Fields Pond Audubon Center

Maine Audubon acquired 192 acres by bequest from the estate of the late Katherine Curran in 1994.

The Curran family kept cows, harvested ice from the pond in winter, and cut wood from the forest. Their gift of land included 1600 feet of lakeshore, a stream and ravine, several wetlands, fields, forest, and a 22-acre island in Fields Pond.

In the Winter of 1998, Maine Audubon opened the L. Robert Rolde Nature Center, which was designed by "environmentally friendly" architects.

Weekly Programs & Events

Unless otherwise specified, programs are held at the Audubon Center. For outdoor events, we hope for good weather, usually go in light precipitation, and cancel in severe weather. If you need to cancel a program reservation, please call at least three days ahead of the scheduled event to assure a refund.

Our Programs and Events section has moved! Find all the upcoming activities at Fields Pond Audubon Center in our new Habitat Journal Online.

View, print or download the
Summer 2009 Program brochure here. (PDF)

Special Programs

Home School Programs | Girl Scout Programs

NEW! Teacher Workshop | Educational Outreach (PDF)

2009 Nature Explorations | Volunteer Opportunities

The Center provides a variety of guided and self-guided walks and canoe tours, exhibits, a Nature trail, and canoe rentals. All guided programs are led by trained naturalists. Walking and canoe tours and specially designed programs are available forgroups at a discounted price.

Special Programs

2009 Home-school Programs

Nature Classes for Home-Schoolers
These 2 hour programs require advance registration and payment. Enrollment is limited for quality of teaching. Please call the Center at 989 -2591 to register or to request information.
Joining Maine Audubon lowers your rates. Join here.

The nature center will be offering the following 2 hour programs this spring. Please call the center at (207) 989-2591 to register or request information.

Ages 6 and older

Nature Walks
Cost: $4.50 per participant, including parents

Exploring Winter Animal Tracks
Wed. Jan. 21 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

Children love the mystery and excitement of following animal tracks in winter. What animal is it? Is it predator, or prey? Some ani¬mals are both! Our naturalists will help students learn how to identify tracks, and how to interpret the animal’s behavior. For older children, we teach how to measure tracks and estimate how many animals are in the fields and woods. No snow? We will still take our walk and explore how animals cope with the lack of snow.

 

Signs of Spring
Wed. April 1 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm

Many people complain, “Maine has NO Spring. We go from winter right into summer.” We have a wonderful Spring! But you have to look for it: insects on the snow; the melting of the snow; finding secret mice tunnels under the grass or snow; finding mole tunnels; finding tiny flowers blooming, buds swelling, green grass under the snow, the sap running in maples and in other trees; the arrival of new spring birds; and much more. Come learn the subtle signs of spring .

 

Wonderful Wetlands
Wed. May 13 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Wetlands teem with animals that will fascinate your students. Children especially love frogs, salamanders and snakes—and will love learning about them. Older children love to learn that Maine has nine amphibian species, and how to identify some of them and the sounds they make. Also, many people know that wetlands are important for animals—but how do wetlands help people? We demonstrate how they help people, too.

CLASSES FOR Ages 8 AND OLDER

Vernal Pools – What are they and Why are they important?
Two April dates to be announced
Cost: $25/non-member; $20/member

Arrangements are being made to offer classes about these temporally wet pools where salamander, frog, and insect species reproduce. If interested, please contact the Center for more information.

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2009 Girl Scout Programs

All programs will be held at Fields Pond Audubon Center, Holden, Maine on the dates and times indicated. Registrations will be through the Girl Scout office. Programs may be cancelled if fewer than eight girls register. If registrations exceed 20 girls, the Girl Scout office will contact Fields Pond Audubon Center to see if we can handle the extra girls. Fields Pond Audubon Center will notify the Girl Scout office which scouts completed the badges and the Girl Scout office will distribute to the respective units any badges earned. Contact Ruth Perry by email or call 207-989-2591 for more information.

To register, contact the Girl Scouts of Maine council office at 1-800-464-3858.

BROWNIE - TRY ITS

Sun. June 14, WATCHING WILDLIFE

1:30 – 4:00 pm

Wildlife can be large or small. We’ll go on a walk to seek out and observe representatives of the local wildlife. (Items: 2, 4, 5, & 6)

JUNIOR - BADGES

Sun. May 17, WATER WONDERS

1:30 – 4:00 pm

Warm days are great for exploring water. (Items: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9, & 10)

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Volunteer Opportunities

Choose something you'd enjoy doing, then please call Judy Markowsky at 207-989-2591 or e-mail jmarkowsky@maineaudubon.org  

Volunteers are needed to:

To volunteer for any of these tasks, please call Judy Markowsky at 207-989-2591 or e-mail jmarkowsky@maineaudubon.org  Your help counts in our community!

Nature Explorations

   Walking and canoe tours and specially designed programs are available for groups at a discounted price.  Open to groups of all ages including school classes, community groups, families, and Scout troops, all guided programs are led by trained naturalists and introduce participants to the environment around them. Teachers receive a packet including pre- and post-trip activities, natural history information, and resources.  Please contact us for more information.

See the 2008 and 2009 Explorations here. (PDF)

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