Aroostook Outdoor News: 12.29.16 edition
In this edition: 1) An age-old annual
tradition that is #ForTheBirds in the #PresqueIsleME area. 2) The return of the
#NewYearsDay #SkiRace in #CaribouME. 3) The first #AroostookCup ski race of the
season in #MadawaskaME. Plus lots more! #offugo…
#AroostookThing of the
week: The
117th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in the Presque Isle area.
Offugo into 2017…Happy
New Year to one and all!
117 years.
There
aren’t many things that have been around that long, especially when it comes to
organized outdoor recreation activities.
But
that is exactly how long folks around the country have been gathering to
conduct the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Thanks to local birders,
Aroostook County has hosted this early-winter census of our avian friends for
the last several years.
So
now you’re intrigued, but you’ve never done anything like this before – so what
to do?
That’s
easy. The Presque Isle area Christmas Bird Count, organized by the Aroostook
Birders, takes place this Saturday, December 30 and goes something like this:
Counters
will meet at 6:30 a.m. at Tim Horton’s on Main Street in Presque Isle. Coverage
areas will be assigned throughout a 15-mile diameter circle. Following
specified routes, counters will make note of every bird they see or hear all
day.
According
to the Audubon
website the Christmas Bird Count is “not
just a species tally – all birds are counted all day, giving an indication of
the total number of birds in the circle that day.”
The
event creates a wonderful, no-experience-necessary opportunity to get outside
and be active and to do your part to add to more than a century’s worth of
citizen science data.
And
on top of that, you may make some new friends, too!
If
you would like to be a part of this long-standing holiday tradition, contact
Bill Sheehan at 207-227-7301 or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com
FMI
#AroostookNote: Aroostook County
Tourism has a new blog feature on
its website. Written by select guest bloggers and members of the ACT Board, the
blog will present timely, adventurous, and nostalgic stories that underscore
life in all seasons in the Crown of Maine. To read the blog, you can quite
literally “Visit Aroostook” at visitaroostook.com
or via facebook.
Events:
Saturday, December 31
117th Annual Audubon
Christmas Bird Count, Presque Isle. 6:30 a.m. at Tim Horton’s, Main St. We
invite you to join us for all or part of this day-long count in the Presque
Isle area; all welcomed for this long-standing holiday tradition! We need all
hands on deck! Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI
Sunday, January 1
Caribou High School New
Year’s Day Race, Caribou. Community members and Caribou alumni are invited
to participate in this Nordic ski event. Distance: 5k Freestyle. Registration:
10:00 a.m. at CHS Ski Center, 308 Sweden Street. Race start: 11:00 a.m. Cost:
$10/person. Prizes to overall male and female age group winners. Contact Evan
Graves egraves@rsu39.org FMI
Saturday, January 7
Four Seasons Trail
Association Deprey Classic Ski Race, Madawaska. Aroostook Cup Series
Race #1. Distance: 6k Freestyle. Registration: 11:30 a.m. at Four Seasons Lodge,
425 Spring Street. Youth start: 12:15 p.m. Race start: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $10.
Pasta meal available for purchase. Contact Colin Jandreau (207-728-6103) or jandreau@roadrunner.com FMI
Saturday, January 14
Baxter State Park Summer
Camping Reservations Opening Day, Millinocket. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
in-person only at Baxter State Park Authority Headquarters, 64 Balsam Drive.
Only 20% of each campground may be reserved; two reservation limit per person
or camp group. Contact Baxter State Park (207-723-5140) or visit www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/reservation/summerReservations FMI
Thursday, January 19
Aroostook Birders Movie
Night, Caribou. Please
join us for movie night. Further details will be listed as they become
available. Visit www.aroostookbirders.com FMI
Saturday, January 21
Fort Kent Outdoor Center
Frostbite XC Ski Event, Fort Kent. Aroostook Cup Series Race #2. 7.5k, 15k
Classic races, 2.5k Classic youth (12 & under) race. Registration: 10:00
a.m. at FKOC, 33 Paradis Circle. Race start: 11:30 a.m. Youth race start: 12:00
p.m. Cost: $15/FKOC member, $20/non-member; $5/youth FKOC member, $10/youth
non-member. Contact Paul Cyr (207-834-6478) or bpcyr@fkglobal.com FMI
*Saturday, January 28 &
Sunday, January 29
12th Annual Long Lake Ice
Fishing Derby, Sinclair. Maine's largest cash prize ice fishing derby;
$16,000 in cash prizes! Derby Waters: Long, Cross, St. Froid, Square, Eagle,
Glazier, Beau, Portage Lakes, Carr Pond, St. John River. Registration: at Long
Lake Sporting Club, 48 Sinclair Rd. Proceeds benefit Paradis Cancer Fund. Visit
www.stagatha.com/derby FMI
*Friday, February 3-Sunday,
February 5
Moosestompers Weekend,
Houlton.
