Saturday, January 31, from 9 a.m. to noon, Maine Coast Heritage Trust invites all ages to join steward and naturalist Kirk Gentalen for a lively morning outdoors, and discover some of the wildlife stories that Erickson Fields Preserve in Rockport has to offer. 

Fresh snow captures animal tracks, trails, and tunnels providing lessons untaught in any other season, according to MCHT, in a news release.

Join Coastal Mountains Land Trust and Maine Health’s Community Health program for a Happy Wanderers Hike, Thursday, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., at the Long Cove Preserve in Searsport. This preserve features 2.4 miles of moderate hiking on a loop trail with multiple habitat types hosting an abundance of wildlife, according to CMLT, in a news release.

Midcoast Rec will cut the ribbon for the new Camden National Bank Pickleball Center, January 29, 2026, at 5 p.m. 

Join Coastal Mountains Land Trust and Maine Health’s Community Health Program on Saturday, January 31, for a full moon hike to the summit of Beech Hill. The group will meet at 5 p.m., at the Beech Hill Road trailhead and walk up together as the full moon rises. The trail is about 0.6 miles on a farm road with a gentle, but steady incline. On top of the hill, the historic Beech Nut will be open, and the fireplace will be lit. All are welcome.

WALDOBORO — The Medomak Valley High School Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Medomak Valley All Sports Boosters, will hold its ninth annual “Paws for the Cause” basketball games to benefit the Lincoln Health Breast Care Program. The event will be held Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at Medomak Valley High School, when the Medomak Valley Panthers play host to the Lincoln Academy Eagles.

The boys play at 5 p.m., and the girls play at 6:30 p.m.

Join Coastal Mountains Land Trust for the first workshop of a two-part tracking series, Saturday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., at the Fernalds Neck Preserve in Lincolnville. 

This hiking excursion is being led by expert tracker Meg Selkie, who has extensive experience guiding participants in understanding who has been inhabiting the forest, what food sources they have been relying on and how recently they left behind their “sign”, according to CMLT, in a news release. …

For the Joy of Winter: 25 Years of WinterKids will air on Maine Public Television, as part of the Maine Public Film Series, on Thursday, Jan. 22, at 9 p.m., with encore showings on Jan. 23, at 1 a.m.; Jan. 24, at 2 p..m.; and Jan. 25, at 4 p.m.

Come Boating!, Belfast’s community boating organization, and the Belfast Free Library are teaming up once again to offer the Winter Adventure Series.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 6:30 p.m. the 2026 series will feature a presentation by Jonathan Fulford for a talk titled, “5 People, 5 Months, 5K Nautical Miles: What Could Go Wrong?”

Georges River Trout Unlimited (GRTU) welcomes Sean McCormick, owner/operator of Blue Heron Fly Fishing in Whitefield, for a presentation on fly fishing the Kennebec River. McCormick became a Registered Maine Guide 33 years ago and started Blue Heron Fly Fishing.

OLD ORCHARD BEACH — On Thursday, January 1, hundreds of participants will ring in the New Year by running into the Atlantic Ocean in front of The Brunswick during the 2026 Lobster Dip, a benefit for Special Olympics Maine.

THOMASTON — Join Georges River Land Trust (GRLT) and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), Saturday, Jan. 17, at 9:30 a.m., in the Rockland Bog, for an animal tracking walk. 

"Winter is an exciting and active time for wildlife," said GRLT, in a news release.

Kirk Gentalen, naturalist and Regional Stewardship for MCHT, will provide tips for identifying animal tracks, and give insight into what animals are busy doing in the woods this time of year.

This walk is free and open to everyone. Please visit…

HERMON — "The Pine Tree Camp Celebrity Egg Ride is a 53-year Maine winter tradition that’s unique, memorable, messy and meaningful," said Pine Tree Camp, in a news release.

This year, racing legend Ricky Craven will join the fleet of Egg Riders to support Pine Tree Camp and its mission to serve Maine people with disabilities. 

THOMASTON — Join Georges River Land Trust for a guided group hike along the trails of the Rockland Bog Preserve on Saturday, January 10. Hikers should meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. The hike will conclude by 12 p.m.

"The Rockland Bog is the largest peatland bog complex in the Midcoast, providing wildlife habitat and offering stunning views of rare fen ecosystems," said GRLT, in a news release.

Maine State Park admission and hikes are free to First Day Hikers.

On January 1, four Maine State Parks will host guided First Day Hikes: Camden Hills State Park, Holbrook Island Sanctuary, Sebago Lake State Park, and Two Lights State Park. For those who prefer solitude or flexibility in scheduling, self-guided options are available statewide.

Registration is open for this year’s Plunge for a Purpose on New Year’s Day at Pemaquid Beach in New Harbor. This fundraiser supports programs that guide local kids off the grid and into their hearts. Hearty Roots offers year-round school partnerships, campouts and day camps, creating meaningful mentorships and connecting kids to the natural world.

CAMDEN — The first of a two-day soft opening at the Camden Snow Bowl, today, Dec. 14, proved a smooth entry to the winter ski season. Even drivers arriving with all their gear quickly got the hang of a new parking/traffic route, engineered to pack vehicles more efficiently into the lot over the course of a busy winter.

Registration is now open for the 14th Annual WinterKids Downhill 24, presented by Agren. Maine’s only 24-hour on snow team challenge returns to Sugarloaf on February 26 and 27, 2026, according to WinterKids, in a news release. Participants of all ages are invited to ski, ride, or skin as part of a joyful celebration that supports outdoor play and learning for children across Maine.

ROCKPORT — Rockport Common, a new community park on the 7.67 acre parcel on the corner of West Street and Route 1, is due to open with a ribbon cutting in Fall 2026. Between now and then, the former site of the old Rockport Elementary School, will undergo a slow and deliberate transformation with construction to begin in late winter.

"A lot of effort has gone into this," said Griff Lesher, a Rockport resident, who,  along with his wife, Linda, is a foundational force behind the…