WORKSHOPS
All workshops are hosted at Watershed Friends’ office unless specified otherwise.
Thank you to Kennebec Savings Bank for sponsoring our summer workshop series!
Volunteer Courtesy Boat Inspector Training
Want to help protect your lake? Join us and learn what makes a good boat inspection: what to look for, where to look for it, and how to talk to boaters about how important checking boats is!
Wednesday, May 20, 5 - 6pm
Wednesday, June 24, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Wednesday, July 22, 6 - 7pm
Adopt-a-Shoreline Training
Come learn how to help our lakes while enjoying your day on the water! Volunteers will learn about the Adopt a Shoreline Program, how to submit suspicious plants for identification, and if comfortable, will adopt a section of their lake to watch over throughout the season. Volunteers are essential to supplement paid survey time. Best combined with the Basic or Advanced Plant Identification Workshop.
Wednesday, May 27, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Basic Plant Identification
Curious about what plants you see while on the water? Come learn the basics on how to identify aquatic plants as well as what aquatic invasive species are present in our watershed and how to identify them.
Wednesday, June 3, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Wednesday, June 17, 5:30 - 6:30om
Wednesday, August 12, 5:30 - 6:30pm
Advanced Plant Identification
For people who have already taken basic plant identification, learn to identify more aquatic invasive species that are not currently in our watershed but are either already in Maine or in neighboring states. This is intended to be taken after having already attended a Basic Plant ID course.
Wednesday, July 29, 5:30 - 7pm
Wednesday, August 26, 5:30 - 7pm
Drop-In Basic and Advanced Plant ID
Held bi-weekly, stop by the office Wednesday mornings for either basic or advanced plant ID sessions. No sign-up necessary, and advanced workshops can be converted to basic based on audience preference.
Basic Plant ID Drop-In Sessions Wednesdays, 11am - 12pm: 6/17, 7/15, 8/12, 9/9
Advanced Plant ID Drop-In Sessions Wednesdays, 11am - 12:30pm: 7/1, 7/29, 8/26, 9/23
Boating Safety and Education Course
Hosted in partnership with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, this will teach you how to safely operate and maintain a motorized vessel and will also introduce you to Maine boating laws. This course is NASBLA approved and after completion you will be immediately issued a Boating Safety and Education certificate that will be recognized in all 50 states and US territories.
Saturday, June 13 8am-3pm
Live Plant Identification and Plant Paddle
Hosted in partnership with Lake Stewards of Maine and 30 Mile Watershed Association, these workshops are an opportunity to become Invasive Plant Patrol certified.
Live Plant ID: Thursday, July 9 9am - 12pm (Location: Kent’s Hill School, Liz Cross Mellen Ski Lodge)
Plant Paddle: Thursday, July 16 9am - 12pm (Location: Maranacook, Rt 41)
Survey123 and CalTopo - Train the Trainer
Learn to use (or get a refresher on) Survey123, the digital survey platform used statewide to record plant survey efforts. Additionally, learn to use CalTopo, a new software we are using this year to more accurately track where surveys have occurred. This training is intended for anyone planning to lead survey efforts on their lake this year, with the goal that they will be able to train others after attending.
Thursday, June 4, 5 - 6:30pm
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