Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition

OtherThings to do Outside

In this time of COVID-19, with the danger of meeting indoors, there are plenty of ways to get outside and enjoy the coming of Spring in the Belfast Bay watershed. We need to dress for and be wary of ticks, and we need to maintain social distance from any other people we meet on trails, but we can still enjoy being out in the fresh air and sunshine.

Following is a list of parks and trails in the area - 

• Belfast City Parks  https://www.cityofbelfast.org/173/Parks-Facilities
• Belfast Footbridge and Harbor Walk to Boathouse and beach  https://www.belfastmaine.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/HarborWalkInfo.pdf
• Belfast Rail Trail  http://belfastbaywatershed.org/trail-guides.php
• Little River Community Trail  http://belfastbaywatershed.org/trail-guides.php
• In-Town Nature Trail.  Map/brochures available at the Footbridge kiosk and on a pole at The Muck. http://belfastbaywatershed.org/trail-guides.php
• Hills to Sea Trail https://www.hillstosea.org/maps
• Sears Island in Searsport  https://friendsofsearsisland.org/
• Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs  https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=33 
• Trails on Coastal Mountains Land Trust preserves in Prospect, Stockton Springs, Searsport, Belfast, Swanville, Northport, Lincolnville, Camden, Rockport.     https://www.coastalmountains.org/get-outside
• Trails on Georges River Land Trust preserves in Liberty, Montville, Searsmont, Appleton, Union, Warren, Thomaston, Rockport  http://www.georgesriver.org/preserves-trails/
• Trails on Midcoast Conservancy Land Trust preserves, Waldo, Lincoln, Kennebec counties             https://www.midcoastconservancy.org/explore/land-water-trails/
• Moose Point State Park, Searsport  https://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=19
• Camden Hills State Park https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/camden-hills-state-park-interior-trail-network
• Sandy Point Beach, Stockton Springs. https://mainebyfoot.com/sandy-point-beach-stockton-springs/

Activities we can do while outdoors-

• Keep a bird list of new bird arrivals with dates. Migration time is March-June. Report rare sightings to  https://ebird.org/alerts
• Birding destinations  http://belfastbaywatershed.org/trail-guides.php
• Listen and learn the songs unique to each bird species.
• Keep a nature journal of sightings and sketches.
• Become a backyard naturalist and get to know as many species of animals and plants in your yard or neighborhood as you can.
• Take photographs of what you see and send to iNaturalist Nature Challenge https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020
• Listen for frogs singing from March through June. To help acquaint you:  https://musicofnature.com/calls-of-frogs-and-toads-of-the-northeast/
• Visit a Little Free Library near you. Borrow or swap books. https://www.waldoreads.com/waldo-county-literacy-volunteers-community/little-libraries/locations
• Download and print nature coloring pages at  https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0374/5921/files/Brainstorm_Coloring_Sheets_-_Natural_Elements.pdf?v=1584408130