Calendar

Friday Mar. 12, noon - Sunday Mar. 14, 1 pm. Introduction to Winter Camping with David Butler, Maine Path and Paddle Guides. $125 for HVNC supporters, $150 all others. Register with Wiscasset Adult & Community Education at http://wiscasset.maineadulted.org/courses/, call 882-9710 or email to pcloutier@svrsu.org.

Course Description
Winter camping can be a fun filled adventure. The solitude and silence of a moon lit night on a crisp clear February night can provide beauty and awareness about the outdoors during the season that seems least appreciated to outdoor enthusiasts. Of course, without proper preparation and respect for what a Maine winter might deliver could turn into a not so happy experience. This course will provide information about the skills to maximize your winter camping experience.

Prior to the start of the course you will receive a detailed gear list. Maine Path & Paddle Guides will supplement your gear if requested. Upon arrival, we will review all your gear to ensure that everyone has proper gear.

We will snow shoe or ski into the HVNC yurt and spend Friday afternoon and evening learning winter skills and then spend Friday night in the yurt. The yurt has a woodstove and is a very comfortable, warm winter shelter. Saturday we will spend the majority of the day outside. You will build a snow shelter and have the opportunity to spend the night out if you choose.

Topics Covered include:
Winter Trip Planning (destinations, weather, group dynamics, special considerations)

Winter Clothing (layering, staying dry, staying warm)

Winter Safety (hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration, winter hygiene, winter wise)

Winter Travel (snow shoeing, x-country skiing, sleds, gear, route planning)

Winter Shelter (tents, Quinzees [snow shelters], thermal shelters, cabins)

Winter Food (food preparation, food, water, and energy requirements for winter)

Participants should pack their own winter lunch. We will build Quinzees if snow conditions permit.

Meals Provided: - Fri Dinner / Sat Breakfast-Lunch-Dinner / Sun Breakfast

RECENT PAST EVENTS

open house

Sun. Feb. 28 - Guided Full Moon Hike

TWO PART MAMMALS AND TRACKING with Lynne Flaccus, Chewonki Foundation

*Thurs. Feb. 25, 6-7 pm. Inside at SVCA. Learn about Maine's common mammals and their habitats. By viewing mounts, slides and other materials, we'll learn where to look for mammals and their tracks. Suggested donation $5.

*Sat. Feb. 27, 10 am - noon. Lynne will lead a walk at HVNC to look for and study animal tracks. Suggested donation $5.

Sat. Feb. 27, 12:30-2:30. Guided snowshoe hike for kids. Limited number of snowshoes available. Reservations required - 586-6752. Suggested donation $5.

SAT. FEB 20, 1-3 PM - WINTER WALK TO BLACK SPRUCE BOG AND MYSTERY POND WITH JERRY THERRIEN.  JERRY WAS SO EXCITED BY HIS FIRST TRIP TO THIS NEW GEM THAT HE HAD TO SHARE IT WHILE CONDITIONS STILL PERMIT. SOME OF HIS FINDS INCLUDE PITCHER PLANTS, RHODORA, COMMON WINTERBERRY, BLACK SPRUCE, MALEBERRY, MOUNTAIN HOLLY, SHEEP LAUREL, LARCH, LABRADOR TEA AND LEATHERLEAF AND A PEAT BEAVER LODGE. SNOWSHOES ARE REQUIRED TO GET AROUND. FMI CALL 586-5837.

Sun.-Mon. Feb. 14 and 15 - Kids - Guided Snowshoe Hike with Maine Guide Gary Hayward. Limited number of snowshoes available. Suggested donation $5. Reservations required - 586-6752.

SAT. Feb. 6, 8 am-4:30 pm. Winter Camping Skills Workshop with David Butler, Maine Guide, Maine Path and Paddle Guides. $40 for HVNC supporters, all others $50. Register by Feb. 1 with Wiscasset Adult & Community Education at http://wiscasset.maineadulted.org/courses/, call 882-9710 or email to pcloutier@svrsu.org

Learn how to enjoy all that winter has to offer while staying comfortable in the outdoors. Participants should plan on being outside for the entire course. (Instructor can help with clothing and footwear if requested.)

The course will begin at the HVNC gate with a review of the plan and a brief shakedown of each participants gear. The workshop will be interactive and participants can expect to be active throughout the day. A suggested gear list will be provided to all participants.

JAN. 30, 5 pm - 6:30 pm. Guided Full Moon Hike with Gary Hayward. Suggested donation $5. Limited number of snowshoes available to rent. Reservations required - 586-6752.

Saturday, Jan. 30, 12:30-2:30. Kids snowshoe with Naturalist Jerry Therrien and help place tree identification signs on Warbler Way and Cross Bill Trails. (Thanks to grants from New England Grass Roots Environmental Fund and Maine Forest Service.)

Sun. Jan. 24, 2-4 pm. Free snowshoe day for kids and their parents.

