 May 2025
Andy’s campsite at Big Bend Ranch State Park, Texas.
As a board member of the National Association of State Park Directors, one of my most rewarding ‘duties’ has been visiting state park systems across the country and learning from experienced and insightful colleagues. For a recent board meeting, I traveled to the 311,000-acre Big Bend Ranch State Park in southern Texas (nearly 50% bigger than Baxter State Park!), where Chihuahuan Desert temperatures ran into the 90s - during the winter!
Rodney Franklin, Director of Texas State Parks (left), and staff of Enchanted Rock State Park, Texas.
A week later, I joined a few BPL colleagues and others from the northeast at New Hampshire’s Franconia Ridge State Park, where 11 inches of snow fell at the 4,000-foot summit of Cannon Mountain.
Andy Cutko, Ron Hunt, and Gary Best attended the Northeast Association of State Parks meeting at Crawford Notch State Park, New Hampshire.
I always leave these meetings brimming with new and creative ideas, inspired by like-minded staff, and thoroughly impressed by the geographic, ecological, and cultural diversity of the nation’s state park system. (Fun fact: America’s State Parks encompass more than 20 million acres and host more than 850 million visitors annually – more than double those figures for our national parks.) With unsettled funding and staffing questions looming over our treasured national parks, there has never been a better time to explore America’s State Parks!
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
Paddlers on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
In honor of Cooper Flagg’s march through the NCAA Basketball Tournament, last week’s BPL staff meeting featured a highly unscientific online tournament to determine our favorite BPL site. From a ‘Sweet 16’ list of BPL sites across four regions (sorry, many other BPL sites were eliminated by underwhelming regular seasons), 70 BPL staffers voted in a Final Four of the Cutler Coast (East), Reid State Park (South), Allagash Wilderness Waterway (North), and Bigelow Preserve (West). The winner? The Allagash Wilderness Waterway!! Anyone who’s ever been there can certainly understand why.
~ Andy Cutko, Director, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
Work in a beautiful location while making a lasting impact. You'll be helping visitors enjoy and learn about the outdoors, and stewarding iconic locations so that they will retain robust ecosystems and be healthy places to recreate for future generations.
Employment opportunities are at Maine State Parks and Historic Sites and include Rangers, Lifeguards, and Customer Representative Assistants. View the listings and apply now at BPL's Careers and Seasonal Job webpage. Resources include brochures, videos, and a link to the applications and job descriptions.
On Monday, May 12 you can take in the view of the Flower Moon from the top of Mount Battie at Camden Hills State Park. The gate to the top will close at 9:30 and visitors are expected to leave by 10:00 p.m. This is a self-guided session. Please bring your own binoculars and viewing equipment.
~ Charlene Hood, Manager of Camden Hills State Park
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Barred Owl photo by David Rodrigues.
Join us for Feathers Over Freeport, a birding festival for all ages. This year it will be held one day only at Bradbury Mountain State Park from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The day is packed with educational activities that include a bird walk for adults and one for children, two presentations by the Chewonki Foundation, a vernal pool exploration, a bird call contest, crafts and activities for kids, and the Center for Wildlife Birds of Prey presentation as the finale of the day. The Brickyard Hollow Food Truck will be serving their scrumptious pizza from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
View the full schedule at www.maine.gov/feathersoverfreeport
See you there!
~ Chris Silsbee, Manager of Bradbury Mt. State Park
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Kerry Hardy and volunteers and park staff who joined him on the April 23, 2025 plant inventory session.
Pre-register to join in on an educational day of plant inventorying at Camden Hills State Park. Kerry Hardy, a local plant enthusiast, will lead a hike with park staff to document and take GPS coordinates of the park's unique plant species. The focus will be on the wide range of ferns and wildflowers that can be seen in the park, and on learning to ID native hardwood tree and shrub species by their leaf shapes. We may include the blueberry barren plants on Cameron Mt. or the fields by Maiden's Cliff.
Limited to 25 people and free to registered participants. Pre-register by emailing [email protected] and please put "June 3 plant inventory RSVP" in the subject line.
