What’s New

First snow, winter trip tips, final days to give, Friends strategic plan, and more…

Throughout the last year in this newsletter, we’ve shown you the beautiful landscape of Katahdin Woods and Waters, updated you on advocacy efforts and ecological successes, shared youth outdoor adventures, and celebrated the completion of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station. This month, we’re reflecting with gratitude on the power of folks working together to make a difference – people like YOU.

Just two weeks ago, the 9th running of the famed grassroots Millinocket Marathon and Half hosted nearly 3,000 runners and thousands more spectators hailing from all 50 states and several countries. What part of running 13-26 miles on dirt roads in freezing temperatures makes this happen? The joy of sharing a community experience! Hearts and spirits warm while witnessing runners achieving their goals, bustling local businesses, and the many homegrown festivities.

Likewise, Friends is made up of folks who, among other things, care about a special place, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. While we may not ever all gather together in one location, we seek ways to connect as a community throughout the year. Whether networking at a member event, learning about trees in the monument with a ranger, or paddling on the East Branch with loved ones, this land brings us closer to nature, and to one another.

Keep reading for a preview of activities this winter, news from the park service, and more. And from all of us–happy holidays, Friends!

Friends’ New Strategic Plan

Last year, Friends began a robust and immersive process to chart the course for our next three years. Board, staff, stakeholders, and Katahdin region community members contributed, and we are delighted to now share the final plan! The strategic planning was facilitated by the talented folks at Solid Ground Consulting and funded through a capacity-building grant from the National Park Foundation.

In this exciting next chapter, Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters will work hand in hand with the National Park Service, Wabanaki tribal communities, and Katahdin region communities to ensure the National Monument reaches its full potential. A highlight within the plan is naming, for the first time, our aspirational vision for the future and a set of values to guide us as new decisions and opportunities inevitably arise. Our updated mission is:

To preserve, protect, and enhance Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and inspire a community dedicated to its future.

View the entire plan at friendsofkww.org/plan.

Friends’ Annual Appeal Final Days!

Early this fall, we shared an ambitious fundraising challenge from Board President Molly Ross. Today, with the combined power of new members and longtime champions, we are more than 90% towards our ambitious year-end goal!. Now is your time—will you join Molly and many others to meet the challenge before December 31st?

Executive Director Brian Hinrichs shared, “In the history of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, I believe we will look back and realize that this was the moment when anticipation turned to excitement. On a recent fall hike up the Deasey Mountain Trail, I saw evidence of important investments taking shape all around the monument.”

If you have recently renewed your financial support, thank you.

Get Ready for Winter Recreation

Some early snowstorms have us excited for winter activities in the monument and the whole Katahdin region. From winter hiking and snowshoeing, wildlife photography to cross-country skiing – there are ways for everyone to get out and enjoy the pristine beauty of the landscape, and if you like, relax by a cozy fireside at the end of the day, too!

Conditions permitting, skiers and snowshoers can enjoy groomed trails at the north entrance (pictured above) to Katahdin Woods and Waters from mid January to mid-March. Always check current conditions before you head out to the trails here: Winter Trail Conditions – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service).

Skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking are permitted on all ungroomed trails in the monument. The intrepid adventurer may be rewarded by a magical experience breaking fresh tracks and sighting wildlife in a glittering snowscape. However, be prepared! Even small problems can become deadly when compounded by low temperatures and changing conditions. Vist Winter Safety – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) to learn more.

Katahdin Area Trails, a nonprofit whose mission is “to grow exceptional non-motorized trail experiences and a vibrant, welcoming trails community in Maine’s Katahdin Region,” maintains a live hub for grooming reports from for the region’s recreational trails. Bookmark the grooming report link and keep it handy when you are looking to get out on snow for an hour after work or a full day of skiing, snowshoeing, or fatbiking. For my personal and gratuitous take on some local trails, you can check out the nordic skiing blog post I wrote last season.

Heading to the region for the night, weekend, or longer? Search for the perfect accomodations and more at the Katahdin Chamber of Commerce’s business directory. If you still have questions, please send me an email and I will help you find the information you need for a fun trip.

