Family Fun Day Set for Aroostook State Park, Feb. 23

Mainers of all ages are invited to "Take It Outside" on Saturday, Feb. 23, when Aroostook State Park will come alive with a wide variety of Winter Family Fun Day activities. In addition to tote rides, ice skating, nature walks and much more, the event will feature the ski and snowshoe trailer, providing free use of cross-county skis and snowshoes.

The action runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and includes a hot lunch, to be served by the Spragueville Ladies Extension. As an added attraction, the L.L. Bean "bootmobile" is slated to be on site during the event.

The park is located on Echo Lake, off U.S. Route 1 south of Presque Isle, in the heart of Maine's potato country.

The Winter Family Fun Day is part of the "Take It Outside" campaign run by the Parks and Public Lands Division of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF). "Family Fun Days have become very popular wintertime events at our parks," said Will Harris, director of Parks and Public Lands. "The idea is to encourage Mainers to get outdoors for recreation, relaxation and health."

DACF Commissioner Walt Whitcomb noted that Aroostook State Park is the oldest park in the Maine system, dating back to 1938. "This is a spectacular place, with groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails," he said. "Folks who come out for a Family Fun Day can enjoy a wide variety of activities and have an opportunity to try something they haven't done before."

Thanks to the support of sponsors, the event is very affordable. This year's program, including lunch, is offered for the bargain price of $1.50 for anyone aged 12 to 64. For those over 65 or under 12, everything is free. Park manager Scott Thompson said the park will request a $3 donation for dogsled rides to defray the cost of transporting the dogs and equipment to the park.

The ski and snowshoe trailer and its contents were provided by a grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, along with sponsorships by L.L. Bean, Wicked Joe Coffee and Healthy Hometowns, a program of the Maine Winter Sports Center. The trailer has 66 pairs of cross-country skis, boots, bindings and poles, and 44 pairs of snowshoes.

Local sponsors of the event include Cary Medical Center, Graves supermarket, Katahdin Trust Company, MMG Insurance, TAMC (the Aroostook Medical Center), Haines Manufacturing and TD Bank.

For more information, contact the park at (207) 768-8341 or visit http://www.take-it-outside.com/.