Message from President Bill Durkin

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature- the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
-Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

And here we are, spring after winter… 

Rachel had a way of telling it like it is. The Sense of Wonder was originally written as an article titled Help Your Child to Wonder in Woman’s Home Companion. Her nephew came to visit her in Maine, and the story was a reflection on their adventures in nature. She wrote The Edge of the Sea during that time, and several years later came her powerful wake-up call to our planet and politicians, Silent Spring.

Which brings me back to Spring 2026 and the Friends of Rachel Carson newsletter. Our last newsletter was sent in 2021. We’ve kept busy and send out updates and donation requests, but we have not given you many details. So, here you’ll find plenty to read about our activities. We aim to update you quarterly.

I have been on the Friends board for 37 years and keep the Friends archives. Newsletter #7, December 1990, stated: “$2 million is earmarked for land acquisition, while $300,000 will go to a new visitor center.” But there have been other budget priorities and now it’s 2026, and we have the new Rachel Carson Center for People and Nature at 188 Brown Street in Kennebunk. An amazing home for Refuge staff, the Gulf of Maine Coastal Program, Friends of Rachel Carson, and many community activities to come.

Below you will see an update from Refuge Manager Karl Stromayer and news about the Friends Store, our annual Sense of Wonder Photo Contest, Internships, Volunteering, and the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC).

We thank you for your support, whether it’s cheering us on, volunteering, or making donations. Later this year we will be hosting “Open House” tours at the new Rachel Carson Center. In the meantime, everyone is welcome to visit the Friends Store where you can shop for nature-related items, connect with Friends, and say thank you to the amazing Refuge staff who work tirelessly to protect this special place and its wildlife. We will see you on the Refuge!

Friends Store Opening Soon!

Our Friends Store at the new Rachel Carson Center officially opens May 30th! We’ve been busy outfitting the store with a range of merchandise, including wildlife-themed apparel, books, guides, stickers, cards, magnets, and nature-inspired gifts for all ages. We will also eventually offer information about the Refuge, its ecosystems, and wildlife. Come visit!

Active Friends members will enjoy a 10% discount on purchases and can pick up their membership cards on the first visit to the store! (An annual donation of $25 or more makes you an active member.) 100% of Nature Store proceeds go directly to supporting the Refuge.

The store will be staffed by Friends volunteers, who will act as Refuge ambassadors and sales staff. If this is interesting, we’re looking for help! Email friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

Friends Store hours will be 10:00am – 3:00pm four days a week. We will post a schedule on the Friends website and social media accounts in the coming weeks, so please check back.

Update From Refuge Headquarters: Karl Stromayer, Refuge Manager

Spring 2026 has been a period of rapid change for Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge! Here are some highlights:

*On March 23 the Refuge and Gulf of Maine Coastal Program teams moved into the Rachel Carson Center and started work. The 14,000-square-foot, 32-work-station facility will be at 90% capacity when the 2026 field season starts in June. The Friends are setting up their retail store, as noted above. The lobby and information desk is open to visitors now from 9am-3pm Tuesday-Saturday. We intend to add more hours this summer as staffing allows. Exhibits in the lobby and adjacent spaces should be installed by the end of the year. 

*As part of the facilities work at the Refuge this spring, The Carson Trail parking lot in Wells has been reconfigured and made safer for visitors.  The old office building at 321 Port Road has been removed.   

*The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire program transitioned to the new Wildland Fire Service (WFS) in the U.S. Department of the Interior.  The New England Fire Zone (now a station of the WFS at the Refuge) continues to support fire suppression and prescribed fire needs of the Northeast Region wildlife refuges from Maine to Connecticut.  In addition to Fire Management Officer Chris McCandless, there are three additional firefighters at the station now.

*The Refuge continues to pursue excellence in support of migratory bird conservation, the Refuge’s founding purpose. We also prioritize conservation of federally listed species and regionally recognized at-risk species such as the Saltmarsh sparrow and New England cottontail.

*Our priority public uses are wildlife observation, hunting, fishing, and photography. Environmental education and interpretation - supported by public engagement - is also a key focus area for the Refuge.  We help connect people to nature on Refuge lands endowed with Maine's rich natural resources.  

Partnerships are key to the Refuge’s efforts and help us achieve more for the American people. So, thank you to everyone who contributes to our important purpose. Please visit!

“Sense of Wonder” Photo Contest: Call For Entries May 1-July 31

Photos can capture beautiful stories. Changing seasons; evolving habitats; amazing wildlife; friends, neighbors, and visitors enjoying our special Refuge. The sixth annual “Sense of Wonder Photo Contest” is open to all amateur photographers who snap with their phone or other camera. If you find beauty and magic in plant and animal life, landscapes, and experiences on Refuge lands and waters, we’d like you to share!

We welcome photo submissions May 1-July 31 from beginners, experienced photographers, and everyone in between. Submit up to three images in horizontal or landscape format in the highest resolution that you can send to our submission page on the Friends website. (Please note the specific size requirements.)

