#CapeElizabethME - #TwoLights #WinterFunDay

Ski & Snowshoe Trailer Equipment Loans on February 21 & 22 at Two Lights State Park

Division / Program: Parks and Lands
Date: February 21, 2026 - February 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Two Lights State Park, off Route 77 on Two Lights Road, Cape Elizabeth.
State Park: Two Lights
Event Type: Special Event

"Maine State Parks Ski & Snowshoe Trailer on site for free equipment loans of xc-skis, boots, poles and snowshoes.

Gear use is free with paid park admission!

Don't have gear or don't want to
haul it to the park? Then join us at
the park during the Ski & Snow-
shoe Trailer days. Equipment is
available for youth and adults. It is
a great way to get out and explore
the park during the winter!"

Contact Name: The park
Contact Phone: (207) 799-5871
Cost: Park Admission: Adult Maine Resident = $5. Adult Non-resident = $7. Senior Non-resident = $2. Children 5-11 years old = $1. Maine Seniors 65+ and children under 5 get in free."

FMI:
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/discover_history_explore_nature/activities/eventinfo.shtml?id=13341372

#SolarPunkSunday #SpendTimeInNature
#MaineEvents #NatureWalks #MaineStateParks #CrossCountrySki
#SnowShoeing #TakeItOutside

#Maine #StatePark #FirstDayHikes, part of the nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors, are a combination of led and self-guided hikes, and virtual visits for 2026.

Guided Program Listings:

#CamdenHills State Park, #CamdenME - 9:00 a.m. Meet at the visitor center. Join us for a scenic 2.6-mile hike on the #Megunticook and #Adams Lookout Trails with Park Ranger Erik Hallsey to ring in 2026. The Megunticook Trail is a moderately difficult hike that leads to the easy Adams Lookout Trail. Both trails provide scenic points that include excellent views of #PenobscotBay. Leashed pets are welcome. Read all the details and view the flyer. FMI: (207) 236-0849.

#HolbrookIsland Sanctuary, #BrooksvilleME - 1-4:00 p.m. Meet at the Backshore Trail parking lot on Indian Bar Road. Join us for a leisurely 2.85 mile walk for all ages to ring in the New Year! Meet and Greet at 1:00 - Warm beverages, water, and snacks will be on hand at the start and finish of our walk. The guided hike will begin at 1:30 or explore on your own anytime during the afternoon. Please wear warm clothing and sturdy footwear. Leash pets are welcome. Read all the details and view the flyer. FMI: (207) 326-4012.

#SebagoLake State Park, Campground Side of Park, #Naples<E. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at the campground booth. Join us for a leisurely 1-mile walk for all ages on January 1 to ring in the New Year! Meet at campground booth on the Naples side of the park, for snacks and beverages, which will be provided. This will be an easy to moderate 1- mile hike around Horseshoe Bog; a mostly flat, and slightly rocky trail. All ages are welcome, but parents should be prepared to carry their children if they tire. Parents must accompany children under 12 years old. No pets on this hike, please. Park entry and program are free to First Day Hikers. Read all the details and view the First Day Hike flyer. FMI: (207) 693-6231.

#TwoLights State Park, #CapeElizabethME - 6:30-9:00 a.m. The park is off Route 77. Meet at High Head at the rose garden. Arrive at 6:30 for the sunrise. Hike begins at 7:30. This is a leasurely 3/4-mile loop hike along the shoreline and woodland paths. Parents must accompany children under 12 years old. Leashed pets are welcome. Read all the details and view the flyer. FMI: (207) 799-5871.

Self-guided Hike Guides:
#BradburyMountain State Park, #FreeportME
Camden Hills State Park, Camden
#PophamBeach State Park, #PhippsburgME
#ReidStatePark, #GeorgetownME
#WolfesNeck Woods State Park, Freeport
Share your self-guided hike photos and comments with us by tagging @mainedacf to Instagram and Facebook.
Stay Informed with Safety Updates.

FMI (includes link to guides):
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/discover_history_explore_nature/activities/first-day-hikes.shtml

#MaineParks #NatureEvents #NatureHikes #NewYearsHikes #SpendTimeInNature
#MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #MaineEvents #SolarPunkSunday

First Day Hikes: Activities & Events: Discover History & Explore Nature: State Parks and Public Lands: Maine DACF

#FirstDay Hikes at Select #MaineStateParks with Guided and Self-guided Options

"Maine State Park First Day Hikes, part of the nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors, are a combination of led and self-guided hikes, as well as virtual visits to help you kick off 2026.

Join in on the fun and start out your New Year within the beauty and solace of a Maine State Park. Program listings are provided below. You can also download materials for self-guided hikes and view the virtual visits at BPL's First Day Hike page.

Program Listings - Join Us on January 1, 2026:

#CamdenHills State Park, #CamdenME
#HolbrookIsland State Park, #BrooksvilleME
#SebagoLake State Park - Campground side of park, #NaplesME
#TwoLights State Park, #CapeElizabethME

Enjoy the free park entry and program for First Day Hikers!"

