Aroostook Outdoor News: 12.25.14 edition

We hope that you were a good little boy or girl this year and that Santa brought all the outdoor gear you put on your wish list! Merry Christmas!

In this edition: 1) Bored kids? Caribou Rec. has ski/board trip planned to keep them busy. 2) Learn about bird feeders in Limestone. 3) Make your Baxter State Park summer plans now – camping reservations open soon. Plus lots more! offugo…

Saturday, December 27, 2014-Thursday, January 1, 2015
Fort Kent Nordic Ski Festival, Fort Kent
Ski in the New Year! Activities include: Freestyle, Classic, Sprint Races; Wildlands Film Festival; Try-it Biathlon; New Year’s Eve Open Mike Social; Snowshoe Safari; Ski Cross; Ski Demos; Wax/Ski Clinics; Alpine Skiing. Contact Carl Theriault theriaultcarl@hotmail.com FMI

Tuesday, December 30
Caribou Rec. Bigrock Trip, Mars Hill
A fun-filled day of downhill skiing or snowboarding for grades 5-9. 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Cost: $5/trans. only; $25/trans. and ski ticket; $40/trans., equipment, ski ticket; $50/trans., equipment, ski ticket, lesson. Pre-registration required by Dec. 26. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI

Thursday, January 1, 2015
CompetitorME Resolution Run, Presque Isle
11:00 a.m. at North Street Health Center. This RUN is not a race! 1.5-mile looped course; run 1.5, 3, or 4.5 miles; pace will be between 10- and 12-minute miles; no dropping of runners. We hope to see YOU there to get 2015 started off right! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI

Saturday, January 3
Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, Presque Isle area
We invite you to join us for all or part of these day-long counts; all welcomed! Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI

Saturday, January 3
CompetitorME Full Moon Frolic, Presque Isle
6:00 p.m. at Nordic Heritage Center Lodge. Join us for a 2.5-mile full moon snowshoe hike on Eric’s Around The Mountain Trail. Bring refreshments and food for a celebration afterwards; headlamp or flashlight isn’t a bad idea. See YOU there! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI

Saturday, January 3
10th Mountain SC Full Moon Snowshoe Poker Run, Fort Kent
6:30-9:30 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Poker run for fun and fundraising, usually a 50/50; winner takes half and club gets half. Visit www.10thmtskiclub.org FMI

Saturday, January 10
Friends of Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge Second Saturday Series: Bird Feeders, Limestone
9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Learn all about bird feeders and hike or ski on our trails! Contact Friends of ANWR (207-328-4634) or visit www.friendsofaroostooknwr.org FMI

Sunday, January 11
FSTA Deprey Classic – Aroostook Cup #1, Madawaska
Kick off the Aroostook Cup series; 6-6.5k freestyle race and tour and age-appropriate kids’ race at Four Seasons Lodge. Registration: Noon. Kids’ race start: 12:30 p.m. Race start: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $2/youth; $5/adult. Contact Colin Jandreau (207-728-6103) or jandreau@roadrunner.com FMI

Wednesday, January 14
Baxter State Park Summer Camping Reservations Opening Day, Millinocket 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. in-person only at Baxter State Park Authority Headquarters, 64 Balsam Drive, Millinocket. Only 20% of each campground may be reserved; two reservation limit per person or camp group. Contact Baxter State Park (207-723-5140) FMI

Sunday, January 18
10th Mountain SC Frostbite XC Ski Event – Aroostook Cup #2, Fort Kent
Distances: 30k, 15k, 5k. Registration: 10:30 a.m.; Race start (all events): 12:00 p.m. Fee: $20. Visit www.10thmtskiclub.org FMI

*Thursday, January 22
Aroostook Birders Meeting and Presentation, Presque Isle
6:30 p.m. Location TBA. Dave Putnam will present “A Few Birds of Mongolia, and other things.” Contact Bill Sheehan (207-227-7301) or bill.j.sheehan@gmail.com FMI