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• Hiring season has started for seasonal summer jobs at KAWW! Open positions include Trails Crew, Equipment Operator, and more and start at $21.98/hour. Contact Robert Weaver or search “Patten” on USAjobs.gov.
• Join NPS at the Millinocket Memorial Library December 30 for a family-friendly program on Winter Wildlife. Learn more here.
• KAWW Education Specialist Crystal Lewis and Maine Forest Service District Forester Lauren Ouellete will lead a winter edition of Tree Talks in Patten on Saturday January 25th. This free event takes place outdoors and snowshoes will be available! Registration is required.
• Keep an eye on the KAWW Events Calendar and Facebook page for more winter programming in 2025.
• This month, KAWW Facility Manager Dewey Loft traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept a 2023 NPS Director’s Award for Excellence in Natural Resource Management in Maintenance for his work improving endangered Atlantic salmon passage. Congratulations, Dewey!

Ripple Effect

News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond

• Breathtaking images accompany architects’ reflections in a feature on Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in the latest issue of Architectural Record.
• Snowmobile season is nearly here…check out this hub of information including a regional map, event calendar for local club happenings, and more at the Katahdin Area Snowmobile Trails site.

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our wonderful Katahdin level sponsor Maine Beer Company! Committed to “do good through great beer,” MBC supports many environmental organizations in Maine as a proud member of 1% for the Planet since their founding in 2009. And thank you to Trust for Public Land supporting Friends at the Deasey level in 2024! TPL works nationwide to create and improve outdoor access for all.

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2025, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on December 20, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

Tekαkαpimək recognized, lessons from the Friends Alliance, a time for giving, learning and growing outside, and more…

Over the last few weeks, the monument transitioned to its quiet season. The colorful blazes of foliage that swept across hillsides faded to sedate browns before drifting down to the forest floor. Many monument residents are burrowing down or flying away before winter arrives, and even the roads are emptier since the gates on the Loop Road and the northern entrance were officially swung shut for the season at the end of October.

This quiet season, the “season of the sticks,” presents wonderful opportunities for hikes and walks in the woods. Leafless vistas open wider views across the landscape, and the bare underbrush allows the astute (and quiet) observer glimpses of wildlife on the move.

As we take a breath before a season filled with festivities and winter preparation, Friends is focused on ensuring that we are well provisioned for the important work ahead in 2025. With just over 30 days left to reach our ambitious fundraising challenge, please join in! If you have already made a gift, thank you! Why not forward this email to a friend, or even consider a gift in their honor? And if you’ve been waiting to do your end-of-year donation, head to our Donate page to add your support!

Tekαkαpimək Cited as Example by NPS

Earlier this month, the National Park Service issued a first-ever Director’s Order codifying and celebrating the importance of nation-to-nation consultations with Indian and Alaska Native Tribes. With this announcement, our work developing Tekαkαpimək Contact Station in partnership with the Wabanaki Nations was cited as an example paving the way forward. Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is also one of just 109 park units nationally that has already established co-stewardship agreements with tribes. These indications of progress are worth mentioning, especially as we mark Native American History Month, but the work must continue.

National Park Friends Alliance Conference

In October, Executive Director Brian Hinrichs, Board President Molly Ross, and Operations and Finance Coordinator Ruger Pearson attended the annual Friends Alliance Conference, held this year in Yosemite National Park. Our heads are now full of new ideas and best practices we look forward to implementing here at KAWW! Particularly memorable and meaningful were remarks from Dorothy FireCloud (Rosebud Sioux Tribe) from the Office of Native American Affairs, and Yosemite ranger Shelton Johnson. The takeaways: we must be consistent in showing up for our Wabanaki friends and partners, and there is no shortage of hidden stories to be told from these lands. Let Tekαkαpimək be the starting point for our collaboration and discovery, but not the end.

Southern Access Legislation Update

On November 19th, the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee (ENR) advanced a bipartisan package including legislation to improve access to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. This is an exciting and necessary step as the 118th Congressional session winds down. We thank Senator Angus King for championing this bill, which would allow the National Park Service to acquire road access from willing landowners to create a new public route along the Stacyville, Huber, and Roberts Roads into KAWW. Better connectivity with Millinocket has been a priority from the start for Friends, and we remain optimistic about the next steps Congress might take to adopt this legislation.