Sat. Jan. 23, 2-4 pm. Free snowshoe day for kids and their parents.

TWO PART OWL PROWL with Lynne Flaccus, Chewonki Foundation

*Wed. Jan. 20, 6-7 pm. Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association will host a Chewonki Foundation Program on the owls native to Maine and New England.  Through slides and sounds participants will learn identifying characteristics of some of our most common owls, and learn about their natural history and habitat needs.  Hands on materials including skulls, feathers and talons will be used to explore the unique adaptations of these amazing hunters.  Several of Chewonki’s live birds will allow the audience a close up and intimate view of these otherwise secretive creatures! A donation of $5.00 is suggested.

*Sat. Jan. 23, 6- 7:30 p.m. HVNC will host an owl prowl. Participants should bring binoculars if desired, a small flashlight, and should dress appropriately for the weather.  During a short hike we will call, look, and listen for local owls, and try some “see like an owl” experiments!  A donation of $5.00 is suggested.

Dec. 5, Natural Wreath Making with Melissa Hunnibelle

October 18, HVNC Third Anniversary Open House Celebration

Sept. 20, 8:30-noon, Guided Nature Walk with Ecologist Jerry Therrien

Sept. 20, 8:30 - 4 pm, Compass and Orienteering Course with Chris Hayward and Gary Hayward

Sat. Sept. 12, 10 am, Bugs of the Forest with Charlene Donahue, MaineForest Service

Sat. Sept. 12, 8:30 am, Wetlands Walk with Ecologist Jerry Therrien

Friday-Sat. Sept. 11-12, FOREST GUILD SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY WORKSHOP-

This two day class sponsored by Forest Guild (www.forestguild.org) will highlight a tour of the sustainable forestry activities at Hidden Valley Nature Center. It will cover many hands-on skills and management tools including innovative stream crossings, water management/controls, bridges, portable sawmill demo, pruning, small scale harvesting (equipment demonstration- forwarder, tractor, winch, dozer, firewood processor), wetlands delineation and forest ecology, timber stand improvement, forestry cost-share programs, silviculture, recreational uses of forest land, log cabin built on-site from low-grade pine, and road repair.

stump to hut

Guided Nature Walk.

Enjoy a walk in the woods with Professional Ecologist Jerry Therrien as you soak up the wildlife. Learn to identify creepy crawlers, plants, birds, amphibeans, ferns and mushrooms in all seasons. Minimum cost is $30. Contact Gary Hayward at 586-6752 or waywards@hotmail.com to make arrangements.

Compass and Orienteering Course with Maine Guides Chris Hayward and Gary Hayward.

If you enjoy the outdoors and would like to know where you are and where you are going, this class is for you. Be prepared for your next hiking or snow shoeing adventure.

Course includes both classroom and field work. Beginning with basics of navigation, compass parts, taking and following bearings, map features, participants will progress to handrails, backbearings, offshooting and triangulation. After lunch, learned skills will be used by navigating through an orienteering course.

Cost is $85 per person including lunch. (HVNC Supporters $75 per person.)

INSTRUCTORS
Chris Hayward, Registered Maine Guide and Adventure Racer, of "Maine Trips Guide Service" 207-836-2157, mainetrips@yahoo.com AND Gary Hayward, Registered Maine Guide, of "Just For The Fun Of It" Guide Service, 207-586-6752, waywards@hotmail.com.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Guide Services Available For Day and Overnight Activities

Canoeing, Fishing, Camping, Kayaking and Rock Climbing

Fully or partially guided to meet your family or group enjoyment by our own local Registered Maine Guides. For Details contact: Gary Hayward, Just for the Fun Of It, 207-586-6752, waywards@hotmail.com or Chris Hayward, www.mainetrips.org., mainetrips@yahoo.com.

binoculars

WALKS, HIKES & BIKES

Schedule a walk, hike or bike with your group, family, or friends. And with winter snows, enjoy x-country skiing and snowshoeing, too.

Hidden Valley Nature Center is located in the Jefferson-Whitefield State Wildlife Sanctuary where no hunting is allowed. There is an extensive 20+ mile trail system within a 7000 acre roadless area.

Enjoy a crisp morning outing in a Maine Wildlife Sanctuary followed by lunch at the Hilltop Yurt.

bikes

Canoe & Fish

-On a secluded 100 acre Maine Great Pond
-Venture into meanduring inlets and outlets 
- Fish for Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, White Perch, Pickerel


DISCONNECT TO RECONNECT

Spend 2 days and 1 night with your family or friends in a yurt located in the middle of 800 secluded acres. Hike, fish, canoe, or just relax in nature with no power, gadgets, phones or hassles. All while enjoying home cooked meals prepared by a Registered Maine Guide.

Contact Gary Hayward, Director, for event registration and other scheduling opportunities at 207-586-6752, waywards@hotmail.com.

Become a Supporter or make other tax-deductible donations by mailing to: Gary Hayward, P.O.Box 135, Alna ME 04535.