Mud season ahead, state of the park webinar, Membership May announced, youth leadership in action, and more…
Ice softening on the Upper East Branch. Photo credit: Ross Knowlton
Good-bye winter! Your soft sun-warmed snow is melting fast, sinking into and streaming across the saturated ground into tributaries, brooks, and rivers where the churned-up resembles frothy hot cocoa (to some of us, anyway!).
Spring is coming on fast this year, which might have you itching to wipe the cobwebs out of the canoe and clap last year’s mud off your hiking boots–while the cross country skis stand like defiant sentries on the porch, raindrops rolling from tip to tail. Perhaps the best thing to do on such days is grab a mug of actual hot chocolate and sit it out.
In this month’s eNews, we’re looking forward to warmer days and gathering together. We’re inviting you to join us for Friends’ first events of 2025! From a State of the Park Zoom webinar with NPS and Friends leaders to FOUR opportunities to mingle at breweries near you, we can’t wait to see you this spring. These events, plus Woods & Waters Day and Stars Over Katahdin, are all made possible with the support of our generous corporate and nonprofit sponsors – join us this month in celebrating and thanking our 2024 sponsors for inspiring folks to preserve, protect, and enhance KAWW!
Learning to Lead in the Outdoors
Teens spending their free time in a leadership training! FKWW photo
When Nic* first showed up as a potential leader at Vacation Camp, the 9th grader wasn’t sure they were ready. Leading younger students on outdoor adventures sounded exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. Nic wondered, “am I really a leader?” After going through the interview process and attending training, Nic began to see themselves differently—not just as a participant, but as a mentor. At Vacation Camp this February, Nic patiently helped students lace up their boots and step into bindings, then encouraged and cheered successful first glides on cross country skis. They rallied games of “camouflage” (a crowd favorite game at camp!) and even took the lead on teaching a fun paper craft.
“The instructors are nice and the student leaders and ambassadors became my friends. It was great job experience. I loved waving to other people on the trails while we were outside!”
But the impact didn’t stop there. Inspired by the experience, Nic told us they now feel confident enough to take their friends and family on outdoor adventures—maybe even up Katahdin someday.
“Having this outdoor experience helped prepare me for other outdoor adventures. If anyone is afraid of trying something new, they shouldn’t be. The [staff] leaders teach you everything and make you feel comfortable out there.”
Following the leader on a winter hike at camp last month. FKWW photo
Stories like Nic’s demonstrate what Katahdin Learning Project’s Ambassador and Leadership Program offers for youth as a stepping stone to career awareness, leadership growth, and stronger community connections. These ambassadors aren’t just “helping out” with our younger campers; they’re shaping their own futures. This program relies on donor contributions–your support helps students gain real-world experience, explore careers in conservation, and discover the joy of mentoring others. Thank you for making life-changing experiences possible for teens like Nic!
*Name changed for privacy
Friends’ Happenings
Just around the corner…Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters is hitting the road for Membership May! While you wait for the mud to dry up and the gates to swing open, drop in and join staff, board members, and volunteers at one (or more) of the events from Portland to Ellsworth to the Katahdin region – we promise casual gatherings where you can mingle with members, ask questions, grab a copy of our fresh strategic plan, and learn everything you need to know about the opening of Tekαkαpimək Contact Station this summer. We’ll have maps and visitation resources on hand, and the snacks are on us! Space is limited for these events; click below to see all the dates and locations and reserve your spot today!
Behind the Signs
News from the National Park Service and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument
Current conditions at KAWW can be very different from your hometown AND from the last time you visited the park. As we approach our most infamous season, Mud, a reminder that the Loop Road and North Entrance gates will remain closed throughout the spring!
Who are the folks working hard every day to preserve and enhance the natural resources and built infrastructure of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument? Follow the official KAWW Facebook page for weekly profiles highlighting the talented and dedicated park staff!
Plan ahead for your KAWW camping trip by previewing camping areas at recreation.gov. Reservations typically open in mid-April for the summer camping season.
Ripple Effect
News and notes from the Katahdin region, the Friends community, and beyond
Friends’ board member Dan Wenk lent his experience and perspective from a distinguished career with the park service to this piece in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle addressing the loss of younger members in the NPS workforce.
Join the Millinocket Earth Day Community Clean-up! All are welcome on Tuesday, April 22nd from 9am-12pm at the Millinocket Recreation Complex. For more information, contact Michele McGinnis, Our Katahdin Community Coordinator at 207-249-8578.
Learning opportunity – Outdoor Sport Institute, partnered with North Carolina-based Landmark Learning and New England Outdoor Center, will present a 5-day Hybrid Wilderness First Responder course in Millinocket. The course will be with the NOLS Wilderness Medicine curriculum and will take place on NEOC’s campus at their Event Center the first week of June.
