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Families flock to winter fun

Children, teenagers and adults were out in droves to enjoy the two days of winter fun held at Cobscook Bay State Park and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge on January 22 and 23.

Children, teenagers and adults were out in droves to enjoy the two days of winter fun held at Cobscook Bay State Park and the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge on January 22 and 23. Park rangers and staff, community volunteers and students and staff with the Washington County Community College's Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) were on hand to help with sledding, snowshoeing and cross‑country skiing and to guide newcomers and old hands in the winter‑time ways of wildlife. Ice‑skating was an option as well, but the recent weather had created a very bumpy ride on the small pond at the Cobscook park, so that was off the list of activities for this year.
Inside the cozy registration building at Cobscook, two young enthusiasts, busy stoking their fuel reserves with sandwiches and chips donated by Hannaford and prepared by volunteers, got straight to the point. Skyler Tinker of Lubec practically levitated off her seat with energy when she answered the question of which activities she was planning to enjoy. "Everything!" she exclaimed with a wide smile and got busy with her chips. Ashley Morang of Edmunds, having spent an hour and a half with her father, Dave, on the sledding slope, was ready to hit the slope again, pronouncing it "Good!" She added kindly to the questioner, "And it's free." A quick peek at the sledding slope during mid‑day showed a bus load of Washington Academy students, children and adults swarming up the trail and swooshing back down on their sleds.
Bob Poirier was at Cobscook with his three children. They were planning to ski, something they do regularly around their home, said the youngest, Samuel. But Poirier was really looking forward to returning later during the winter. "We want to come back and go winter camping in one of the Adirondack shelters." Cobscook Bay State Park is open year‑round, with winter camping one of its options. The state park's ranger, Matt McGuire, explains that campers snowshoe or ski into the campsites, but the rangers will haul in any firewood that the campers bring. Poirier has his own hauling sled but liked the idea of the firewood coming in by snowmobile.
The special emphasis on winter activities at Cobscook is part of the Bureau of Parks and Lands' (BPL) "Take it Outside" campaign to let Maine's people know of all the opportunities available to them for exercising and enjoying the outdoors and wildlife during the winter months. "Winter's long," says BPL Director Will Harris. "We want folks to know of all the activities we have and that the parks are open year‑round." Harris drove from his office in Augusta through a nasty snow and ice storm in order to have snowshoes and skis available to the public for the event. He doesn't regret a moment of the harrowing drive on Route 9. Rangers from Aroostook State Park and Wolfe's Neck State Park in Freeport also made the drive through the storm to be at the park to help.
Last year's winter event, the first that the Cobscook park held, "was very successful. We were so pleased," says Harris. He notes that the health of the state parks depends on the people of Maine. "People support what they use."
McGuire reports that this year's event had almost 400 people registered. "It was a slow morning with people digging out from the storm, but it turned into a beautiful day. It was a good success in the end."
Two students with the community college's OAC were manning the cross‑country ski booth. This was their second year working on the two days of events. Ben Collins, at 27, returned to school after being laid off from his job. He's thrilled to be outside and not behind a desk. Both he and 25‑year‑old Greg Hudzina hope that they can inspire children with their own love of the outdoors. "I grew up in Perry," says Collins. "I lost touch with the woods when I got older." He's glad to be back. Hudzina is originally from Connecticut. While he plans to go to New Zealand to guide whitewater rafting trips after he graduates, ultimately, he says, he wants to return to his home state. "They don't have anything like this there." Both men shake their heads about the effect of video games on children's health. "Videos have ruined kids for outside," Collins says.
But video games were clearly not on young Katie Leighton's mind as she warmed up with some hot cocoa after skiing with her family. "I fell down a lot," she says with a shy grin. Her mother, Heidi Leighton of Pembroke, had tried skiing for the first time. "I was telling my husband, Ed, that I'd like to find some used skis and come out here. It's so peaceful." The family has come in the summer but had not been during the winter months. "I had a blast. I was afraid it would be too cold, but once we got skiing we warmed right up. The snow was gorgeous."
Along with providing a place for winter exercise, the parks provide a place for quiet observation. Tessa Ftorek, a registered Maine guide and one of the principals of Cobscook Hikes and Paddles of Robbinston, led the snowshoeing walk at Moosehorn's event. The rewards are many. "We had folks of all ages trying on different kinds of snowshoes and experimenting with them. One older woman who had bought snowshoes the year before told me she was amazed at how much she learned in one short lesson and how a few helpful tips made the sport easier and more enjoyable for her." Snowshoeing is inexpensive, fun and lets a person go into the woods on or off a trail, she says.
The Moosehorn event is coordinated through WCCC's OAC with the Friends of the Moosehorn and refuge staff. OAC Director Scott Fraser explains that 17 students were involved in the event this year, many also helping at the Cobscook event. The students, he says, are always a little nervous before the events, but "it's really fun for me to see them interacting with the public, teaching, realizing that they actually know things" and can be of help. While the Cobscook event focuses on general recreation, the Moosehorn event, Fraser explains, is geared towards structured workshops. About 80 hardy souls ventured out to sample the workshops as the temperature hovered around 14 degrees at the height of the day's sun. Fraser was pleased with the turnout and couldn't say enough about the food made by the WCCC culinary arts students and the Friends. "There was an amazing chicken gumbo, chili, brownies..." His voice trails off in appreciation. Whether the food was the reward before or after, he reports that "the workshops were full."
Once such workshop was an ecology hike guided by naturalist Stephanie Allard. The hikes are popular with adults and families with young children. "The kids love it." She adds with a laugh, "They don't want to wait; they go ahead and scout. They come running back," usually bearing news of tracks they've spotted. "I love showing people this whole winter world. People are really awestruck when they learn about the little tricks that wildlife has in order to survive."
The winter events allow people such as Ftorek to share their love of the outdoors with others. Like the WCCC students, the park rangers and staff and community volunteers who support the events by giving of their time and energy, Ftorek says, "Perhaps the greatest joy I get from guiding is sharing my love of nature with others. I particularly enjoy watching children find out that their backyard is one giant playground."