A jury of experienced photographers will select 12 photos for the Friends 2027 calendar. A “Best in Show” photo will be selected for the calendar cover, and a “Rising Star” award will be given to a photographer age 17 and under.

And don’t forget…the Refuge’s special new location along the Mousam River at 188 Brown Street in Kennebunk could be a great place for a winning photo adventure (and maybe a stop by the Friends Store).  Email friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com with any photo contest questions.

Internships Are A Win-Win For Students and the Refuge

The Friends launched a new internship program in summer 2025. A generous donor helped us sponsor an intern working with Refuge Visitor Services Manager Tom Wall. Patrick Cadogan from Trinity College helped with hands-on conservation, including invasive plant removal; education programs for summer camps and school groups, including kayaking; and community relations by representing the Refuge at local events.

Now we are delighted to welcome Olivia Fey, who is sponsored by the Friends and will work this summer with Refuge Salt Marsh Biologist Susan Adamowicz. Olivia graduated from Swarthmore College and describes herself as an “ecologist dedicated to protecting ecosystems and species most affected by human and climate pressures.”

Olivia’s responsibilities may include conducting salt marsh surveys, measuring water levels and marsh elevations, monitoring shorebird populations, and other important projects under Susan’s guidance. We will update you on Olivia’s experiences in a future newsletter.

The Friends will support our own dedicated intern this summer to help with business planning for the new Friends Store.

Through ongoing generous support of our donors, the Friends hope to increase sponsorship to 3-4 interns annually over the next few years. You can help by clicking below.

The Joys Of Volunteering

Have you considered volunteering to support the Refuge?

Volunteer activities could include winter rabbit tracking, habitat restoration, marsh clean-up, or invasive plant removal. Share your knowledge of the natural world by performing surveys or pitch in at the Rachel Carson Center to help orient visitors.

The Refuge also hosts volunteer days through the year that might appeal if you like to get your hands in the soil. Just a few weeks ago, volunteers celebrated Earth Day with Refuge staff by helping pot native shrubs that will be used in habitat restoration.

There is strong evidence that volunteering is good for us. (Read more about that here.) When we volunteer at the Refuge, we get outside, we interact with other people and the natural world, and we make a difference for something important. Email friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com if you’re interested.

VOLUNTEER VOICE: GABRIELLE LYNCH

After moving to Maine from North Carolina this past winter, I have been eager to explore and build community, but I’ve spent most of my time at my computer pursuing a career and finding long term housing. But then I wheeled into the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge and almost cried. It was like being home.

I worked as a guide at Coastal Kayak on the Outer Banks. On tours I loved to share the story of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, highlighting the return of ospreys and bald eagles and the preservation of natural pest controls like dragonflies, swallows, and bats.

At the former Wells Refuge HQ, I met Maintenance Specialist Spencer who connected me with Ranger Tom and Kelly from the Friends. They invited me to volunteer at the recent Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest judging. I was welcomed like an old friend.

Blown away by so many entries from all grade levels, it was clear that these young artists had poured their hearts into their work. Creative observation can be a balm in a time of constant stimulation. While studying a subject, an artist is pushed to notice details that we could easily overlook. I found myself wondering how this practice might flow beyond the classroom, if curiosity might lead a young artist to a pond's edge or the marsh. Perhaps the next time an artist is exploring, they will be on the lookout for the duck they painted. Curiosity builds connection.

Being surrounded by a community of people who value wild spaces and sharing that love of place was medicine for me. It led me back to my own creative observation practice. If you have the chance to volunteer and work alongside these wonderful people, do it. You might need it more than you know. Happy trails!

Hear the Saltmarsh sparrow’s song…we’ll miss it if it’s lost

Youth Conservation Corps…Helping Build The Future Of Conservation

In 2026, the Refuge plans to build deeper connections between young people and nature through a partnership with Apex Youth Connection and Northwoods Stewardship Center. YCC will offer paid positions to a team between the ages of 15-18 and will create engaging outdoor experiences, including helping build a new “Sense of Wonder” walking trail at 188 Brown Street.

YCC will kick-off in June, and projects will include habitat restoration and outdoor recreation development on the Refuge. There will be fishing, kayaking, hiking, and archery, among other activities. The crew will also work with partners including the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust and Scarborough Land Trust. Refuge Visitor Services Manager Tom Wall will lead the project. If you have questions, email Thomas_Wall@fws.gov.

Final Note…

It’s important that Maine’s congressional representatives hear from us about protecting our special public lands, wildlife, and recreation opportunities. Here’s Friends president Bill Durkin with US Senator Angus King (I-ME) and Kathy DeCoster from the Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition.

You can contact our congressional delegation and remind them of these 11 great reasons that wildlife refuges need protection!

The Friends of Rachel Carson board members are volunteers who care deeply about our natural world. They work closely with Refuge staff, volunteers, and businesses in our communities to protect this amazing place. You can contact any of us by emailing friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.