Upcoming events
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5 Town Dam Committee Public Input Meeting
Surry Feb 10th 2025
Held at Surry Elementary School Gym from 6-7:30pm. The Committee is seeking public input from Surry residents on the future of 3 dams.
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CarbonRun Webinar
Feb 12, 2025 1:00pm
CarbonRun Co-Founder and CTO Eddie Halfyard will discuss their approach to carbon dioxide removal, river liming, and restoring water quality.
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5 Town Dam Committee Public Input Meeting
Blue Hill Feb 12, 2025
Held at Town Hall Auditorium from 6-7:30pm, the Committee is seeking public input from Blue Hill residents as to the future of 3 dams.
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National Green Infrastructure Program
Virtual 8 Modules Feb 12th - 27th
Native Gardens of Blue Hill sponsors this certification program for managing stormwater (NGICP credential). Cost is $850, funding assistance is available. -
5 Town Dam Committee Public Input Meeting
Penobscot Feb 13, 2025
Held at Penobscot Community School from 6-7:30pm, the Committee is seeking input from Penobscot residents as the future of 3 dams.
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2025 Umaine Wild Blueberry Conference
Ellsworth Feb 15, 2025
Held at Moore Community Center in Ellsworth, this event includes technology, irrigation, nutrients, climate change, and much more.
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Great Pond Trust Volunteer Day
Orland Feb 21, 2025 8:30am
Great Pond Trust is hosting this volunteer day for clearing and clean up for future planting. At 212 Don Fish Trail in Orland. Dress warm!
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Board of Supervisors Meeting
Virtual Feb 26, 2025 08:00 AM
Join our monthly Board of Supervisors meetings. Learn about our progress and plans for soil and water conservation efforts and programs in Hancock County.
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HCSWCD Annual Brook Trout Sale
Runs through April 15th 2025
Our Annual Trout Sale has kicked off! We work with Mic-Mac Farms in Caribou for a May delivery to help stock private waterways.
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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!
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Volunteer Trail Maintenance
Ongoing
Help Frenchman Bay Conservancy maintain trails on Wednesdays at 8:30 led by Sterwardship Manager Garrett Black.
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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 with DEP.
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Hidden Gems of Maine's Waters - Webinar
Virtual Feb 20, 2025 12pm
Maine Lakes hosts this virtual workshop on Maine’s unique and rare fish species., presented by Merry Gallagher of MIFW.
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Nature-Based Solutions for Erosion Control
Virtual May 8, 2025
Nate Robbins of DEP will be sharing current research, outreach, and policies related to climate change and shorelines & lake health in this webinar.
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.
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 for more information.
Employment
We do not currently have any open positions.
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. 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.
Educational Farm Tours Program
The Educational Farm Tours Program was created to increase students’ access to local agriculture and agricultural education through tours, hands on activities and educational lessons. The hope is that these experiences will help foster a greater understanding of our food and fiber system as well as its importance in Hancock County.
Reimbursement is available once for each class/youth group per school calendar year as grant funds allow. Reimbursement is meant to cover the tour fee the farm charges the school/youth group.
The following farms participate in the Educational Farm Tours Program that is sponsored by the Hancock County Soil & Water Conservation District. Each farm is unique in what it has to offer a visiting school or children’s group. Please contact the individual farms directly for more information. If you would like your farm to be a part of the Educational Farm Tours Program, please contact the Hancock County SWCD office at 207-667-8663.
