Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands: Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park Offers Free, Daily Nature Programs

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park in Freeport is offering nature programs daily at 2 p.m. through Labor Day.

The programs, which include walks, talks and activities in the beautiful, natural setting of the park, are free with park admission. No reservations are needed, except for large groups. Programs last about one hour, weather permitting, and are suitable for children and adults.

Most programs start at the circle of benches at the end of the park’s second parking lot, unless otherwise noted.

For more information or to arrange for group visits, visitors can call 865-4465 or go to: http://www.maine.gov/wolfesneckwoods

For more information about Maine state parks and historic sites, go to: http://www.parksandlands.com

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park Nature Programs, July

Wednesday, July 4, Treetops to Tide Pools - Participate in sensory activities that introduce the park to children and fun-loving adults. 2:00 PM, Wheelchair accessible. One hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Thursday, July 5, Hike with the Ranger - Enjoy the best that the park has to offer in this season with a knowledgeable guide. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Friday, July 6, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Saturday, July 7, In the Pines - Tour the pine forest on our accessible path and see why Maine is the Pine Tree State. 2:00 PM, one-hour program, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

Sunday, July 8, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Monday, July 9, The Shore Tour - Learn about our varied shores through talks, activities, and views along the accessible path. Wheelchair accessible. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Tuesday, July 10, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Wednesday, July 11, Drawing From Nature – Use observational drawing as a way to get up close and personal with the wildlife in the park. Drawing materials will be provided, visitors are invited to bring their own if they prefer. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Thursday, July 12, Stroll with the Ranger - Take a relaxed tour with the ranger on our wheelchair-accessible path. 2:00 PM Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Friday, July 13, Secrets of the Shore - Discover the secrets of life in the salt marsh, mud flat, and rocky shore in this 1 hour tour. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot. 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Saturday, July 14, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Sunday, July 15, Casco Bay Walk - Enjoy views of rocky shores, nesting ospreys, and islands in the bay on this one-mile hike. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot. 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Monday, July 16, Tide Pools - Visit this informal program on the rocky shore near Googins Island to discover the secrets of a tide pool. Stop by the shore anytime from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

Tuesday, July 17, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Wednesday, July 18, Wild Relatives - Everyone has them!  Get acquainted with the wild relatives of things in and around your home on this tour. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot. 1 hour program, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Thursday, July 19, Shedding Light on the Forest with Dave Knupp – Hike along the forest trails with Dave Knupp, former professor of biology at Unity College, and discuss neat stuff found along the way. 2:00 PM at benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

Friday, July 20, Tree Hunt - Stop by the benches to get your papers for this fun, self-guiding hunt, and then come back afterwards to see how well you did. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Saturday, July 21, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Sunday, July 22, Invasive Forest Insects - Learn how to keep our beautiful Maine trees safe from harmful invasive insects in the one-hour hike and talk. We will discuss how to identify these insects and the trees they inhabit. 2:00 PM, Meet at the benches by the second parking lot. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, 865-4465

Monday, July 23, Drawing From Nature – Use observational drawing as a way to get up close and personal with the wildlife in the park. Drawing materials will be provided, visitors are invited to bring their own if they prefer. 2:00 PM, meet at the benches by the second parking lot. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Tuesday, July 24, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Wednesday, July 25, Small Wonders - Discover the extraordinary things that are right before your eyes.  (Hand lenses provided.) 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Thursday, July 26, Stories in Stone - Get to know the story of Maine’s rockbound coast on this walk with talks and activities. 2:00 PM, meet at the circle of benches by the second parking lot, 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465.

Friday, July 27, Forest and Shore Tour - Get to know the things that live in the park's forest and on its shores on this eye-opening tour. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Saturday, July 28, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Sunday, July 29, Steamer Dig - Learn about the life and times of the soft-shell clam. Then try your hand at digging this delicacy of the deep mud with an experienced guide. (Bring mud sneakers or high boots, gloves, and clam hoe or spading fork.) 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot, 1 hour, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Monday, July 30, Casco Bay Walk - Enjoy views of rocky shores, nesting ospreys, and islands in the bay on this one-mile hike. 2:00 PM, meet at circle of benches by second parking lot. 1 hour program, weather permitting. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465

Tuesday, July 31, Osprey Watch – Stop by the osprey sign opposite Googins Island to get a close look at the nesting ospreys any time from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, weather permitting. Wheelchair accessible. Free with park admission. Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport. 865-4465