Upcoming Events

Royal River Conservation Trust is partnering with Wild Seed Project, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust, and Ash Protection Collaboration Across Wabanakik (APCAW) to offer a four part series of educational walks called the Ash Tree Stewardship & Education Program. The walks are designed to raise public awareness and encourage stewardship of ash trees, which the invasive Emerald Ash Borer beetle critically threatens. This program aims to protect Maine’s forest ecosystems and support the cultural traditions of the Wabanaki people, who have long relied on Brown Ash for basket making. 

Each walk in the series will equip participants with practical skills they can apply in their own forests and communities to help protect and preserve ash in Maine. 

During this Ash Identification walk, you’ll learn how to identify ash trees by their bark, branch/bud arrangement, and leaves. We’ll also discuss the threats posed by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer and the steps we can take to protect these vital trees. 

Participants should wear waterproof boots and be prepared to hike off-trail! 

📅 Date & Time: Thursday, May 1st, 4:00 - 5:30 pm

📍 Location: Intervale Preserve (Lower Village) in New Gloucester. The primary legal point of access is from the Foxcroft Multi-Use Trail, which leads downhill from the intersection of Church Rd and Gloucester Hill Rd. Park at the church parking lot at 19 Gloucester Hill Rd, New Gloucester, where we will meet and walk to the preserve together.

🎟 Register here!

Help Build a New Trail on the Royal River!

📍 Location: New Gloucester, Maine. Address will be provided to registrants. (Parking lot and road shoulder parking available)

📅 Date: Saturday, May 3 (Rain Date: Sunday, May 4)

🛠 Hosted by: AMC Maine Chapter Trail Committee & Royal River Conservation Trust

Join us for a hands-on Trail Skills Workshop this spring as we help establish a brand-new 1.5-mile primitive loop trail on RRCT's recently conserved 150-acre property along the Royal River in New Gloucester! This exciting project, in partnership with the AMC Maine Chapter, will provide public hiking and fishing access once complete.

Choose Your Session:

📅 Three options available:

• Morning Session: 10:00 am to 12 pm

• Afternoon Session: 12:30 to 2:30 pm

• Full-Day Session: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm (Lunch: 12 pm to 12:30 pm)

What You’ll Learn & Do:

Led by experienced AMC volunteer trail crew leaders, this workshop will cover essential trail-building skills, including:

✔️ Defining trail corridor dimensions and proper layout

✔️ Pruning techniques for sustainable trail maintenance

✔️ Trail placement (discussion-based)

✔️ Hands-on trail work – clearing brush, improving tread, and defining the new route

Project Details:

• The trail route will be pre-flagged before the workday.

• Volunteers will help clear and establish the trail, which crosses an open field, loops through the woods, and includes a spur trail to the river.

• RRCT Stewardship Director, Hanae Garrison will be on-site all day to provide a walkthrough before we begin.

• This is a large project, but RRCT’s volunteer Trail Crew will continue the work after our session.

Who Can Join?

✅ No prior trail work experience is needed!

✅ Tools and guidance will be provided.

What to Bring:

🔹 PPE Required – Work clothes, sturdy boots, eye protection, sunblock, and bug repellent (for ticks & mosquitoes).

🔹 Water Snacks, bag lunch (if doing the full day session)

📩 Registration required. Sign up now!

🔹 Be a part of building a brand-new trail for the community!

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Trip Leaders

Phillip Coyne, Rota Knott, Hanae Garrison

Join us for our Third Annual Wescustogo Paddle on Saturday, May 17th!

Dust off your canoe or kayak and join us for a leisurely paddle down the Royal River! This BYOB (bring your own boat) event is perfect for both novice and experienced paddlers. The route winds through stretches of conserved riverbank, offering beautiful views and a peaceful paddle. This event is free and welcome to all, just bring your own boat!

Paddle Options:

• Wescustogo Park to Baston Park (3 miles) – Launch at 1:00 PM
• Baston Park to Royal River Park (5 miles) – Re-launch at 3:15 PM
• Full Route: Wescustogo Park to Royal River Park (8 miles) – 1:00 to 5:00 PM

From 2:15- 3:15 pm we'll gather at Baston Park (across from the Route 9 boat launch) for a "midway" stop with refreshments, snacks, and brief remarks. Boaters can choose to part ways here or re-launch and continue to Royal River Park!

