Aroostook Outdoor News: 2.26.15 edition
#VernalEquinox
in 3 weeks but #freezing temps persist. Need a #WinterWarmUp? #Ski #Snowshoe
#Skijor #Birding #Running
In
this edition: 1) Four awesome ski event in one wild ski weekend in Caribou. 2) Indoor
rock climbing in Presque Isle. 3) CanAm Crown Sled Dog Race 2015 has skijoring
races, too. Plus lots more! offugo...
Thursday, February 26
Aroostook Birders February
Meeting/Talk, Presque Isle
6:30
p.m. at UMPI Campus Center Alumni Room. Dr. Jason Johnston, ornithologist and
associate professor of wildlife ecology will present “Forest, Food and
Phenology: Research on Northern Maine Birds,” highlighting area birds and habitats.
Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, February
28–Sunday, March 1
February Frolic Ski Festival
– Aroostook Cups #4 & #5, Caribou
Get
ready for one big weekend of winter fun! Planned events include Aroostook Youth
Ski Festival, Aroostook League Middle School Ski Sprints, Maine State Ski
Sprints (A-Cup #4), Henry Anderson Ski Dag (A-Cup #5), and MUCH more! Contact
Mark Shea (207-498-9952) or mwscshea@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, February 28
UMPI Youth Rock Climbing
Information Night, Presque Isle
5:00-6:00
p.m. at Gentile Hall Rock Wall. Middle schoolers and parents interested in youth
rock climbing skill development are invited to discuss a clinic to be held Mar.
30-Apr. 3. Clinic fee: $100. Contact Victoria Winslow victoria.winslow@maine.edu FMI
*Sunday, March 1
NRCM Rising Skis the Park,
Patten
Join
Natural Resources Council of Maine for a fun day of XC skiing approx. 8 miles
along E. Branch Penobscot River to Haskell Rock Pitch in Katahdin Woods &
Waters Recreation Area. Meet at 10:30 a.m. at Grand Lake Rd. parking area, just
past Matagamon Wilderness Camps & Store. Contact Eliza (207-430-0118) or eliza@nrcm.org FMI
*Sunday, March 1
Nackawic
Bend Ski Club Annual Fun Ski Day, Nackawic,
NB
1:00-4:00
p.m. (Atlantic) at Nackawic Golf & Country Club, 101 Trenholme St. Kids,
friends, families come enjoy groomed trails, hot cocoa, goodies. XC ski gear
available to borrow. Fee: FREE; everyone is welcome! Contact Anna MacFarlane at
(506-471-2218) FMI or visit www.facebook.com/NackawicBendSkiClub FMI
Sunday, March 1
Cam-Am Crown Skijoring
Races, Fort Kent
Skijoring:
a blend of XC skiing and mushing, where skier and animal(s) work together. As
part of the annual Cam-Am Crown Sled Dog races, the organization will be
hosting 5k, 10k, 15k skijoring races at the beautiful Fort Kent Outdoor Center
trails! Contact Laura Audibert (207-834-6773) or la4568@roadrunner.com FMI
Wednesday, March 4
Caribou Rec. Ski4Life
Program, Mars Hill
Learn
to ski at Bigrock! Open to grades 6-8. Program dates: March 4, 19, 26, April 3.
Fee: $80; includes transportation, lift ticket, ski rental, mandatory lesson. Contact
Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Thursday, March 5
UMPI Outing Club Full Moon
Snowshoe, Presque Isle
Meet
at 6:00 p.m. at UMPI’s Gentile Hall. Equipment available to borrow. Fee: FREE! Contact Amanda Baker
(207-768-9401) or amanda.g.baker@umpi.edu FMI
Saturday,
March 7
Himie
Towle Memorial Ski Frolic – Aroostook Cup #6, Presque Isle
Mass-start 10k event is freestyle cross-country
(classic track also set). Race start: 11:00 a.m. at Nordic Heritage
Center. Fee: $20/family, $10/adult, $5/youth; includes lunch. Contact Steve
Towle (207-227-6908) or towlesteve@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, March 7
2nd Annual Angel Snowfest, St.