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to Noon; may stay for afternoon session as well - ending at 3 PM.
Lunch will be provided, followed by an afternoon session.
Location: Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Road, Camden, ME 04843
Meet at the main parking lot at 9:00 AM.
~ Charlene Hood, Manager of Camden Hills State Park
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The old concession stand at Griffith Head and soon to be the new nature center!
Please donate to Reid State Park to support a nature center at Griffith Head. The old concession stand is being refurbished into a nature center, and we need your help to make the transition a reality. Any dollar amount you can give is appreciated. Donate Now. Thank you!
~ Haylee Parsons, Manager of Reid State Park
Thank you to everyone who participated in our newsletter survey. We received 170 responses and value your thoughts and opinions. We were struck by how positive they were, they brightened our day while providing valuable information.
As a result of the survey, we will continue to send the newsletter by both text and email so that it will reach you as you prefer.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
The Maine Trails Program (MTP) is a statewide initiative to support the acquisition, development and renovation of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation. Created by the Maine Legislature in 2024, the program is administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. With $30 million in state funding available through 2034, the program supports motorized, nonmotorized, and multi-use trails across Maine. Up to $7.5 million per year may be awarded to trail projects to leverage at least $3 million in public and private matching contributions. To ensure transparency and community input, the Maine Trails Advisory Committee—made up of representatives from both motorized and nonmotorized trail interests—provides guidance to the program and helps evaluate and recommend eligible projects for funding.
Approximately 300 people attended the MTP virtual workshops on April 10 and 11. During the month of May 18 in-person workshops will be held at nine locations across the state to further promote the program and provide guidance about eligible projects and how to apply. View the workshop list & register.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 26, 2025
Project eligibility and guidance: Maine Trails Program page.
~ Doug Beck, Outdoor Recreation Program Manager
Many of us think of hunting season as an autumn event. Maine has a spring wild turkey season from April 28 – May 31, 2025, and a youth day on April 26th. Whether you are a hunter or a user of Parks and/or Public Lands open to hunting, you should be aware there may be hunters on the landscape looking to harvest wild turkeys during that timeframe. For more information on Maine’s hunting seasons, laws, and rules, please visit this Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife page.
~ Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, embedded with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
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Black bears are most active in Maine from April 1 to November 1. Male bears and solitary females are usually up and about first. Females with yearlings are next, and females with cubs are soon to follow.
It’s time to remove, store, secure, and clean common bear attractants in your yard. Taking the following steps will help keep you, your property, and Maine’s bears safe.
- Take bird feeders down for the season. Store feeders and seed indoors. Rake up spilled seed.
- Store garbage cans indoors. Garbage cans and dumpster lids should be closed and securely latched.
- Keep grills clean and store inside when not in use.
- Secure pets and livestock in buildings at night and store their food indoors. Feed them inside when possible or clean dishes daily and remove leftover food.
Learn more about living with black bears.
~ Sarah Spencer, Wildlife Biologist, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, embedded with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
(Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)
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The Build & Bloom in Nature event is designed for children up to 8 years of age and their parents; older siblings are welcome too. This indoor-outdoor event includes nature and play activities, hearing, vision, and development screenings, resources, and snack areas. Gift bags with books and play activities will be given to the first 75 families who explore each play area! The Bureau of Parks and Lands will host an activity table to encourage families of young ones to get outdoors together and enjoy the State Parks and Public Lands.
Date: Saturday, May 3
Time: 9:00 AM to Noon
Location: Wiscasset Community Center, 242 Gardiner Road, Wiscasset
Need inspiration to explore the outdoors with your young children? Visit the Ruby's on the Road. Their Family Guide to Maine State Parks is sure to inspire a journey!
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
Photos left to right: Deboullie and Mahoosuc Public Lands, then Roque Bluffs and Shackford Head State Parks.
Our Guide & Maps series is available online. Recently updated are:
View the entire series on our Publications and Maps page.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
Send article suggestions or newsletter comments to Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist, webmaster, and newsletter editor for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands.
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