Katahdin Learning Project Connects to Community

What a fall KLP had with our local kids and teachers! Our staff delivered programs from Nature Art with Ashland Middle School to Maine Wildlife with Katahdin Elementary, and so much in between! We even brought Stearns High School students to Maine Bound at the University of Maine for rock climbing and to learn about college opportunities. While programs may take place deep in the wilderness or on a college campus, and cover diverse topics, every experience we provide is rooted in KLP’s core mission of connecting youth with nature, community, and the monument. Marking a seasonal transition, staff are now busy preparing for outdoor winter programs. To request a visit to your school or group, send a message to KLP@friendsofkww.org.

The Katahdin Learning Project is dedicated to honoring truth telling and integrating Wabanaki studies into our educational programs. This month, Education Coordinator Elise Goplerud attended a Wabanaki studies workshop presented by Brianne Lolar and Kaya Lolar and supported by Maine Environmental Education Association where she joined a group of passionate educators from across the state. Elise shared, “It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, exchange success stories, discuss challenges, and support one another in this important work.” She’s excited to bring new perspectives to KLP’s programs and more meaningfully incorporate Wabanaki studies into curriculum. In December, KLP will bring Shantel Neptune, water quality scientist for Penobscot Nation Natural Resources to participate in co-leading our water quality testing lesson. You can learn more about MEEA’s work to expand access to Wabanaki studies here.

Sharing the Story of Tekαkαpimək

Although Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is now fully closed to any visitation until the 2025 summer season, the stories of how the building and exhibits were shaped and created, and the lasting impacts and relationships formed, are being told. Friends is honored to be a part of the story through the A Monumental Welcome campaign, and even more so to pass the podium to the artists and architects of this special place. Keep an eye on our social media channels in the weeks and months ahead as we share links to articles, webinars, and presentations. *In case you missed it, Maine Conservation Voters hosted a Lunch and Learn panel discussion in September that explored how “interpretation…through a Wabanaki lens in a contemporary context…honor[s] the past and show[s] vibrant communities moving sustainably into the future.”

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• Get cozy this winter by reserving a night at one of the two huts on monument land for a KAWW winter camping trip. Reservations will open, only at recreation.gov, on December 9th and we expect they will book up quickly!
• Have you visited Katahdin Woods and Waters’ website lately? It’s a fantastic resource for you to learn about the park, plan your next visit, and even get a video preview of some of the most popular excursions!
• Teachers and youth leaders, KAWW Rangers are excited to work with your students – in the monument, classroom, or virtually!  Visit Education – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) to learn about these free, curriculum-based programs.
• Now is the time to consider 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

• Heads up, Millinocket-area 6-12th graders – the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collaborative (KROC) hosts weekly outdoor activities after school. Check the schedule and learn more at the Millinocket Memorial Library.
• If you know, you know…the Millinocket Marathon and Half is like no other! Maine’s famous grassroots race will run on Saturday, December 7th.
• The 30th Anniversary Wabanaki Winter Market  will take place on Saturday, December 14th at the Collins Center for the Arts on the UMaine campus in Orono.
• 🎉A bipartisan group of senators including Maine Senator Angus King introduced the extension of the Great American Outdoors Act National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) last week. The America the Beautiful Act would increase and extend this transformative funding. Read the press release from the National Parks Conservation Association here.

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Lookout sponsor Ktaadn Resorts – New England Outdoor Center! Whether hosting our Woods and Waters Day celebration, supporting Friends, or providing top notch accomodations for outdoor enthusiasts in all seasons, NEOC is a true champion of the Katahdin region.

