2018 Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Ceremony - Maine Woods Forever 4-13-2018

Loranger Memorial Middle School from Old Orchard Beach's

6th-grade representatives Laura Seaver-Maley, Jasmine, Abby,

Casey and Cynthia Nye accept the first 2018 Award from

John Rust of Maine Woods Forever. The LMS 6th-grade program

was nominated by Meggie Harvey from the Gulf

of Maine Research Institute. PWM

Maine Woods Forever presents the 2018

"Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award"

to three recipients

The three 2018 awards were presented on April 13, 2018, at the Maine Woods Forever's 39th Roundtable event, hosted at Unity College's Center for the Performing Arts.

The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award honors persons or youth-oriented organizations whose work reflects the conservation ethic so championed, and inspired here in Maine as a young man, by President Theodore Roosevelt.

Maine Woods Forever

Maine Woods Forever is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and protecting the legacy of Maine's forests and woodlands. Maine Woods Forever was founded in 2004 to foster collaboration between the many people and organizations devoted to conserving our forests and woodlands for today and future generations. For further information, please visit:

www.mainewoodsforever.org and www.thoreauwabanaki.org

Maine Woods Forever board member,

John Rust is the Theodore Roosevelt

Maine Conservation Award Committee

Chair. John was the presenter of the

awards to recipients.

The second Award went to the Maine Woods Explorers Program

through the Natural

Resource Education Center at Moosehead in Greenville.

MWEP was nominated by Paul Johnson.

Tim Obrey, Dawna Blackstone, Avis, and her mother

Mildred Kennedy-Stirling accepts the Award from John Rust.

Third Award: Wabanaki Youth in Science Program

(WaYS) Special Projects Coordinator Tish Carr, 

accepts the Award from John Rust.

WaYS was nominated for the Award by 

John Neptune. PWM

Click Here: For all the details on the 2018 Teddy Roosevelt Award Recipients, via the Maine Woods Forever Web Page will be posted soon

Additional Background About the "Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award"

Award Criteria

The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award is given to youths or youth organizations who demonstrate a commitment to Maine's forests and woodlands, and those accomplishments may include:

* Effectively working alone or with others in educating others on the importance of conserving Maine's forests and woodlands, large and small

* Outstanding contributions toward conserving Maine's forests and woodlands

* Leadership in a local, regional, or statewide project that increases awareness by the public at large of a significant issue relating to Maine's forests and woodlands

* Educating and increasing public awareness of the heritage of the Maine Woods.

* Improving the quality of life in the Maine woods-dependent communities

* Fostering an increased appreciation of Maine woods resources

* Fostering stewardship of private forestland

* Fostering or supporting a conservation organization or foundation seeking to conserve large tracts of land, indigenous wildlife

* Forming or fostering alliances between conservation organizations

* Making improvements in the quality of conservation and/or conservation education

Special attention is paid to unsung nominees who have achieved success not otherwise recognized. Weight is given to leadership qualities demonstrated by inspiring others to participate or influencing conservation and education practices.

Qualifications for the Award:

* Must involve activities within Maine

* Must be age 10 through High School (applicants older than 18 are acceptable if still attending High School) or youth organizations whose conservation projects primarily involve youths of these ages.

###

From the Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project Blogger - Phil Morse

I have attended each of the past five Maine Woods Forever Roundtable gatherings at Unity College in Unity, Maine. I have thoroughly enjoyed the setting of the meetings, the guest speakers,  the opportunity to meet representatives of the various organizations in attendance, and the opportunity to make new friends. As a member of two nonprofit organizations that have direct connections to Theodore Roosevelt; the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine with its historic 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, the luxurious high-speed interurban in which, Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger between Lewiston, ME, and Portland, ME on August 18, 1914,  and also the New England Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (Oyster Bay, NY), I'm delighted with the Maine Woods Forever's annual presentation of their Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award.