FMI: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/discover_history_explore_nature/activities/first-day-hikes.shtml

#MaineParks #NatureEvents #NatureHikes #NewYearsHikes #SpendTimeInNature
#MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #MaineEvents #SolarPunkSunday

First Day Hikes: Activities & Events: Discover History & Explore Nature: State Parks and Public Lands: Maine DACF

#Maine - #WinterSolstice Walk at #KettleCove #StatePark

Division / Program: Parks and Lands
Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: 49 Kettle Cove Road, #CapeElizabethME. Meet at the park's maintenance shop.
State Park: Kettle Cove State Park
Event Type: #NatureExploration, Special Event

"The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year-- a day of beginnings, of storytelling, of reflection, of celebrating and more. For ancient astronomers, it was the day that the sun appeared at its lowest in the Northern Hemisphere sky and at its farthest southern point over Earth. It's also the day that the Earth and all of us are closest to the sun. Join naturalist Jeanne Christie for a walk to the shore at Kettle Cove to learn a bit of ancient history, astronomy, stories of past cultures, and to reflect and celebrate the beginning of the longest night of the year."

Contact Name: C/O Crescent Beach State Park
Contact Phone: (207) 799-5871
Cost: Free with park admission: Adult Maine Resident: $3; Adult Non-Resident: $4; Senior Non-Resident: $1; Children 5-11 years old: $1; Children under 5 and Maine Seniors are free.

Link to PDF:
https://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/attach.php?id=13336117&an=1

#SolarPunkSunday #NatureEvents #SolsticeEvents #WinterSolsticeEvents #SpendTimeInNature #MoreGreenTimeLessScreenTime #WinterSolstice #MaineEvents #Storytelling #History #Astronomy

If you're in #Maine, SAVE THE DATE!

Free Day at #MaineStateParks (Note, not all parks - see * below) for #LibraryCard Holders on September 20

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2025

Augusta, Maine – "September is #NationalLibraryCardSignUpMonth, and thanks to a proclamation by Governor #JanetMills, it is also officially #MaineLibraryCardSignUpMonth. To mark the occasion, the #MaineStateLibrary and Maine State Parks are partnering to offer a special day of free admission to participating state parks.

"On Saturday, September 20, simply show your Maine library card at the entrance of any participating Maine state park and enjoy a day outdoors at no cost.

" 'This collaboration is a perfect way to highlight the value of libraries and the exceptional outdoor values of Maine’s State Parks,' said Andy Cutko, #DACF Bureau of Parks and Lands Director. 'Libraries open your mind to the world of literature, and on September 20, your library card is also a ticket to the outdoors.'

" 'Maine State Library is delighted to partner with Maine State Parks for Library Card Sign-Up Month,' said #LoriFisher, Maine State Librarian. 'With the fall season upon us, providing free admission to many Maine State Parks on September 20th is a natural extension of the types of services and resources that our public libraries provide regularly to their communities.'

"Visitors are encouraged to bring a favorite #book, find a shady spot, and enjoy some quiet #ReadingTime surrounded by Maine’s natural beauty. Whether it’s a novel at #CrescentBeachStatePark [my favorite beach], #poetry under a pine at #LamoineStatePark, or a field guide on a trail atop #BradburyMountainStatePark [another favorite], the day is a celebration of learning, relaxation, and connection.

"Don’t have a library card yet? Stop by your local library to sign up — it’s free, and it opens the door to countless opportunities, from books and digital resources to programs and events.

"To find your nearest library, go to www.maine.gov/msl/libs/directories/public.shtml.

"To explore Maine State Parks, including maps and locations, visit http://www.parksandlands.com.

"Free admission applies to day-use at Maine’s Maine State Parks and #HistoricSites on Saturday, September 20, from 9:00 a.m. until closing."

* The free admission does not apply to:

Acadia National Park
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Baxter State Park
Maine Wildlife Park
Peacock Beach
Scarborough Beach
Swan Island
Penobscot River Corridor
Penobscot Narrows Observatory in Prospect

Image: Crescent Beach State Park in #CapeElizabethME

#MaineEvents #SolarPunkSunday #FreeParksDay #LibrariesRule #Maine #SpendTimeInNature #ReadABook

An excellent resource from #EcoMaine!

#FoodWaste and #Composting

"Did you know that almost a third of what we throw away is leftover or spoiled food? If Maine is to achieve a 50% recycling rate, we need to recover our food waste, too – it’s worth the weight!

"ecomaine added food waste recycling to our sustainable waste management solutions in order to help Maine reach its recycling goal. We continue to build food waste recycling capacity in southern Maine, serving as a central collection point for grocery stores, institutions, and participating cities and towns.

"Collected food waste is transported to #ExeterME’s #AgriEnergy [#AgricycleEnergy] to be de-packaged and anaerobically digested to produce sustainable power, organic farm #fertilizer, and cow bedding for the #Maine family dairy farm #StonyvaleFarm. Any packaging removed from the food waste is delivered back to ecomaine to be burned for energy—keeping all of it out of our #landfills!

"By making #composting, anaerobic digestion, and food waste recycling so easy, we encourage our communities to dispose of their waste responsibly.

