May Sense of Wonder Art Contest Winner!

We are pleased to announce the winning photograph for the May “Plants on the Refuge” theme in the Sense of Wonder Art Contest. The winning photograph was taken by Shannon Matzke and is of a bee pollinating goldthread (𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢) on the Carson Trail. Shannon’s photograph will be published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations to Shannon, and all who sent fantastic submissions of plants on the refuge this month! The June theme is “Refuge Landscapes" and all mediums will be considered. We encourage participation of all Rachel Carson National Wildlife fans, near and far. Submissions are now being accepted! Please see contest details here.

Winning photograph by Shannon Matzke of a bee pollinating goldthread (𝘊𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘢) on the Carson Trail for the May Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Plants on the Refuge.”

Newsletter | Spring 2021

The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife are pleased to share with you our Spring 2021 Newsletter!

We've been busy and have many new projects to share, including, but not limited to, aiding the Refuge in the new green business initiative Rachel Carson's Conservation Champions: Businesses for a Greener Future, the ongoing yearlong Sense of Wonder Art Contest that will culminate in a 2022 calendar, our online educational series Exploring Nature's Connections, an upcoming Tributary Brewing Company fundraiser, assisting the Refuge in promoting their Sense of Wonder in the Field blog series, exciting news from the Refuge and much more. Enjoy the newsletter!

Stay up-to-date on all future happenings by subscribing below!

"Sense of Wonder in the Field" Blog Series - Finding aSense of Place Through Nature’s Connections

The next “Sense of Wonder in the Field” blog post is live! In it, former Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge botany intern, Shannon Matzke, muses on the unexpected sense of place you can find in regions often thought as drastically different. Shannon writes:

“Recognizing so much in the familiar natural world of Maine, I found not only a sense of wonder while working at Rachel Carson, but also a sense of place. The connections between Maine and Louisiana made me feel at home in my new job that was far from my original home, and now these same connections carry over to my current home in Georgia. Feeling a sense of place works in tandem with a sense of wonder to foster a personal sense of environmental stewardship. I have spent years working on restoration projects using native plants in different states and different habitats, but I always have the same drive — the drive to protect and conserve the places that I know and love.”

As the botany intern, Shannon was responsible for a nursery with ~4000 native plants. Here, she can be seen in a sea of willows to be planted out for habitat restoration. Marlie Perkins/USFWS

Another great insight into the important work that goes on at the Refuge and the people doing the work! It seems unfortunate that Shannon didn’t get to meet the Sanford and Biddeford French Canadian contingent, as I’m sure it would have only added to her comfort here in Southern Maine, but maybe it will encourage her to return to Maine and the Refuge!

Shannon Matzke’s blog post: https://medium.com/usfishandwildlifeservicenortheast/sense-of-wonder-in-the-field-finding-a-sense-of-place-through-natures-connections-9cde299d67b0

April Sense of Wonder Art Contest Photography and Poetry Winners!

We are pleased to announce the winning photograph and poem for the April “Spring on the Refuge” theme in the Sense of Wonder Art Contest. The winning photograph was taken by Rebecca Alford and is titled “Spring Opening Its Eyes.” The winning poem was written by Martha Huestis and is titled “Taking Refuge.” Martha originally wrote this poem after a walk at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge on July 8, 1991. At that time she left a copy of the poem at the Visitors Center for all to enjoy. Rebecca’s photograph and Martha’s poem will be published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations to Rebecca and Martha, and all of the others who sent wonderful submissions this month! The May theme is “Plants on the Refuge." All are encouraged to participate. Photography and poetry submissions are now being accepted! Please see contest details here.

Winning photograph by Rebecca Alford, titled “Spring Opening Its Eyes,” for the April Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Spring on the Refuge.”

Taking Refuge
by Martha Huestis

Oh, so long overdue
Lost in self, and think of you
Need a breath of nature’s touch
To clear my mind, not think so much

I pass the driveway every day
So close, indeed, so far away
A hurried pace, an engine’s roar
Didn’t let me stop, I wanted more

It’s been a stormy, rainy day
An excuse to be inside, I say
But lift it did, indeed it should
And I slowed in a dampened wood

All it glitters past a storm
The air is filled with life and song
I caught some leaves that sparkle so
And lost myself – I let me go

The breeze was warm, it flipped the leaves
My hands relaxed, I had no needs
I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh
Thanks for sharing Nature’s high.

A unique and beautiful map of the Refuge by Southern Maine illustrator Hannah Rosengren

Southern Maine illustrator Hannah Rosengren recently created this incredibly charming illustrated map of the Refuge as part of a culminating project for her graduate school studies and is generously donating 20% of proceeds from sales of the refuge posters and prints to The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge! You can learn more about Hannah and this project on her blog and you can find posters and prints for sale in her shop! We are so grateful to Hannah for allowing us to share her work and for her charitable contributions. If you’re looking for an interesting piece of art to fill out some wall space, you’re in luck!

Illustrated map of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge by Hannah Rosengren.