The Narcissus 1912 Renovation Blog was started two years ago with the intent to share information relating to Theodore Roosevelt and his connections in Maine, his connection to the Narcissus, the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places, Narcissus, and its relationship to Maine's railway history.

Here are links you may find of interest:

Click Here - A Previously Unknown Image of Theodore Roosevelt in Maine - Resolved

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a Young Teenager

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt International Highway - Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt's Bible Point in Island Falls, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor, Maine

Click Here - Seashore's Trolleys Relative to Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - 1858-1900  

Click Here - Seashore's Trolleys Relative to Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - 1901-1909

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Narcissus

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts in Maine - at Trolley Museum 8-5 through 8-7, 2016

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt - Conservation - National Parks & Monuments

Click Here - Great, great, great-granddaughter of Narcissus owner visits Trolley Museum

Click Here - Troy R. Bennett's Musical adaptation: ode' to The Grand Old Interurban

Click Here - Oral History - Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr reminisces his days during the trolleys of Maine

Click Here - Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service - 57 Million Riders 1915

If you have any questions concerning the Narcissus Project and the Theodore Roosevelt connections in Maine, please contact me, Phil Morse, at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723 - cell.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

Click Here: Donation Options

The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

Next Stop: Mount Katahdin, then The Oxbow, Aroostook River, Munsungan Lake, and more...

Joe Banavige trekked an estimated 200 or more miles by canoe and on

foot to retrace the steps of Theodore Roosevelt through the North Dakota 

Wilderness, eventually concluding his journey at the Stark County

Courthouse Thursday morning. Photo by Ellie Porter/The Dickinson Press

Read the entire Dickinson Press Story Here

How appropriate, that I should receive this email of introduction from Sharon Kilzer, project manager at the Theodore Roosevelt Center, on Friday that kicks off the Memorial Day Weekend. 

"Phil Morse, meet Joe Banavige. via a copy of this email, I am introducing the two of you. Phil, Joe has undertaken a new project to reproduce many of Theodore Roosevelt's adventures. You can read about his journey down the Little Missouri River and overland to Dickinson, retracing the capture of the boat thieves, in today's Dickinson Press: http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/news/local/4273427-beautiful-brutal-badlands-man-retraces-roosevelts-journey. 

Joe's next adventure will be in Maine, canoeing the Aroostook River and Munsungan Lake. Joe has already connected with Bill Sewall's descendants, and I thought you might be helpful to him, based on your research on TR's journeys in that region."

Best regards to you both,

Sharon

I clicked on the newspaper story link. Read the story and then click on the link to learn Joe's Story.

I did a reply-all email to Sharon and shared my eagerness to help Joe in any way he might need my help making contacts for his trek here in Maine. Joe responded to my email on Monday. We hit it off right from the start:) When he told me that his brother-in-law, a retired Maine State Trooper from Palermo, ME, would be joining him on the trek here in Maine, I checked in with ThorntonAcademy's Chief of Campus Safety, Jim Trask (a retired Maine State Trooper). I asked Jim if he happened to know Gerard Madden, also a retired MST? Jim's response was, "Hi Phil, I know Gerry very well, we were classmates in the SP Academy of 1984. He is a friend. You will like him, he has a great sense of humor. Give him my best. Jim" Through Joe, I have passed on Jim's salutation. Here is more info and some links to what Joe is about. I hope you will consider making a donation to help Joe and the Semper Fi Fund he is dedicating his heroic efforts to support:

It was quite a strenuous adventure, and I really characterize it

as brutal. I've confirmed three of my upcoming events 

(Lake Wanonia half-marathon (June 3) Tough Mudder (July)

and World's Toughest Mudder (August).

