It was cold; it was rainy; but that didn’t stop more than 50 volunteers from showing up with warm and enthusiastic energy to help at the Scarborough Marsh Clean Up this past Sunday, April 27.
Not only did they remove lots of trash, folks worked hard to get the center ready for a new season. Groups put out the boardwalks on the nature trail across the street, cleaned up the grounds, installed the story walk boards along the nature trail . . . the list goes on and on! It was truly a community effort and Sunday proved that even a dreary day couldn’t stop folks from coming out to support the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center and care for this beautiful ecosystem.
Some shout outs: We want to thank the people who donated food for Project GRACE. Thank you to Holy Donut and Panera Bread for donating tasty treats for everyone, and thanks to Scarborough Grounds for providing hot coffee. Thank you to our partners: Scarborough Land Trust, Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Scarborough High School Ecos Club, UCT, and many more.
This was my first clean up and one I surely won’t forget. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces, build connections with folks, and help make a positive impact in the community and on the Earth. As the new Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center Manager, I will be overseeing the programs and operations at the center as Linda Woodard, who has been the Director of the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center for more than 30 years, will be transitioning out of her role. I grew up in Northern Iowa and spent several years on the shores of Lake Superior in Minnesota as I studied Environmental and Outdoor Education before moving out to Maine in 2022. I’m eager to provide a wonderful experience to visitors this summer and to continue to tell the story of Scarborough Marsh.
As the center prepares for another summer season ahead, our staff and volunteers are looking forward to sharing their love for the marsh and helping folks have a great time paddling on the water, birding, or simply enjoying the beauty of this unique habitat. We will be hosting our opening weekend celebration at Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center on Memorial Day Weekend from Saturday, May 24, to Monday, May 26. The fun will include boat rentals, a Sunday canoe tour, crafts, a used book sale, children’s story walk, exhibits, and more!