And thank you to fellow nonprofit Maine Audubon for their Hathorn sponsorship as well as their deep care for the national monument’s flora and fauna.Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on November 26, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

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

• Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is closed to the public while Elliotsville Foundation completes construction of the building and surrounding site.
• Seasonal closures! The gates will swing shut for the winter in the next few weeks. Please check Current Conditions – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) for the most accurate information. The NPS desk at the Patten Lumbermen’s Museum closed on October 14th, but you can still reach them by phone M-F at 207-456-6001.
• Dreaming of a winter camping adventure? Learn about options within Katahdin Woods and Waters at winter-camping – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov). Note that all reservations must be made at recreation.gov.
• 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

Fall foliage, outdoor learning, Stars Over Katahdin, visit Tekαkαpimək, Loop Road construction, and more…

Have you heard? As this eNewsletter reaches your inbox, the famed foliage season has begun–and the experts say it could be a spectacular year. Check out the official foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation and Forestry while learning what creates the blazing scenery we love each fall. 

We have so many exciting things to share this month, from Friends’ annual Stars Over Katahdin coming up to more chances to visit Tekαkαpimək Contact Station to important updates from the NPS. But first we want to share that our annual fall appeal has begun! Now is the time to make your impact. If you missed board president Molly Ross’s email last week you can find it here on our blog. I hope that Molly’s enthusiasm and excitement inspires YOU–together we can make this fundraising season our most spectacular yet!

Visit Tekαkαpimək Contact Station

You’ve been asking…and although the site is not yet open to the public, we are happy to share more invitational visitation dates this fall! An extraordinary gift is nearing completion and will soon be transferred to the National Park Service, imbued with Wabanaki artistry and knowledge, Tekαkαpimək will provide the global public a deeply meaningful introduction to this landscape we all cherish. We look forward to sharing it with you!

Saturday and Sunday, September 28th & 29th between 10 AM-3 PM

or Sunday and Monday, October 13th & 14th between 10 AM-3 PM

Please note: Tekαkαpimək Contact Station is currently in the final stages of construction and closed to the public at all other times. Regular operating hours for the 2025 season will be announced in coordination with the National Park Service.

Friends’ News

Stars Over Katahdin – Saturday, September 28th!

From the total solar eclipse back in April to some spectacular shows of aurora borealis, the Katahdin region has been drawing crowds looking up in 2024…but we’ve been celebrating the darkest skies east of the Mississippi since before the monument’s designation! Come join Friends, KAWW rangers, and expert astronomers and naturalists for an evening of wonder and learning. This family-friendly event is free, but registration is required.

Saturday, September 28th 4-9 PM

Patten Lumberman’s Museum | Click here to learn more and register

See you at the fair!

Friends’ staff and board had a blast at the Common Ground Fair in the Environmental Concerns area last weekend and we will be at the Fryeburg Fair in the Natural Resource Center (9/29-10/6) sharing maps, answering your questions, and catching up with friends old and new! If you are headed to the Fryeburg Fair, be sure to stop by and say hello!

Back-to-school news from Katahdin Learning Project

September marks the start of a new school year, and the Katahdin Learning Project is excited to be back in the classroom (or outside the classroom)! We’re busy the entire month of September with field trips and school visits, bringing outdoor education to students throughout the Katahdin region. Don’t miss our newly updated 2024/2025 program catalog packed with fresh ideas and opportunities for learning in nature!And we had so much fun adventuring this summer as part of the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) that we are bringing our summer youth programs into the school year! As part of the Stars Over Katahdin celebration, we’ll be hosting an overnight for local students in grades 6-12. It’s the perfect chance for kids to reconnect with old friends from our summer trips, build new friendships, and experience the magic of the night sky. Learn more and register here. 

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service (NPS) and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (KAWW)

• Know before you go! Always check for alerts and closures here Current Conditions – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov) before embarking on a monument adventure. Currently there is a rerouted section of the Loop Road that may impact your trip plans.
• Superintendent Mark Wimmer has moved on to a new opportunity after nearly three years at KAWW. Beginning this month, Acadia National Park’s Chief of Maintenance Keith Johnston will serve as interim Superintendent while a search is undertaken. Thank you, Mark, and welcome, Keith!
• NPS Education staff at KAWW are now booking fall programs! Teachers and youth leaders: check out the opportunities for field trips, classroom visits, virtual programs, and more! Learn more here: Education – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• Join rangers for programs this fall – open to all in the community – including Art in the Park at Lunksoos or a Tree Talk at the Lumberman’s Museum. Find all events on the KAWW calendar: Calendar – Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Katahdin sponsor Richardson’s Hardware! A fourth generation Patten business and longtime champion of the monument and the Katahdin Learning Project, Richardson’s is a true community partner, including their generous support of Friends.

