As my classmates and I exited the minibus that brought us from King Middle School to the back of Rowe Elementary, where Capisic Brook was located, we could not wait to begin a full day of testing elements. It was another day packed full of fieldwork to collect necessary tests and results that will contribute Read More
Nature of Maine Blog
The Natural Resources Council of Maine’s “Nature of Maine” blog gives you the inside scoop on some of the latest issues facing Maine’s environment. From environmental news to threats to opportunities, NRCM is on the frontlines of the latest goings-on—and we’re often leading the charge on efforts to protect Maine’s precious lands, air, waters, and wildlife. Read what NRCM staff members have to say and get the perspective of some of our members and supporters who have been guest contributors.
Perhaps you have an issue you’d like to write about. Maybe you’re an expert on a particular topic and are inspired to share your expertise. Maybe you’ve recently made a visit to a spectacular Maine nature preserve or other natural area and would like to write about it (captioned photos welcome!). For submission guidelines, email nrcm@nrcm.org.
Eyed Egg and Alevin and Fry, Oh My!
Eyed Egg and Alevin and Fry, oh my! Windham Middle School student Nathan McCarron-Lamb shared that his favorite part about our brook trout project is “witnessing the trout grow and become alevin right before our very eyes!” He goes on to say that “this has given me a feeling of responsibility and increased interest in Read More
The Perfect Spring Ski on the Penobscot River Trails
The Penobscot River Trails provided a new and alluring destination for an April 12 cross-country ski, right before spring break. I drove north on I-95, passing miles of mostly bare ground and wondered if there would be enough snow outside of Medway to make this long drive worth it. About 12 miles north on Route Read More
Reducing Waste One Cup (of Coffee) at a Time
On April 2, 2019, Tandem Coffee Roasters launched an ambitious initiative to drastically reduce waste at both of their locations in Portland. The company has lowered all drink prices by 25 cents and started charging customers 25 cents if they need a single-use cup for their drink order. The main intention is to get people Read More
CMP Transmission Corridor: What’s Ahead
To help you decipher what’s next in the review process for Central Maine Power’s (CMP) proposed corridor and how you can get involved, here’s more information about what the CMP’s for-profit transmission line faces in the months to come. Flawed PUC Decision On April 11, the Maine Public Utilities Commission issued a certificate of public Read More
Messalonskee Students Photograph and Identify Maine Trees
In Mrs. Ripa’s Science class we learned about the different types of trees and how to identify them. It’s important for us to know about our trees so that we know more about our environment. If we are building, we know more about our natural resources that surround us, and if we are lost, some Read More
Maine Birding Big Year: Update from the Field
Earlier in the year, we shared that we’ve decided to pursue a “mindfulness birding” Maine Big Year in 2019, keeping track of the different species we identify (by sight or sound) in the state. We noted, you may recall, that people who compete in Big Years do so with the hope of breaking a record. Read More
Portland Water District Teams with Mahoney School on Water Quality
We, the Mahoney Green Team, are excited about the progress of our project, which is in part thanks to the Natural Resource Council of Maine and their program. So far, we have been working with the Portland Water District (PWD) to teach sixth graders about the hydrologic cycle and water quality. They teach multiple lessons, Read More
Black Bear Nature Trail at Strong Elementary School
We are a group of sixth graders at Strong Elementary School in Strong, Maine. We love getting outdoors and doing activities like hiking, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, skiing, and snowmobiling. For most of our years in middle school, our science and physical education teachers have been taking classes outside to the trail beside a stream located Read More