Maine Association of Conservation Districts News

Soil and Water Conservation Districts from Piscataquis and Somerset Counties will host a workshop on Tuesday March 4th focusing on American wild turkey habits and habitat. The 3-hour workshop will begin at 9:00 AM at the Skowhegan Community Center on 39 Poulin Drive, Skowhegan, ME.

Featured speakers at the event will be National Wild Turkey Federation Regional Biologist Doug Little, USDA Wildlife Services State Director John Forbes, and Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologist Bob Cordes.

Attendees will gain an understanding of wild turkey biology, history and management. Topics covered will include how to manage wild turkeys in agricultural areas, and how to enhance properties for improved habitat.

Registration donation for the workshop is $5.00 per person and space is limited; pre – registration is requested by Friday, February 29th. Contact Carol at the Somerset County Soil and Water Conservation District at 474-8324 or Joanna at the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District at 564-2321 for more information.

The Maine Forest Service in cooperation with the City of Bath, Androscoggin Land Trust, Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, USDA Forest Service and UAP Distribution LLC will be holding two invasive plant identification and control workshops. These workshops will provide participants with an introduction to identification of common upland invasive plants. Participants will also be introduced to different control strategies for invasive plants, including both mechanical and chemical methods. The workshops will concentrate on plant species that are invasive in Maine’s forests. Anyone with an interest in invasive plants is encouraged to attend. These workshops are free and lunch will be provided. Workshops will have a field component so please bring appropriate field gear for the forecasted weather conditions.

Workshop 1 Saturday May 3, 2008, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Bath City Hall in Bath. Registration deadline is April 30, 2008.

Workshop 2 Saturday May10, 2008, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at Sherwood Heights Elementary School in New Auburn. Registration deadline May 7, 2008.

REGISTRATION: Workshop space is limited and registration is required. To register (or for more information) e-mail (preferred method) ken.canfield@maine.gov or call (207) 657-3535. If registering please include the names of those attending and contact information for each person.

CREDITS: CEU Credits will be available for the following licenses:
NH Professional Forestry License credits 3.5
SAF CED credits 3.5
Maine Pesticide Licensing credits 4
Maine Licensed Professional Forester TBA

Directions to Bath Workshop:

Coming North on Route 1, take the Downtown exit. At the light, turn left, heading North, onto Washington Street. At next light turn right, heading East, onto Centre Street. Two blocks ahead of you will be Bath City Hall. Coming South on Route 1, take the first exit immediately upon crossing the bridge, turning right, heading North, onto Front Street. Bath City Hall will be to your right at the Stop sign.

Direction to Auburn Workshop:

From the North and South:

Use the Auburn Exit (75) of the Maine Turnpike. At the light turn left following the signs to Auburn. After turnpike overpass take the second right onto Hackett Rd. Cross the railroad tracks and take a left onto Broad St. Take the second right onto Marian Dr. At the stop sign take a right to the school.

Maine Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Kennebec County Soil and Water Conservation District (KCSWCD) are hosting a training session on hoop roof design and options for Maine hoop roof construction. Hoop Roof Options in Maine: Vendor Presentation will give attendees the opportunity to hear from three local vendors and learn about their products. The traditional wood trussed roof with steel roofing is a tried and trusted option but it often limits light, clearance, and air flow. Hoop roofed structures are becoming a popular option. Representatives from Clearspan, Greenhouse Supply, and Winkler will each address the audience followed by a panel discussion.

A limited number of spaces will be available for this educational training that will be held at the Waterville Elks Lodge on Industrial Street on March 4 from 8:30am -1:00pm. To register for the event please contact the Kennebec County Soil & Water Conservation District at 622-7847 x 3.

The Northern Maine Regional Envirothon Competition has been rescheduled for May 20, 2007. The location has also been changed to the Meduxnekeag Ramblers Snowmobile Club in Littleton.

Lisbon: The Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District will be hosting a GPS Unit Training Workshop at Beaver Park in Lewiston on March 29, 2008 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  A storm date of April 5, 2008, has been planned at the same site.  Have a new GPS that’s never come out of the box or thinking of buying one?  This workshop will offer the GPS basics you need.  GPS units will be provided for the training session.

In partnership with the Maine Forest Service, workshop participants will receive approximately 2 hours of classroom and 2 hours outside with hands–on training in the use of a GPS unit.  Registration is required and the cost of the workshop will be $7.00 per person.  For registration information contact Jane of the Androscoggin Valley Soil and Water Conservation District at 753-9400 ext 400.  Androscoggin Valley SWCD is an equal opportunity employer and program provider.  Anyone interested in learning how to use a GPS unit is invited to register.

The Maine Envirothon Committee would like to make Envirothon team members aware of some scholarship opportunities available to them.

• The Maine Assocation of Conservation Districts has two $2,000 scholarships to the University of Maine, Orono available. For more information visit www.maineswcds.org/envirothon.

• The Maine Arborist Association has two $750 scholarships available. For more information visit http://www.mainearborist.org/.
• The New England chapter of International Society of Arborculture has two $2,500 scholarships available. For more information visit http://www.newenglandisa.org/scholarships.html.

The Maine Envirothon Committee will be holding a Forestry Training Workshop at Unity College on Friday, March 21, 2008. This workshop is available for schools who have established Envirothon teams, or schools interested in forming a team. For more information on this workshop visit the Maine Envirothon website at www.maineswcds.org/envirothon/.

The Maine Association of Conservation Districts is pleased to announce that we are now accepting team registration for the 2008 Envirothon Season. Last year, we had over 50 teams from 32 Maine high schools registered for this program. We look forward to seeing these veteran schools again in 2008 and welcome new schools to take part in this valuable learning experience.

Envirothon is a state- and nation-wide environmental competition where high school students test their knowledge of natural resources and current environmental issues. Teams consisting of 3-5 students compete first at a regional level, answering questions and solving hands-on problems at five stations: Wildlife, Water/Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, and a Current Natural Resource Issue. This year’s current issue is Recreational Impacts on Natural Resources. The top three teams from each Regional Envirothon then compete at the State Finals at Unity College May 29th. The state’s winning team will travel to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona July 28 – August 3, 2008 for the International Competition.

Envirothon is an academic program that is aligned with the Maine Learning Results. As well as advising teams for competition, teachers throughout Maine successfully incorporate Envirothon concepts and hands-on activities into their science curricula. The program raises students’ awareness of local and national environmental issues. Envirothon integrates math, language arts, cultural land-use history, and science in ways unique to the field. Students build critical thinking and decision-making skills as they practice solving real environmental problems.

In addition to learning about the environment, applying new knowledge, collaborating to address natural resource issues, and meeting young environmentalists from around the state and nation, Maine participants are eligible for two $2000 scholarship from the College of Natural Sciences, Forestry, and Agriculture at the University of Maine, Orono. Winners of the National Envirothon receive individual college scholarships valued at over $1000. Through this program, students have an opportunity to meet and learn from state soil scientists, biologists, foresters, and other natural resource professionals.

For more information on Envirothon please visit our website at www.maineswcds.org/envirothon.