Visit: https://www.hannahrosengren.com/news/2021/3/30/rachel-carson-national-wildlife-refuge

"Sense of Wonder in the Field" Blog Series - Salt Marsh Majesty

The latest post in the "Sense of Wonder in the Field” blog series is hot off the press! In it, Gavin Shwahla, the 2019 avian monitoring intern at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, reflects on his summer of fieldwork collecting valuable data on the saltmarsh sparrow, a vulnerable species of our southern Maine salt marsh systems. He revels in the symphony of the salt marsh, yet recounts the necessary temporary disturbance of the very music he so loves in order to do the work needed to protect this threatened species. Describing the the waterlogged nests of the saltmarsh sparrow due to rising sea levels, Gavin writes, “… as we disconnect further from our collective sense of wonder, the marsh pays the price.” Please carve some time out of your day to check out Gavin’s blog post and reconnect with your own sense of wonder, maybe even step outside and tune in to the majestic symphony.

Photo Credit: Kit Straley/USFWS. A saltmarsh sparrow ready to be released. Monitoring efforts are being used by wildlife professionals to protect this declining species.

Sense of Wonder in the Field Blog Series: Salt Marsh Majesty: https://medium.com/usfishandwildlifeservicenortheast/sense-of-wonder-in-the-field-saltmarsh-majesty-c565b4f564b7

You can find more of Gavin Shwahla’s inspiring work at www.gavinwild.com and follow @gavinwildvisuals on Facebook and Instagram to support his mission to “re-wild the soul of the world” through art and entertainment!

Sense of Wonder Art Contest March Winner!

We are pleased to announce the winner for the March “Teen Art - Nature on the Refuge” theme in the Sense of Wonder Art Contest. The winning submission, titled “Lookout Over Marsh,” was created with oil paint on canvas by Ariah Lowell. Ariah’s artwork will be published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations to Ariah and all of the teens who participated this month! The April theme is “Spring on the Refuge." Photography and poetry submissions are now being accepted! Please see contest details here.

Winning art, titled “Lookout Over Marsh,” by Ariah Lowell for the March Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Teen Art - Nature on the Refuge.”

"Sense of Wonder in the Field" Blog Series - Back to Basics

Despite the frigid and windy event on Tuesday, spring is indeed in the air here in Southern Maine. The maple sap is running and the intermittent muddy days have arrived! It’s a great time to be outside and awaken the senses that may have dulled a bit over our extended time inside over the winter. In this latest blog post in the “Sense of Wonder in the Field” blog series, Sarah Dodgin reminds us to slow things down and pay attention to those senses we so often ignore. “Tapping into these senses brings us out of our busy minds and plops us right back into our childlike sense of wonder,” she writes. Sarah is an environmental scientist and former employee of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. You can find more of Sarah’s nature writings on her blog.

Photo Credit: Rachel Stearns/USFWS.

Sense of Wonder in the Field: Back to Basics: https://usfwsnortheast.medium.com/sense-of-wonder-in-the-field-back-to-basics-38dd16a016ff

Sarah Dodgin’s blog can be found here: https://thebogblogger.com

February Sense of Wonder Art Contest Winners!

We are pleased to announce the visual art and poem winners for the February “Children’s Art - Nature on the Refuge” theme in the Sense of Wonder Art Contest. The winning visual art was created by Harbor Henning of Marshwood Great Works School in Eliot, Maine. The winning poem was written by Phoebe Raymond and is titled “Wildlife.” Harbor’s drawing and Phoebe’s poem will be published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations to Harbor and Phoebe, and all of the children who participated this month! The March theme is “Teen Art - Nature on the Refuge." Students aged 12-18 are encouraged to participate! All medium submissions are now being accepted! Please see contest details here.

Winning visual art by Harbor Henning of Marshwood Great Works School in Eliot, Maine for the February Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Children’s Art - Nature on the Refuge.”

Winning poem by Phoebe Raymond, titled “Wildlife,” for the February Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Children’s Art - Nature on the Refuge.”

January Sense of Wonder Art Contest Photography & Poetry Winners!

We are pleased to announce the winning photograph and poem for the January “Winter on the Refuge” theme in the Sense of Wonder Art Contest. The winning photograph was taken by Betty Olivolo and is titled “Reflections on a Crisp Winter Day.” The winning poem was written by Renée Hake and is titled “Of Winter.” Betty’s photograph and Renée’s poem will be published in a 2022 wall calendar commemorating the Refuge’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. Congratulations to Betty and Renée, and all of the others who sent great submissions this month! The February theme is “Children's Art on the Refuge." Children ages 2-12 are encouraged to participate! All medium submissions are now being accepted! Please see contest details here.

Winning photograph by Betty Olivolo, titled “Reflections on a Crisp Winter Day,” for the January Sense of Wonder Art Contest theme of “Winter on the Refuge.”

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Of Winter
            by Renée Hake

We wander through
Winter’s wooded-land.
We recoil from boughs untethered
When winds whirl
And trees unfurl
The trappings of snow,
Held amongst the 
Y-branches.

 Boots, strapped tight,
Awash with crisp
Crystalline carpets, walk
Where trees call excitedly
To fields stretched longingly
Waiting, patiently waiting
For warmth
When the world is reborn.

And as the fields and woods
Lay lazy paths
Toward the water’s edge,
Shards take on rays
From the low wintertide sun
As sun-catchers often do.

Don’t be fooled
Wondering wanderers,
Thinking winter is thrown
Into silence,
For the silence
Is just the prelude
To the explosions yet to come.

Winter,
Not dead,
Merely laying in quiet fortitude
Until the words of songbirds
Overshadow the secrets
Of winter deep beneath
The earth’s coverlet.

Walk, wander, wonder often
In the stillness,
Calm, placid
Pale palette
Of winter.