Agatha
All-day
event at Lakeview Restaurant; live music, outdoor Ice Bar, Snowshoe/Walk, Luminary
Walk on the breathtaking Lakeview trails. Proceeds benefit Angle Flight NE and Edgar
J. Paradis Cancer Fund. Fee: $15; includes neck-warmer, stew, entertainment.
Visit www.facebook.com/angelsnowfest FMI
*Saturday,
March 7 & Sunday, March 8
UMPI
Outing Club Ski Bum Weekend, Presque Isle
Nordic
skiing Saturday afternoon at Nordic Heritage Center; slumber party at Gentile
Hall Saturday night; downhill skiing or boarding Sunday at Bigrock. Fee: $20/UMPI
Students, $30/non-students; does not include lift ticket/rental. Contact Amanda Baker
(207-768-9401) or amanda.g.baker@umpi.edu FMI
Saturday,
March 14
Aroostook
Birders Duckbox Cleanout Day, Limestone
8:00 a.m. at Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge
Headquarters. Give
back to the birds on this one-mile snowshoe hike and morning of conservation
work. Clean out and prep duck boxes for the upcoming season. Bring
snowshoes, water, snacks. Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI
Saturday, March 14
After The Bell/Araya Wellness
Lucky Leprechaun 5k, Mars Hill
Registration: 9:00 a.m. at Fort Street Elementary. Fee: $5/runner; $20/family. Contact Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) or ryanguerrette@skibigrock.me FMI
Registration: 9:00 a.m. at Fort Street Elementary. Fee: $5/runner; $20/family. Contact Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) or ryanguerrette@skibigrock.me FMI
Saturday, March 14
Bigrock Winterfest Moon Light Snowshoe Hike, Mars Hill
6:00 p.m. Bring a headlamp
or flashlight and join in on a guided 1-mile loop. Participants are encouraged
to bring their own snowshoes; limited number of snowshoes available on a first
come, first served basis. Contact Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) or ryanguerrette@skibigrock.me FMI
Sunday, March 15
Bigrock Invitational Youth Ski Race, Mars Hill
Registration: 8:00
a.m. Giant Slalom Race start: 10:00 a.m. Slalom Race start: 12:45 p.m.
Awards: 2:30 p.m. Fee: $25; includes lift ticket; season pass holders,
$15. Contact Ryan Guerrette (207-425-6711) or ryanguerrette@skibigrock.me FMI
Tuesday, March 17
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Ice Fishing Trip, Madawaska Lake
Depart
Caribou Rec. at 9:00 a.m.; return by 3:00 p.m. Fee: $25/ages 18-69; $20/ages 70
and up; includes transportation, ice traps, bait, ice auger, lakeside lunch,
campfire. Bring folding chairs, warm clothes. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224)
or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Thursday, March 19
Aroostook Birders March
Annual Meeting/Talk, Location TBA
"Seabirds
of Maine" presentation by Bill Sheehan; 6:30 p.m. Maine is famous for
diverse and abundant seabird life; learn about birds found along the coastline
and on the open ocean. All with an interest invited! Contact Bill Sheehan
(207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI
Friday, March 20-Sunday,
March 22
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Ski Trip, Baxter State Park
Join
us for a two-night trip to Katahdin Lake Wilderness Cabins, featuring a 13-mile
round trip ski to Chimney Pond. Fee: $175; includes skis and trekking poles,
cabin lodging, all meals (excluding first day lunch). Contact
Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Saturday, March 21-Sunday, March 22
Presque Isle Fish and Game Club Sportsman’s Show, Presque
Isle
Kids’ Trout Fishing Pond
sponsored by L.L. Bean, Shooting Range, Bow Range, Video Hunting Game, Moose
Calling Contest, hourly kids’ door prizes! 75+ exhibitors from Maine, New
Brunswick, Labrador, Quebec, New England. Fee: $5. Visit Presque Isle Fish and
Game Club www.PIFG.org FMI
Tuesday, March 24
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside
Series Adult Snowshoe Adventure, Caribou
Join
us for a snowshoe adventure at Caribou High School Ski Trails. Fee: $20;
includes snowshoes, trekking poles, instruction, hot dog roast. Depart Caribou Rec.