And thank you to Gideon Asen Law for their Barnard sponsorship!

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. To learn more about becoming sponsor in 2024, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on September 25, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

Join Friends or renew your support today.

A letter from Molly Ross, President of the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters Board of Directors-

On a hazy August morning in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a salmon wound through waving aquatic grasses at the cool, silty bottom of the East Branch of the Penobscot River near the bank’s steep edge–where silver maples’ thick trunks stretch into lacelike canopies across the water.

A bald eagle, atop a white pine close to the confluence of the East Branch and Seboeis Rivers, scanned for the silver flash of a fish across the water. The eagle’s vantage also included the forested top of Lookout Mountain, where Tekαkαpimək Contact Station now sits. Invisible from the river, folks from nearby towns, across Maine, New England, and beyond came together to celebrate the accomplishment of a remarkable building and the relationships it represents.

Fish and eagles, grasses and trees, mosquitoes and dragonflies play their important roles in the nature of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and right now our responsibility to care for all these relationships has never been more important. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station helps us understand this through a Wabanaki worldview, significantly deepening our knowledge, understanding, and connection to this special place.

Near the end of my long career with the National Park Service in 2016, I had the privilege of contributing to the eventual establishment of KWWNM as a unit of the National Park System. Today, post-retirement, I am almost as busy and just as committed to furthering the success of the monument as the board chair of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. I can see clearly that we are at a critical juncture. Tekαkαpimək Contact Station and the woods and waters it celebrates must be fully supported for the future.

And that is why I’m making my largest contribution yet to Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters. Today, I invite you to join me.

I am inspired more than ever by what is happening right here in northern Maine’s Katahdin region. We are immersed in community-based efforts to establish a public access route from Millinocket, impactful educational work of the Katahdin Learning Project, and essential relationship-building with the Penobscot and other Wabanaki Nations. With the construction of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station completed, it is time to support our NPS partners in many projects to improve the visitor experience and assure the best management of the monument’s natural and cultural resources. Believe me, there is much to do! Come, be part of it, as we stand up and steward this unit of the National Park System, honoring and inspiring all generations, past, present, and future, “as far as one can see.”

No gift is too small. Your donation will ensure the preservation of these woods and waters and the telling of their stories, from the salmon swimming in the East Branch to the ancestors who are part of the landscape.

Yours Truly,

Molly Ross, President, Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters Board of Directors

PS: Help us jump-start our annual appeal – click to make a secure online donation. Your gift makes it possible!

Camping season, youth adventures, Woods & Waters Day, NPS Director’s Awards, and more…

The warm days and long evenings are perfect for exploring the landscapes of Katahdin Woods and Waters. Whether you’re hitting the trails, paddling the waterways, or simply enjoying the serenity of the woods, we hope you find inspiration and joy in these summer months. Thank you for being a part of our community and for your continued dedication to the preservation and celebration of Katahdin Woods and Waters.

As we dive into the heart of summer, we are thrilled to bring you the latest updates from our vibrant Friends community. And if you find yourself sleeping in the monument on a clear night, consider pulling the rain fly off your tent to enjoy the cool breezes and stellar views.

Priority Park Progress

Last year, you heard from Friends about the A Monumental Welcome campaign. The campaign is funding a variety of efforts to improve and enhance the visitor experience in the monument, and we’re excited to begin sharing campaign success stories with you as these projects get underway.

Next in the spotlight, we are pleased to share that Friends will be supporting a General Management Plan (GMP) for the National Park Service (NPS) at Katahdin Woods and Waters. A GMP is a long-term strategic plan that NPS is required to create for each unit of the National Park System. The plan guides the management and use of park lands for the next 15–20 years, and is updated as conditions change. The feedback from the public from these early meetings is helping to bridge that work to the work in the GMP. The GMP’s primary purpose is to protect park resources while providing meaningful visitor experiences. The planning process will have an extensive public process to capture visitor feedback – stay tuned for how you can participate!

