Upcoming events
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Our Annual Native Tree & Shrub Sale
Taking orders until January 15, 2026 or until supplies run out
Order now from 16 different native trees and shrubs, Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District offers sales of bare root seedlings that we buy in bulk to provide a low price to our community. Order pick up dates are May 1st and 2nd 2026 at our office. New species this year include Wild Grape and Burr Oak.
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Movie Showing: Doug Tallamy's "What's the Rush?"
Jan 10, 2026 | 1pm | Free
Trenton Butterfly Gardens and Ellsworth Garden Club host this video showing at the Unitarian Universalist Church. In the video, Doug Tallamy, Founder of Homegrown National Park, shows how we can all help restore biodiversity by creating healthy ecosystems in our back yards.
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2026 Maine Agricultural Trades Show
Jan 13-15 2026 | All Day | Augusta Civic Center
Statewide farming agencies and agriculture and conservation vendors converge, with a full schedule of ag-related workshops and discussions at this free event.
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Maine Woodland Owners - Forestry Forum 2026
Jan 14, 2026 | 8:30am - 3:00pm
Held at the August Civic Center, 2nd Floor North Wing or via Zoom, Maine Woodland Owners provides this day-long forestry-focused event to the public for free.
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HCSWCD Board of Supervisors Monthly Meeting
January 28, 2026 | 8am-10am Via Zoom
Join our public virtual meetings where we review last month’s minutes, and go over monthly reports on NRCS programs, Financials, Grants and Projects, District Business, Technical Services, etc. Passcode is: 689337
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Forestry Health Workshop & Field Walk
Jan. 30, 2025 | 10am-2pm Lamoine
Hosted by HCSWCD and Maine Woodland Owners, this FREE event will feature forestry health and invasives experts from Maine Forest Service Health and Monitoring Division, Maine Natural Areas Program, and DAFS/MFS Entomology. At Lamoine Community Arts Center followed by field walk near Lamoine State Park. Includes lunch.
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Water Quality Volunteers
Ongoing Workshops
Help monitor water quality in Hancock County with ongoing workshops provided for volunteers by Lake Stewards of Maine with DEP.
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Backyard Rewilding
Ongoing CLC Program
Join our Rewilding program, made possible by the Davis Conservation Foundation, led by Tabatha White. Turn your backyard into a biodiverse haven for native species! Call 667-8663 to schedule a free site visit.
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Annual Lake Conference 2026
June 12, 2026
Mark your calendars for this annual event co-sponsored by Maine Lakes and Lake Stewards of Maine at UMaine Orono. More details and registration information will follow in the coming months.
Get Involved
Our conservation work in Hancock County depends on community residents and organizations to support and contribute to it. We maintain a list of conservation-related opportunities that are organized by our partners, and, when possible, we organize events and volunteer opportunities that are specific to our soil and water projects. We invite you to join one or all of these opportunities to stay connected with conservation work in our community.
Complete our Volunteer Sign-Up Form to get started!
We also invite you to consider giving to our District. We accept donations of all sizes, and encourage you to reach out to us if you’re interested in partnering to accomplish and expand conservation goals. Please call us at 207.667.8663 or email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org for more information.
By providing Envirothon and other quality education programs to students today, we hope to ensure the continued value of Maine’s natural resources. Envirothon is aligned with Common Core Standards, the guiding principles for Maine’s education system.
Youth Engagement
Envirothon
What is Envirothon? A natural resource problem-solving competition for grades 9-12. In an outdoor setting, students are tested in five natural resource areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current national environmental issue. Envirothon is a team effort that includes site-specific, hands-on tasks. A team includes three to five students, an alternate, and an adult advisor. Regional and state competitions are held each spring. The top Maine team qualifies for the North American Envirothon finals, an opportunity to compete against teams from across the United States and Canada.
Why Envirothon? The State of Maine has a long history of natural resource use and management. Maine is 90% forested, has 6,000 lakes and ponds, 4,500 miles of mainland shoreline, and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams. We have an abundance of wildlife and fish, and agriculture continues to be an important resource. The Maine Association of Conservation Districts has a strong, shared commitment to preserving these natural landscapes.