Together with Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, we are very excited to be hosting members of the Wild Seed Project in the Community Room at Graves Library on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 5:30pm.       

In addition to helping to sustain vital pollinators, birds, and other wildlife, native plantings offer countless other benefits that are indispensable in the age of climate change. When created and maintained with ecologically attuned landscaping practices, they can minimize flooding and storm water runoff, shade and cool cities, survive droughts, and facilitate carbon storage more effectively than the landscapes dominated by turf and mulch that blanket so many of our communities.

Andrea Berry from the Wild Seed Project will talk about the actions you can take to make your corner of the world more biodiverse and resilient to the effects of climate change. Andrea joined Wild Seed Project as the organization’s Executive Director in 2021. She also serves on the Board of Directors at Momentum Conservation and Resources for Organizing and Social Change.

Colin McKevitt, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge Biological Technician, will address habitat management and native species planting. This includes shrubland habitats, salt marsh field surveying and restoration, and monitoring and managing invasive species. Colin is a key member of the Refuge team and is the manager of the Refuge native plant greenhouse. He instructs interns as well as community volunteers.

Copies of the publication "Planting for Climate Resilience" will be available for sale at the Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library, 18 Maine Street, Kennebunkport. For further information, please call 967-2778 or visit www.graveslibrary.org.

Come join the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge as we celebrate springtime in the Kennebunks at the May 4th Kennebunk May Day Festival! Learn about the new Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center under construction at Brown Street in Kennebunk!

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge is hosting a Rabbitat Planting Party on Saturday, September 23rd to celebrate National Public Lands Day. This year’s event will include planting native shrubs, managing invasive plants, and trimming overgrown young trees to create and restore shrubland habitat for the endangered New England Cottontail in Kittery, Maine. Activities will include digging holes, planting shrubs, using clippers or hand saws, and chatting about local wildlife and conservation. Fee-free National Park day passes will be available to all volunteers.

Please refer to the attached flyer for event times and contact Sarah at sarah_dudek@fws.gov for registration and more information.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

Winter presents both challenges and opportunities for the nature and wildlife photographer. This timely program will provide an overview of time-tested tools, tips, and techniques for creating more successful images at a time of year when many have stowed their cameras away until the arrival of warmer weather. The program will be presented by Matt Poole, veteran nature photographer and instructor.

This free public program, sponsored by the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, will be delivered LIVE via Zoom. Preregistration is required. Please register here.

Learn how to take your smartphone images to the next level by editing them right on your phone! Image editing on a smartphone is fun and intuitive. During a live Zoom broadcast, veteran nature photographer Matt Poole will demonstrate basic editing skills using two of today’s most popular and powerful image editing apps – Snapseed and Adobe Photoshop Express. And, the really great news? Both apps are FREE and can be loaded on either iPhone or Android smartphones. Program will be delivered LIVE via Zoom. Registration is required.

This free public program is sponsored by the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Please register here!

You may not realize it, but that smartphone you carry around in your pocket is also a great camera, capable of taking phots that you’d be proud to print, frame and hang on your living room wall! “But wait,” you say, “my images never look good enough for that!” Well, here’s your chance to move from taking snapshots to great shots!

In this free and informative online program, veteran nature photographer Matt Poole will provide all the tips and tools necessary for creating your own wall-worthy art. He’ll address getting the exposure right, creating visually compelling compositions, and editing images right on your smartphone (both iPhone and Android). The workshop will feature Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge as well as other natural areas in Maine and New Hampshire.

This free public program is sponsored by the Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Please register here.

Kick of National Wildlife Refuge Week and Discover Your Wild this Saturday by joining Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge staff and friends at 188 Brown Street in Kennebunk, Maine from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm! Fun family activities include nature journaling with local author/artist Rebekah Lowell at 10:00 am, a falconry presentation at 11:00 am, fishing, canoeing, archery, hiking and more! Hope to see you there!

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

If you are interested in supporting the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in its mission to preserve land for migratory birds and local wildlife, please email us at friendsofrachelcarsonnwr@gmail.com.

We invite you to submit up to three theme-based items, including photos taken on Rachel Carson NWR, poems inspired by the Refuge and general art media during each designated month (see schedule). One winning selection from each media designation will be selected each month, compiled with other monthly selections and published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration! The “People’s Choice” recognition will be awarded in 2021 for the calendar’s cover. Other prizes TBD. Visit here for more info.

We invite you to submit up to three theme-based items, including photos taken on Rachel Carson NWR, poems inspired by the Refuge and general art media during each designated month (see schedule). One winning selection from each media designation will be selected each month, compiled with other monthly selections and published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration! The “People’s Choice” recognition will be awarded in 2021 for the calendar’s cover. Other prizes TBD. Visit here for more info.

Join us on Saturday, June 26th in Brave Boat Harbor for a day of fun that combines two of our favorite things: nature and beer! Stop by the Cutts Island Trail for casual guided walks and information, then join us at Tributary Brewing Company to toast this special collaboration celebrating 50 years of conservation in Rachel Carson’s name! The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge have partnered with Tributary Brewing for a limited batch of their seasonal Gose brew, which is made with seawater harvested from the Brave Boat Harbor Division of the Refuge. A portion of proceeds will go to the Friends of RCNWR and our efforts to support the Refuge’s mission.

Please join as at your leisure at the Cutts Island Trail from 10:00am - 12:00pm and then head over to Tributary Brewing Company to toast 50 years of conservation in Rachel Carson’s name from 12:30pm - 2:30pm. We hope to see you there!

GPS Address to the Cutts Island Trail: 5 Seapoint Rd, Kittery Point, ME 03905 (Near 5 Seapoint Rd, located at the beginning of Seapoint Rd, just over the bridge from the intersection of Cutts Island Rd and Chauncy Creek Rd)
GPS Address to Tributary Brewing Company: 10 Shapleigh Road, Kittery, ME 03904