Friends’ News

Woods & Waters Day is August 17th! You’ve heard by now about the extraordinary weekend we have planned to celebrate Tekαkαpimək and Woods and Waters Day this August. But we’re so excited about what we have planned we’re going to keep reminding you! Delicious buffet dinner at the award-winning Ktaadn Resorts/New England Outdoor Center, funky, get-up-and-dance live music performed by the Fogtown Family Band, and the opportunity to win amazing prizes donated by artists, outdoor outfitters, Maine businesses, and more. If you haven’t RSVPd to get a first look at Tekαkαpimək (free, but registration is required) or purchased your tickets for our Woods and Waters Day Celebration, what are you waiting for? Click here, and keep in mind that you must register for each event separately.

Teacher Camp

Across the nation, educators are finding that rooting their educational programming deeply in the local community, both physically and thematically, is an effective strategy for achieving many of their highest priority goals.

In schools, neighborhoods, forests, and parks, when students are studying and responsibly addressing relevant local issues the results can be increased engagement, stronger community support for education and conservation, and a renewed pride of place.

Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters presents Teacher Camp annually as a professional development opportunity and a supportive gathering that helps educators add relevancy to their instruction to enrich their school communities. A fresh theme is developed each year in response to teachers’ needs.

On June 25th, Friends’ 2024 Teacher Camp focused on Community Science! Participants enjoyed presentations and hands-on activities from Elise Goplerud (Friends of KWW), Crystal Lewis (Katahdin Woods & Waters NM) and Lauren Ouellette (Maine Forest Service).

Katahdin Learning Project

Friends believes that when you’re a kid, summer is best outside–on trails, bikes, and on the water. That’s exactly what the Katahdin Learning Project aims to support this summer. With our Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) collaborators, we co-led a day hike to Gulf Hagas, introduced paddle sports, and organized a 3-day overnight hiking trip in Katahdin Woods and Waters! July will bring more great adventures; including biking, canoeing, and additional overnights.

To keep up with demand we added several more ongoing KROC programs!

These special programs stay local and families need only fill out the waiver once to participate in any/all of them. KROC programs are open to youth in grades 6-12. Learn more and sign up here.

Thank you to the Maine Department of Education for the generous grant that helps us keep these programs free for participants. *

Behind the Signs

Congratulations to KAWW leadership for receiving two Director’s Awards for Natural and Cultural Resources! These awards recognize employees who go above and beyond to solve problems or create new opportunities with creative thinking and action.

Superintendent Mark Wimmer is the winner of the Director’s Award for Excellence in Cultural Resource Management & Stewardship for his leadership and commitment to developing trust and strong relationships between KAWW and the federally recognized Tribes in Maine by working to protect Tribal interests and further nation-to-nation relationships with Indigenous partners.

Facility Manager Christopher (Dewey) Loft received the Director’s Award for Excellence in Natural Resource Management in Maintenance. By working with the Monument’s Interdisciplinary team, Tribes, and state partners to develop bridge and culvert improvement projects, Dewey has been instrumental in improving infrastructure for fish passage for endangered Atlantic salmon.

• Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is going social! Follow and Like them on their *new* official Facebook page!
• The KAWW website also has fresh updates. One of our favorite new features is the hiking page which details all of the great trails in the monument–so you can choose the perfect one for you!
• Sometimes it is just nice to talk with a person. The KAWW information desk at the Lumberman’s Museum (61 Shin Pond Rd, Patten) is open Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Stop in or call 207-465-6001.

  

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  Ripple Effect – News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond

• Tuesday nights are trail nights this summer at Hammond Ridge! Meet at 5:30 p.m. at Knife Edge Brewing to join a group mountain bike ride with Katahdin Area Trails. For all ages and abilities (no instruction provided).
• Friends’ Executive Director Brian Hinrichs joined the Katahdin Collaborative’s quarterly meeting on July 10th, a “great meeting of the minds.”
• Check out Nature Journaling with the International Appalachian Trail Maine Chapter on July 28th (registration required).
• Mark your calendar now for the Maine Outdoor Film Festival Selects Tour stop at Millinocket’s Boreal Theater on September 13th.