"For more on compost that’s 'Worth The Weight,' check out our informational pamphlet!

#BackyardComposting

"Backyard composting is one of the easiest ways to keep organic material out of the trash. It also has some other great advantages:

- It doesn’t weigh your trash down as much.
- It doesn’t get into ecomaine‘s waste-to-energy plant, making our combustion more damp and less efficient.
- It’s easy – and “grass-cycling” (leaving clippings on the lawn) is better for your grass!
- It saves Maine’s towns money on collection and hauling.
- And it saves YOU money on trash bags!

"There are no trucks or driving involved – no carbon emissions! You just walk it out to your bin, and that’s it.

"In the end, composting produces rich #soil for flower and vegetable #gardens – without paying for it (again) at the store.

Drop Off Locations

"If you’re looking for a compost drop-off location, instead of putting it in your backyard, here are a few… If you know of one that’s not here, let us know! (Some facilities may be for residents only; we advise calling ahead if you’re not sure.)

[I've found that transfer stations are usually residents only...]

#BridgtonME Transfer Station
118 Sandy Creek Rd, Bridgton, ME, USA

#BrownfieldME Transfer Station
Pequawket Trail, Brownfield, ME, USA

#CapeElizabethME Recycling Center
10 Cooper Dr, Cape Elizabeth, ME, USA

#EliotME Recycling Center
468 Dow Highway, Eliot, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Community Park
Winn Rd, Falmouth, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Transfer Station
100 Woods Rd, Falmouth, ME, USA

#FalmouthME Village Park
22 Hat Trick Drive, Falmouth, ME

#FreeportME Recycling Center
100 Landfill Road, Freeport, ME, USA

#NorthYarmouthME Town Hall / #SamRistichNatureTrail, North Yarmouth, ME, USA

#PortlandME: #BoydStreet #CommunityGarden
2 Boyd Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #BrentwoodFarms Community Garden
Brentwood Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #Libbytown Community Garden
175 Douglass Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #NorthStreetCommunityGarden
195 North Street, Portland, ME

Portland: Parkside/King Middle School
In the back of the school near the Fitzpatrick Stadium parking lot
92 Deering Avenue, Portland, ME

Portland: #PaysonPark Community Garden
Dropoff located on Front Street.
Front Street, Portland, Maine

Portland: #ReicheSchool
Dropoff is on the Clark Street side.
166 Brackett Street, Portland, ME

Portland: #Riverton Community Garden
45 Verrill Street, Portland, Maine

#SacoME Dept. of Public Works
15 Phillips Spring Road, Saco, ME

Saco Parks & Rec
75 Franklin St, Saco, ME, USA

#ScarboroughME Public Works Facility
20 Washington Avenue, Scarborough, ME, USA

#SouthPortlandME City Hall
25 Cottage Rd, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland Code Enforcement Office
496 Ocean Street, South Portland, ME

South Portland Golf Course Maint. Building
221 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland High School
637 Highland Avenue, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland Transfer Station
929 Highland Ave, South Portland, ME, USA

South Portland: Redback Community Center
95 Macarthur Circle West, South Portland, ME

#StandishME Transfer Station
150 Moody Rd, Standish, ME, USA

#SurryME: #ChickadeeCompost
Jill's Lane, Surry, Maine www.chickadeecompost.com

#VinalhavenME Transfer Station
178 Round the Island Rd, Vinalhaven, ME, USA

#YarmouthME Transfer Station
659 East Main Street, Yarmouth, ME, USA

Curbside Collection

And if you’re really not into the backyard thing, there are some companies who will pick it up for you!

- #WeCompostIt! (Greater Portland)
- #GarbageToGarden (Greater Portland)
- #ScrapDogs (Greater #CamdenME-#RockportME)
- #MrFoxComposting (Southern Maine & #NH)
- #ProjectEarth (Lincoln County)
- #ChickadeeCompost (All of #BlueHillME Peninsula, #DeerIsleME, #EllsworthME)
- #OneEarth Composting (#HampdenME)
- #AgriCycle Energy (Collection from businesses & organizations for anaerobic digestion – all over!)

Other Compost Resources:

Maine Department of Environmental Protection
207-592-0455

University of Maine Cooperative Extension
207-581-3188

Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability Solutions at the University of Maine – Food Recovery
207-581-3195

Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association [#MOFGA]
207-568-4142

#WormMainea
207-831-3752

#MainelyWorm Bins

#UncleJimsWormFarm
1-800-373-0555

Source (with links):
https://www.ecomaine.org/food-waste-and-composting/

#SolarpunkSunday #Composting #WormBins #ReducingWaste
#Landfills #Maine #WasteToEnergy

Food Waste & Composting - ecomaine

Why Food Waste Diversion Matters The USDA estimates that up to 40 percent of the food supply in the US becomes food waste. In Maine alone, that could be as […]

ecomaine
Ok, I give up. (Why do kids, just a half block from school, have this large a distance to cross to get to the other side of a small residential road?) #SafeWalking4Kids #CapeElizabethME #ContinuousSidewalks