Activities include: Moonlight Snowshoe Hike, Daytime Snowshoe Hike, Sliding on
Derby Hill, Snow Creation Contest, Wild Katahdin Trust Snow Run, Cross-country
Skiing, Moosestompers Fishing Derby, giant bonfire, more! Visit www.moosestompers.com FMI
*Saturday,
February 4
33rd Annual Wild Katahdin
Trust Snow Run, Houlton. 2017 Aroostook Musterds County Challenge Series
Race #1. Registration: 9:00 a.m. at Millar Arena, 94 Randall Ave. 2-mile walk
start: 10:45 a.m. 5k run start: 11:00 a.m. Course: Pretty flat and fast
(depending on weather). Cost: $12. T-shirts to first 50 registrants. Proceeds
support Houlton Area Backpacks For Kids Program. Refreshments, traditional
chicken stew after event. Contact Larry Tonzi tonzimaine@gmail.com FMI
Ongoing Programs:
County Strides Running
Group, Presque Isle. Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at various locations. Open to all
abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes, and bring friends! Visit County
Strides at www.facebook.com/groups/447181508818122 FMI
Bootlegger Snowshoe
Hike, Rivière-Bleue, QC. Fourth Sunday of each 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
Francis
Malcolm Science Center Walk-in Tours, Easton. Weekdays; 9:00
a.m.-3:00 p.m. Experience our planetarium’s new, full-dome, digital projection
system, featuring a 30-minute activity; 15 minutes in the star theater, 15
minutes to visit the facility at large. Cost: $5/visitor;
reservations requested. Contact FMSC (207-488-5451) FMI
Sportsmen’s, Inc.
Meeting, Stockholm. First Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Axle Siding Clubhouse
(intersection of Lake Street/Rt. 161). Outdoors men and women promoting the
traditions of the outdoors. If you're interested in joining, you're welcome to
attend as a guest. Kids are welcome too! Visit www.facebook.com/Sportsmens-Inc-568794129811741 FMI
Friends of Aroostook
National Wildlife Refuge Meeting, Limestone. Second Monday of each month; 6:00
p.m. at ANWR headquarters and Visitor’s Center, 97 Refuge Rd. Founded in 1998, Friends
are involved in a number of volunteer projects on the ANWR in an effort to
balance the enhancing of habitat with the public access privilege to enjoy
wildlife in an unmolested environment. Contact Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634)
or friendsofanwr@gmail.com FMI
Nordic Heritage Sport
Club Meeting, Presque Isle. First Tuesday of each month; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic
Heritage Center, 450 Fort Fairfield Rd. The club promotes healthy outdoor
recreation, economic vitality in Central Aroostook County by providing
first-class facilities and programs to area residents, athletes, visitors.
Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI
Presque Isle Fish and
Game Club Meeting, Presque Isle. Last Tuesday of each month; 5:30 p.m. at PIFG
clubhouse, Parsons Road. Established in 1947 to help protect, conserve,
maintain and restore our natural resources as well as to protect and promote
our outdoor heritage. Meetings
include a delicious supper, cash bar, short business meeting. Visit www.pifg.org FMI
Four Seasons Trail
Association Meeting, Madawaska. First Wednesday of each month; 6:30
p.m. at Four Seasons Lodge, 425 Spring St. Non-profit organization dedicated to
promotion of healthier lifestyles for this community; participation open to
anyone interested. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI
Fort Fairfield Frontier
Fish and Game Club, Fort Fairfield. Second and fourth Wednesdays of each month (fourth Wednesdays during summer);
6:00 p.m. at FFFFG clubhouse on Monson Pond, 550 Dorsey Rd. Founded in 1958 to
help conserve, protect, maintain, and restore our natural resources and to
promote our outdoor heritage. Visit www.heyevent.com/venue/bmyulgbaawlhca FMI
Fort Kent Outdoor
Center Jalbert Youth Biathlon Program, Fort Kent. Saturdays; 1:00-2:30
p.m. at FKOC, 33 Paradis Circle. Jan 7-Feb 11. Open to youth ages 4-14; Nordic
skiing, rifle shooting, and LOTS of games! Cost: Free; participants are asked
to purchase FKOC memberships or daily trail passes. Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI
*
= New or updated item(s).