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our Lookout level sponsor Haley Ward, a 100% employee-owned technical consulting firm headquartered in Bangor. Haley Ward has been a crucial part of the Tekαkαpimək construction team and a longtime supporter of Friends!

And thank you to NEMO Equipment for their Deasey level sponsorship! NEMO is a New England company committed to innovation, sustainability, and making the outdoors accessible to all–we even caught the team camping out in the monument recently!

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. To learn more about becoming sponsor in 2024, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on July 23, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

*American Rescue Plan Act GEER, Reverted EANS Funding received from the USDOE support the implementation of this project. The project has an award totaling $6.6 million dollars of which 100% is federally funded and directly attributed to project implementation. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by the USDOE or the U.S. Government. The USDOE provided the Katahdin Learning Project (KLP) with $105,876.19, 42% of KLP’s annual budget, to support grade 6-12 programming. This grant finances 100% of grade 6-12 programming March-September 2024. 

Summer events, family getaways, youth adventures, signs to get you there, and more…

We are excited to share that registration is now open for our annual summer celebration, Woods & Waters Day! You are invited to join us on the evening of Saturday, August 17th at Ktaadn Resorts New England Outdoor Center in Millinocket. This year’s celebration honors the many accomplishments achieved by this community in just eight years since the designation of Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument. Among the highlights is Tekαkαpimək Contact Station, now poised to usher in the next era of visitation to the Katahdin region. Tickets and a whole lot more information can be found here!

But don’t wait until August to visit if you can help it. Early summer is a wonderful time for paddling the East Branch of the Penobscot, a weekend camping getaway, or a gravel bike tour. Sure, the mosquitos are biting, but so are the fish. The roads are dusty, but they connect your family and friends to coldwater streams, lush green canopies, possible moose sightings, and each other.

Read on for stories about the Katahdin Learning Project’s enrichment programs in local schools, new signage coming to the monument, news from the National Park Service, and more.

Priority Park Progress

Last year, you heard from Friends about the A Monumental Welcome campaign. The campaign is funding a variety of efforts to improve and enhance the visitor experience in the monument, and we’re excited to begin sharing campaign success stories with you as these projects get underway.

The next project we want to highlight is a new signage and wayfinding plan! This project includes an assessment of existing park signage and then a comprehensive master wayfinding plan to identify the need and location for additional signage at KAWW. The master plan will include a layout of all new/replacement signs, fabrication details, and locations. Funds granted by Friends will also cover the purchase and installation of the new/replacement signs.

Friends’ News

We sent our Spring Membership Appeal letters at the beginning of June. Many of you have responded generously with donations of all sizes – thank you!! Membership support makes nearly everything we do possible now, and better in the future. If you can, we hope you’ll take just a few moments to send your support today.

The end of the school year is a busy time for teachers, students, parents, and Friends’ place-based education program Katahdin Learning Project! As school-based programming finished, staff shifted to training summer staff. A recent high point was kayaking Millinocket Stream with high school students from Houlton and Millinocket. Skowhegan Outdoors and the Millinocket X-Stream Race helped make this excursion possible – thank you!

KLP recently celebrated the conclusion of a pilot program. Students at Stearns High School in Millinocket with qualifying grades can opt in to “enrichment time,” with choices such as going to the library or gym. This spring, for the first time, they also had the option to join Outside Enrichment with the Katahdin Learning Project. Students were surveyed in March to discover their interests, which led to activities ranging from archery to outdoor cooking to discussions on wilderness ethics. Student feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and when asked if we should continue next year, the response was, “Yes, but more!” We recently bid a fond farewell to spring Seasonal Educator Ronan, who showed us that a deep personal passion for the outdoor world is truly contagious.

Attention Katahdin Region middle and high school students – only a few spots remain in our Summer Adventure Series! These free experiences are funded through the Maine Department of Education’s Maine Outdoor Learning Initiative (MOLI) to provide Maine students with hands-on, outdoor learning experiences this summer.