*Saturday, January 24-Sunday, January 25
MWSC Active Maine Project Katahdin Area Trails Weekend, Millinocket
Join other active adults from around Maine for fantastic groomed trails, backcountry Baxter tour, and fat bike riding! Cost: $175; includes program, lodging, gourmet dinner. Participants must provide own ski/bike equipment. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250) or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI

*Saturday, January 31
CompetitorME Chilly Cheeks Winter Triathlon, Caribou
1.5-mile run, 4-mile bike, 2.5-mile ski; compete as an individual or relay team. Race start: 10:30 a.m. at Caribou High School Ski Center. Cost: $50-$70/individual; $75-$95/team; includes athletic shirt, finisher’s medal, age group awards, meal. Visit www.competitorme.com/chilly-cheeks FMI

*Sunday, February 1
Aroostook Women’s Ski Day, Presque Isle
9:00 a.m. at Nordic Heritage Center. AWSD offers a full day of outdoor and indoor activities. Clinic choices: skiing (classic & freestyle/skate), snowshoeing, yoga, meditation, workshop focusing on fueling the body. Fee: $45. Contact Heidi Bartley (207-551-1705) or heidikbartley@gmail.com FMI

Ongoing Programs:

Sunday Saunter Running Group, Presque Isle
Sundays; 10:00 a.m. at UMPI’s Gentile Hall. Open to all abilities; be ready for an easy run of 30-45 minutes, and bring friends! Contact Jonathan Kelley competitorme@gmail.com FMI

Bootlegger Snowshoe Hike, Rivière-Bleue, QC
Sundays; fourth Sunday of the month at 1:30 p.m. (Eastern time) at the end of Path Brissette. Get to know the magical setting of the Bootlegger trails on this guided hike. Contact Jean Lebrun (418-893-1033) or info1@routedesfrontieres.com FMI

Caribou Rec. Ski-Daddle Program, Caribou
Tuesdays & Thursdays; 3:00-4:30 p.m. Jan. 6–March 3. Designed for Grades 3-5. Lessons include intro to XC ski equipment and techniques and lots of outdoor fun. Cost: $10; includes Ski-Daddle CPRD hat. Ski equipment available; pre-registration required. Contact Neal Sleeper (207-493-4224) or sleeper@cariboumaine.org FMI

*10th Mountain Outdoor Club Jalbert Pee Wee Biathlon Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 4:00 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Open to youth ages 9 and under. Kids will learn basic skate skiing skills, go on ski adventures, and play LOTS of games! Cost: FREE! Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI

*MWSC Active Maine Project Adult Nordic Program, Fort Kent
Tuesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. The program runs January 20-February 10 and is a fun, social way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250) or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI

10th Mountain Outdoor Club Jalbert Youth Biathlon Program, Fort Kent
Wednesdays; 6:00 p.m. at Fort Kent Outdoor Center. Open to youth ages 10-14; roller skiing, rifle shooting, trail running, and LOTS of games! Cost: FREE! Contact Gail Johnson stegacosa@yahoo.com FMI

*MWSC Active Maine Project Adult Nordic Program, Presque Isle
Thursdays; 6:00 p.m. at Nordic Heritage Center. The program runs January 22-February 12 and is a fun, social way to improve your ski skills. Cost: $55. Contact Mike Smith (207-227-0250) or mikes@mainewsc.org FMI

*Nordic Heritage Sport Club Youth XC Ski Program, Presque Isle
Saturdays; 10:00-11:30 a.m. Starts January 10. Join us for a fun-filled free ski lesson! Grades K-8 welcome; ages 5 and under invited if with adult. Lessons designed for all levels. Visit www.nordicheritagecenter.org FMI

Four Seasons Trail Association Youth Ski Program, Madawaska
Saturdays; 1:00 p.m. at Four Seasons Lodge. Visit www.fourseasonstrail.org FMI

* = New or updated item(s).