Registration is required, and more details will be emailed to participants closer to the event.

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FAQs

What if I don’t own a boat?

RRCT will have access to a limited number of additional canoes/paddles/life jackets and will be happy to coordinate with you ahead of time.

How do I get back to my car?

The best way would be to leave a ‘shuttle’ vehicle where you will be coming off the river.  RRCT will also provide a shuttle service if you need help getting back to your car. Please indicate on the registration form if you need a ride back to Wescustogo Park.

What should I expect?

The company of other boaters enjoying a day on the river! The river is slow-flowing and while previous canoe/kayak experience is helpful this is a great way to test out your boating skills.

What does this cost?

Nothing! This event is free, but registration is required so we can plan accordingly.

Can I just watch?

Yes, there will be a gathering from 2:15 to 3:15 at Baston Park where you can meet up with the boaters during their ‘mid-way’ stopping point and enjoy complementary snacks and drinks.

Can I just bring an inner tube?

We’re not going to stop you but a self-propelled craft will get you downstream much quicker (and drier…and warmer). Paddleboards welcome for experienced users.

What should I bring?

At the very least you will want to bring sunscreen, bug repellent, water, life jackets, layers for changeable weather, and a dry bag for your personal items is always recommended.  You might also want to bring cameras and/or binoculars as there will be some fantastic birding along the way.

Do you need Volunteers?

Always.  If you are interested in lending a boat (paddles, life jackets etc.) we would love to talk with you.  We will also need help shuttling people back to their cars from Baston Park and from Yarmouth (5pm)

May 28, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Broad Cove Reserve, Cumberland Foreside

Curriculum: Join us at Broad Cove Reserve to learn fascinating facts about horseshoe crabs who have emerged from the ocean to lay their eggs on sandy beaches like this one for 445 million years. You will likely be able to see these harmless arthropods up close! Meet at the parking lot at 2:00 p.m. for the 15-minute walk down to the beach.

Naturalist: Karen Massey

Get Out! Nature Walks

These Get Out! Nature Walks are volunteer-led regular trips with trained master naturalists. Join us for a well-planned, no-cost, guided adventure. Monthly on the fourth Wednesday; always free; rain, snow, or shine. Jointly offered by both RRCT and the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust, the walks take place at preserves in the towns of Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, New Gloucester, and Durham. Our curriculum is targeted at adults and engaged youth. Because the purpose is nature observation, we ask that dogs do not join us. Email CCLT with any questions.

*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at RRCT events may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, you must notify RRCT at Info@RRCT.org and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.

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June 25, 2025 | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Location: Littlejohn Island Preserve, Yarmouth

SPECIAL PARKING: For this event only, drive to the very end of Pemasong Lane in Yarmouth. The service gate will be open. Go through the gate and park on the right in the grass. RRCT staff will be there to direct you.

Curriculum: We’ll walk through the pine-oak forest to the shore of this stunning 23-acre preserve on Casco Bay. We’ll investigate the tidal mudflats and sandy beaches along the coastline while keeping an eye out for common eiders, black guillemots, ospreys, and bald eagles.

Naturalists: Karen Massey

Get Out! Nature Walks

These Get Out! Nature Walks are volunteer-led regular trips with trained master naturalists. Join us for a well-planned, no-cost, guided adventure. Monthly on the fourth Wednesday; always free; rain, snow, or shine. Jointly offered by both RRCT and the Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust, the walks take place at preserves in the towns of Chebeague Island, Cumberland, Yarmouth, North Yarmouth, Pownal, New Gloucester, and Durham. Our curriculum is targeted at adults and engaged youth. Because the purpose is nature observation, we ask that dogs do not join us. Email CCLT with any questions.

*Photography and Filming Note: Your attendance at RRCT events may be photographed or filmed and your attendance indicates consent to have any images or footage featuring you at the event to be used for RRCT-related materials and outreach. Should images or footage appear in marketing materials that you don’t wish to be featured in, you must notify RRCT at Info@RRCT.org and RRCT will cease to further use your image or footage for any new materials going forward.

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