Behind the Signs

News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

• All monument road gates are now open! Grading and repairs were undertaken this spring, however, please be prepared for slow and bumpy travel on these rustic routes.
• Frontcountry trails including the Deasey Pond Trail, Messer Pond, and more, are all cleared of winter debris and ready for hikers. Backcountry trails will be cleared by mid-June.
• ALERT! The Seboeis Connector Road is temporarily closed due to washout. Click over to the National Park Service KAWW website to find updates, and all alerts, before any trip to the monument.
• Have you booked your KAWW camping getaway at recreation.gov yet?
• Kiah Walker was recently hired as the new Natural Resouces Program Manager. Kiah is recently coming from Minuteman National Historic Park, where she served as a biologist. Kiah has professional experience in the New England area with the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is originally from New Hampshire.
• Friends’ staff watched this video released by Grand Canyon National Park. The 24-minute film invites viewers and visitors to experience Grand Canyon through the stories of some of the eleven Associated Tribes’ members. The collaborative project, years in the making, is a joint effort of the Intertribal Working Group, Grand Canyon Conservancy, and Grand Canyon National Park.

Ripple Effect

News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond

• June is Love Maine Trails Month! Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers donating thousands of hours of time this June to get our beloved trails around the state in tip-top shape.
• The Maine Chapter of the International Appalachian Trail announced their 2024 Maine IAT sponsored hike schedule – and they are all in KAWW! Check it out, space is very limited.
• Did you read the book in fourth grade, too? This summer, you can watch the long-awaited Lost on a Mountain in Maine in a special presentation at the Maine International Film Festival. No spoilers, but an important part of the story occurs in what is today Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument!
• The Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective (KROC) Summer Outdoor Adventures have garnered so much excitement that the team decided to add more one-day, close-to-home skill building activities. Katahdin region rising 6-12th graders–check it out and sign up today!

Sponsor Spotlight

Thank you to our new Lookout sponsor Versant Power. Contributing both time and funding to nonprofits in its service area, Versant supports many local organizations and initiatives. We are proud to have you as a Friend!

And thank you to Bangor Savings Bank for supporting Friends as a Deasey sponsor! Your commitment to community is making a difference for the monument and region.

Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends’ mission and work. To learn more about becoming a sponsor in 2024, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.

—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on June 21, 2024. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup

A letter from board member Matt Polstein, President & Founder of Ktaadn Resorts (home of New England Outdoor Center), and Maine’s Small Business Owner of the Year! Thank you for all you do, Matt!

Dear Friends,

2024 is shaping up to be a BIG year for Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument–and there has never been a better time to become a Friend than right now, during our annual spring Membership Appeal!

My story: I moved to the state and became a Registered Maine Guide in 1981. I fell in love with the Katahdin Region and invested in building a business based on outdoor recreation here in Millinocket almost 30 years ago. From rafting trips to a campground, snowmobile and ski trails, luxury cabin rentals, a brewery and events center…time flies!

Today, I want to thank you for caring and encourage you to become a member of Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters.

Did you know? Membership supports all of the following:

• Dam and culvert replacement to restore native sea-run Atlantic Salmon passage throughout the Penobscot River Watershed;
• Promotion of responsible and sustainable visitation to Katahdin Woods and Waters for the year-round benefit of surrounding communities;
• Community science in the monument and the region: teaching local youth to test water quality in rivers and observe changes over time;
• And so much more!

Since 2016, we enjoy more hiking trails and better fishing in trout streams on monument land today, thanks to the persistence and generosity of those who believed. Because of folks like you, the next generation will find these woods and waters better than we did, and learn a more complete story of the land. On August 17th, Tekαkαpimək Contact Station will open to the public. Unlike any welcome center in our national parks system, the building and natural landscape atop Lookout Mountain will invite the public to experience and learn through the lens of a Wabanaki world view.

Please join me and invest in nature, community, and the stewards of tomorrow. The level of support is up to you—what matters is our shared voice.

See you on the trail,

Matt Polstein