Each month, we highlight news stories and opinion pieces related to Maine’s air, land, water, and wildlife. We update News & Noteworthy with the latest news related to the nature of Maine, including the work of staff at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. March 2023 We told you some months ago about a proposal Read More
NRCM Polar Bear Dip & Dash
Since 2009, the Natural Resources Council of Maine has hosted a polar bear dip on New Year's Eve day. It began by gathering on East End Beach in Portland and plunging into the icy, cold Atlantic Ocean to raise funds and awareness of NRCM's work to curb climate-changing pollution and support a clean energy future for Maine.
Since then, we added a 5K "warm up" run in 2011 in advance of the dip. From 2020-2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we switched to an all-virtual format...and still met our fundraising goals! In 2022, we once again gathered, this time at a new location at Southern Maine Community College's South Portland campus on December 31st for an in-person event. We also continue to offer a virtual option.
Maine Adventures with Josh: 2022 Dip & Dash Preview
Working at the Natural Resources Council of Maine has many perks. Advocating for Maine’s environment, working alongside passionate and compassionate people, participating in a needed clean energy transition, and, on occasion, plunging into the frigid Atlantic to ring in the New Year and raise money for our important work. NRCM is preparing for it’s 15th Read More
NRCM Dip & Dash Turns into Mountain Biking Adventure
There are so many great reasons to participate in the Natural Resources Council of Maine’s annual Polar Bear Dip and Dash: All of the money raised supports NRCM’s work on clean and renewable energy and reducing climate change pollution. Physical activity is good for your health. So, a nice brisk 5K around Back Cove in Read More
The Year My Terror Went Viral: My 2015 NRCM Polar Bear Plunge
I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as an adventurous person. I refused to join my husband in going to see the new, terrifying (it seems to me!) Stephen King movie, “It.” Don’t look for me at those spooky houses during Halloween. And yet… I have plunged into the frigid ocean at Portland’s East End Beach not Read More
What Does It Take to be a Diehard Polar Plunger? Some Brave Mainers Tell All
By Abigail Curtis, BDN Staff Bangor Daily News story BELFAST, Maine — Every New Year’s Day, Mike Goulart of Belfast digs out his water shoes, dons a silly costume and heads to the boat launch, where he strives to be the first person to get into the frigid ocean during the city’s annual polar dip. Read More
Holiday Guide: Green Tips, Great Gifts that Support NRCM
Here come the holidays, and all I want for Christmas is…less waste and more sustainability. OK, that’s not all I want, but it’s definitely part of my holiday planning. You can probably easily imagine that the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is the most wasteful, but did you know Americans produce a million Read More
About 200 People Brave the Cold for Annual Polar Bear Dip
by Grady Trimble, WCSH WCSH-6 news story PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — About 200 people braved the chilly weather on New Year’s Eve and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean at the East End Beach. Organizers with the Natural Resources Council of Maine said the 8th annual Polar Bear Dip and Dash raised about $25,000. The money Read More
Hundreds Participate in Polar Plunge
New Year’s tradition raises funds for climate change organization By Danielle Waugh NECN news story Watch full news video More than 200 people in Portland, Maine, are thawing out after a dip in the ocean New Year’s Eve. The ocean temperature was barely 40 degrees, but those taking part in the Natural Resources Council of Read More
Polar Bear Dip & Dash: It’s Just “Mind Over Matter”
My breath rose in clouds in front of my face as I rubbed my double-mittened hands together and looked up at the enormous digital clock above the city buildings: 10:45am. Fifteen minutes until the race start. Then…the time display was replaced by the temperature: 5 degrees. It was December 31st in 2013, and I sat in the Read More
