The Outdoor Insider

Maine Outdoor School's Quarterly E-Newsletter

OWL Outing participants on the Narraguagus River.

Issue #32
October 2024

"MOS had such a positive impact on our summer school students!  They were engaged and couldn't wait for our sessions."-  Blue Hill Consolidated School Summer School teacher, August 2024

Tracks:

How did MOS leave its mark this quarter?

Watershed Camp participant excited to use tools to complete trail maintenance work

Beech Hill Pond Lake Association Community Event

A few of the Summit for a Cause hikers

Jesup Memorial Library plant program

Check out the “MOS in the News” page to see where we’ve shown up in the press!

Community Commendations:

Watershed Camp 2024

This quarter’s community commendation goes to Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT), which has helped conserve over 180,000 acres, 337 islands, and over 100 miles of hiking trails. This was our first year collaborating with MCHT to host Watershed Camp, a week-long day camp held within the Orange River watershed in Whiting this August. Campers learned about watershed health and the importance of conservation through hiking, science projects, nature observation, and canoeing. Thanks especially to Cathy Lookabaugh who co-led this camp with Hazel this year!
 

“Watershed Camp was a week where landscapes were not just observed but understood, where nature became a classroom, and where young people discovered their role as stewards. Through their journey along the Orange River, they found that the heart of a landscape lies in the connection between all its parts—and in the hands of those who care for it.”  Read the rest of the article here.

Biomimicry:

While blue-bead lily berries are indeed blue berries, they’re not blueberries, and should not be eaten. However, other parts of this plant have been used in many ways. The young leaves in early spring can be eaten raw or cooked. Many indigenous tribes have historically used a poultice of these leaves to treat various skin wounds, like burns or infections. The Algonquin people applied the crushed leaves to the skin as a mosquito repellant. The Iroquois made a compound decoction out of the whole plants to treat diabetes.  And Chippewa children often would bite patterns into the leaves for fun. 

There are so many ways we can learn from nature to make our lives better! But as always, make sure you consult many reliable resources and are harvesting with care for the species, its habitat, and others who need it, if you choose to harvest.

This edition of Biomimicry is an adaptation of an episode of The Nature of Phenology, a radio show that MOS Co-Founders Hazel and Joe produced weekly for WERU-FM from 2018-2024. You can read or listen to entire past episodes here.

 

Resilience Tip:
According to the CDC, regularly scheduled recess time for physical activity and play helps students stay on-task, reduces disruptive behavior in the classroom, and improves their social and emotional development. Learn more here.

 

What's Upstream: 

  • Join our upcoming OWL Outings: Finding fungi at Catherine Hill in Franklin, discovering unique organisms at Ingersoll Point in Addison, and learning tips on winter plant identification at Boot Head Preserve in Lubec. 

  • Not as motivated to get outside now that it is getting cooler? Schedule your own private guided experience! We can show you something new on even your most visited trails.

  • We have an additional Outdoor School Naturalist Educator joining our team next week! We can't wait to introduce him to you. More soon!

All MOS programs are fully customizable and suit explorers of any age. 

Visit our website for ideas or contact us to schedule your unique experience.