited than seeing our work expand to new communities and beyond our own Friends programming! Recently, our seasonal educator, Maggie, spoke with Ashland Middle School teacher Amanda Barker to learn how she was inspired by a lesson in the Stacyville Cemetary during KLP’s Teacher Camp in 2022. Ms. Barker is now making her passions for community and science fun for her students with hands-on lessons, field trips, and co-curricular connections. In a visit to the Ashland Municipal Cemetery, her students identified an assigned person and made a stone rubbing, collected data from stones to calculate average life spans and make inferences about diseases, and received a presentation from local Civil War reenactors at a memorial for local soldiers. We are so excited to hear that she has observed “…a closer connection of community and respect through this lesson. Students are willing to go back and…be more involved with the lesson.” Learn more about Teacher Camp and KLP on our website, Facebook, and Instagram!
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
Sponsor Spotlight
Events like Stars Over Katahdin are made possible by our year-long sponsors. Thank you!
Gideon Asen Law | Katahdin Trust | Lee Auto Mall | Maine Audubon
Natural Resource Council of Maine | Ellis Family Market | Shoebox Collaborations
Plus a special shout out this month to our Lookout level sponsor Eaton Peabody, Attorneys at Law! With offices in Portland and Bangor, the firm contributes time and resources to support community organizations throughout Maine.
And thank you to Katahdin Trust for their Barnard sponsorship and providing community banking at its best since 1918!
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming sponsor in 2025, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on October 25, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
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