Sponsor Spotlight
The quiet of March offers the perfect moment to recognize the tremendous power of corporate and nonprofit sponsorship! 2024 events, from Membership May to Stars Over Katahdin in late September attracted more attendees than ever before, sharing the exceptional natural and cultural resources of hundreds of folks from Maine and beyond. If you can, thank a sponsor with your business for their contribution to Friends’ mission to preserve, protect, and enhance Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument by inspiring a community of supporters!
Our final spotlights for 2024 go out to three fabulous Hathorn level sponsors:
Shoebox Collaborations, a small consulting shop offering strategic planning, capacity building, and project management for nonprofits and partnerships,
Independent grocer Ellis Family Market, providing a variety of great products at two locations in the Katahdin region, and
Natural Resources Council of Maine, harnessing the power of science, the law, and the voices of people who value Maine’s environment since 1959!
Thank you.
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. To learn how your business or organization can make a difference, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on March 28, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
Leap into Spring – March eNewsletter
Posted: April 2, 2025 by Sarah Andre
Mud season ahead, state of the park webinar, Membership May announced, youth leadership in action, and more…
Good-bye winter! Your soft sun-warmed snow is melting fast, sinking into and streaming across the saturated ground into tributaries, brooks, and rivers where the churned-up resembles frothy hot cocoa (to some of us, anyway!).
Spring is coming on fast this year, which might have you itching to wipe the cobwebs out of the canoe and clap last year’s mud off your hiking boots–while the cross country skis stand like defiant sentries on the porch, raindrops rolling from tip to tail. Perhaps the best thing to do on such days is grab a mug of actual hot chocolate and sit it out.
In this month’s eNews, we’re looking forward to warmer days and gathering together. We’re inviting you to join us for Friends’ first events of 2025! From a State of the Park Zoom webinar with NPS and Friends leaders to FOUR opportunities to mingle at breweries near you, we can’t wait to see you this spring. These events, plus Woods & Waters Day and Stars Over Katahdin, are all made possible with the support of our generous corporate and nonprofit sponsors – join us this month in celebrating and thanking our 2024 sponsors for inspiring folks to preserve, protect, and enhance KAWW!
Learning to Lead in the Outdoors
When Nic* first showed up as a potential leader at Vacation Camp, the 9th grader wasn’t sure they were ready. Leading younger students on outdoor adventures sounded exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. Nic wondered, “am I really a leader?” After going through the interview process and attending training, Nic began to see themselves differently—not just as a participant, but as a mentor. At Vacation Camp this February, Nic patiently helped students lace up their boots and step into bindings, then encouraged and cheered successful first glides on cross country skis. They rallied games of “camouflage” (a crowd favorite game at camp!) and even took the lead on teaching a fun paper craft.
But the impact didn’t stop there. Inspired by the experience, Nic told us they now feel confident enough to take their friends and family on outdoor adventures—maybe even up Katahdin someday.
Stories like Nic’s demonstrate what Katahdin Learning Project’s Ambassador and Leadership Program offers for youth as a stepping stone to career awareness, leadership growth, and stronger community connections. These ambassadors aren’t just “helping out” with our younger campers; they’re shaping their own futures. This program relies on donor contributions–your support helps students gain real-world experience, explore careers in conservation, and discover the joy of mentoring others. Thank you for making life-changing experiences possible for teens like Nic!
*Name changed for privacy
Friends’ Happenings
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
The quiet of March offers the perfect moment to recognize the tremendous power of corporate and nonprofit sponsorship! 2024 events, from Membership May to Stars Over Katahdin in late September attracted more attendees than ever before, sharing the exceptional natural and cultural resources of hundreds of folks from Maine and beyond. If you can, thank a sponsor with your business for their contribution to Friends’ mission to preserve, protect, and enhance Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument by inspiring a community of supporters!
Our final spotlights for 2024 go out to three fabulous Hathorn level sponsors:
Shoebox Collaborations, a small consulting shop offering strategic planning, capacity building, and project management for nonprofits and partnerships,
Independent grocer Ellis Family Market, providing a variety of great products at two locations in the Katahdin region, and
Natural Resources Council of Maine, harnessing the power of science, the law, and the voices of people who value Maine’s environment since 1959!
Thank you.
Sponsors provide crucial funding that supports Friends mission and work. To learn how your business or organization can make a difference, visit friendsofkww.org/sponsorship or contact sarah@friendsofkww.org.
—This blog post was adapted from an email sent on March 28, 2025. Sign up for our email list at friendsofkww.org/signup
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