Center at 10:00 a.m.; return by 3:00 p.m. Contact Neal Sleeper
(207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Thursday, March 26
UMPI
Science Seminar Series, Presque Isle
12:15-1:30 p.m.; 201 Folsom Hall, featuring research
conducted by UMPI students, faculty, other scientists. Wildlife Biologist Derek
Woods presents Conservation of Wood Turtles from Maine to Virginia: A
Coordinated Regional Approach. Contact Dr. Jason Johnston (207-768-9652) or jason.johnston@umpi.edu FMI
*Friday,
March 27-Sunday, March 29
Caribou
Rec. Take It Outside Series Adult Winter Adventure, Spider Lake
Activities: ice fishing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing,
or simply relaxing and enjoying a nice warm cabin in the woods. Fee: $150;
includes transportation, fishing license, food, lodging, necessary equipment. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
*Tuesday, March 31
Caribou Rec. Take It Outside Series Adult XC Ski
Adventure, Caribou
The Caribou Ski Trails at
Caribou County Club boast a wilderness experience right in our backyard. Trip
includes a hot bowl of chowder and finger sandwiches on the trail. Fee: $20;
includes equipment, transportation. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or
sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI
Ongoing Programs:
Sunday Saunter Running
Group, Presque Isle
Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at UMPI's
Gentile Hall. Open to all abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes,
and bring friends! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI
Van Buren Rec. Youth Hockey,
Van Buren
Sundays; 11:00 a.m. and Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays; 3:30 p.m. at the Van Buren Ice Skating Rink (weather
permitting). Come play hockey outdoors! Donations of “real” ice hockey sticks,
helmets, pads, would be greatly appreciated! Contact Michael "Miles"
Garcia (207-868-5059) or vbchamber@gmail.com FMI
Bootlegger Snowshoe Hike,
Rivière-Bleue, QC
Sundays; fourth Sunday of the month
at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern Time) at the end of Path Brissette. Get to know the
magical setting of the Bootlegger trails on this guided hike. Contact Jean
Lebrun (418-893-1033) or info1@routedesfrontieres.com FMI
10th Mountain Outdoor Club
Jalbert Pee Wee Biathlon Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 4:00 p.m. at Fort Kent
Outdoor Center. Open to youth ages 9 and under. Kids will learn basic skate
skiing skills, go on ski adventures, and play LOTS of games! Cost: FREE!
Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI
10th Mountain Outdoor Club
Jalbert Youth Biathlon Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent
Outdoor Center. Open to youth ages 10-14; roller skiing, rifle shooting, trail
running, and LOTS of games! Cost: FREE! Contact Gail Johnsonstegacosa@yahoo.com FMI
MWSC Active Maine Project
Adult Nordic Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent
Outdoor Center. The program runs January 20-February 10 and is a fun, social
way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250)
or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI
*Valley Outdoor Centre
Wednesday Night Skiing, Centreville, NB
Wednesdays; 7:00-7:45 p.m. (Atlantic) at
Valley Outdoor Centre on Upton Rd. Ski from the lodge, as far or as little as
you like, at your own pace; return to warm beverages, snacks, and a fire. Bring
headlamp. Fee: $5; for snacks, beverages, fire pit, door prizes. Visit www.valleyoutdoor.ca FMI
MWSC Active Maine Project
Adult Nordic Program, Presque Isle
Thursdays; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic
Heritage Center. The program runs January 22-February 12 and is a fun, social
way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250)
or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI
*River Valley Runners
Saturday Fun Run, Woodstock, NB
Saturdays; 8:30 a.m. (Atlantic) at Carleton
Civic Centre, 105 Connell Park Rd. Meet in main/front parking lot of Civic
Centre. Hope to see many runners out; spring is coming soon. Visit www.facebook.com/groups/rvrunnersnb FMI
Nordic Heritage Sport Club
Youth XC Ski Program, Presque Isle
Saturdays; 10:00-11:30 a.m. Join us
for a fun-filled free ski lesson! Grades K-8 welcome; ages 5 and under invited
if with adult. Lessons designed for all levels. Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI
Four Seasons Trail
Association Youth Ski Program, Madawaska