See the full schedule of 2017 events here

Joe is retracing "The Terrain of Theodore Roosevelt" and redoing many of TR's lifelong adventures. "I started a little while back and have recently completed activities in the White Mountains and also just completed a 200-mile Dakota Territory trek that focused on following the story where TR chased thieves over the Little Missouri River, caught them, and then drove them overland back down to Dickinson, North Dakota. An overview of my project, as well as a press article on the Dakota Territory piece, are below":

Click Here: For an overview of my project 

Click Here: For Dakota Territory News Story

Click Here: For My Facebook Page which is somewhat of a blog for the overall effort

Click Here: Semper Fi Fund and Joe's Story

"I am now turning to Maine in mid-June and will be retracing many of TR's steps in the area around Mount Katahdin and Island Falls. I'll be focused on TR's August/September 1879 adventures and will summit Katahdin, canoe from Oxbow to Munsungan Lake, and will also do some canoeing around Island Falls. One interesting point of note is that TR was guided by William Sewall on these trips and Sewall went to Dakota with TR and was one of the men on the Dakota boat chase adventure. Sewall was basically a mentor to TR and a lifelong friend. I'm also getting assistance in Maine (Phil Morse is a great example and is a member of the Maine Theodore Roosevelt Association) and I'll be completing the adventures with my brother-in-law, who is a retired Maine State Trooper. I've also been coordinating with Bart DeWolfe (Maine Woods Forever), Donna Davidge (Island Falls, Sewall House) as well as others. Our family is also an owner of a house in Maine (Palermo), so we have had long ties to the area."

Joe Banavige

For those Narcissus Project Blog followers, you may recall, I have released several posts on Theodore Roosevelt and his connections here in Maine, including those that Joe will be retracing. For more on those particular posts, here are the links:

This first link probably summarizes TR's Maine visits and connections to Maine most comprehensively.

Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt and the Narcissus - Connecting Maine Communities

Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a young teenager

Click Here: - Two Accomplished Writers and a National Park Service Ranger from Sagamore Hill

Click Here: - Longfellow Square is Where the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway Begins

Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts Here in Maine

Click Here: - Bible Point - Island Falls, Maine & Theodore Roosevelt

Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor on Islesboro, Maine

Click Here: - Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award - Maine Woods Forever 4-15-2016

Click Here: - Teddy Roosevelt Days 2016 - Michael Canfield: "Theodore Roosevelt Field Notes"

Click Here: - Teddy Roosevelt Days 2016 - TR Artifacts and a Successful Event

Click Here: - A President Has Ridden in My House!

Click Here: - A Previously Unknown Image of Theodore Roosevelt in Maine - Resolved:)

Click Here: - 2017 Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award - Maine Woods Forever 4-7-2017

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

Click Here: Donation Options

The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

2017 Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Ceremony - Maine Woods Forever 4-7-2017

Fiona Ammerman, a fourth-grader from Katahdin Elementary School in

Stacyville accepts the first 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award

from John Rust (R) of Maine Woods Forever. Fiona was nominated for the

award by her school principal, Marie Robinson (L).

PWM image

Maine Woods Forever presents the 2017

"Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award"

to three recipients.

The 2017 awards were presented on April 7, 2017, at the Maine Woods Forever's 36th Roundtable event, hosted at Unity College's Center for the Performing Arts.

"The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award honors today's young people and the legacy of America's most celebrated conservationist, President Theodore Roosevelt," notes John Rust, chair of the award committee. "Many folks credit his rugged sojourns in Maine during the 1800s with shaping his determination to conserve our natural world. This year's award recipients have clearly lived up to this ethic."

Maine Woods Forever

Maine Woods Forever is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and protecting the legacy of Maine's forests and woodlands. Maine Woods Forever was founded in 2004 to foster collaboration between the many people and organizations devoted to conserving our forests and woodlands for today and future generations. For more information, please visit:

www.mainewoodsforever.org and www.thoreauwabanaki.org

Lee Academy Juniors Lauren Dodge and Cole Harriman look on as science
teacher Susan Linscott accepts the second 2017 Teddy Roosevelt
Conservation Award from John Rust (R) of Maine Woods Forever, on behalf
of the Lee Academy Service Learning Team. PWM image

Joanna Tarrazi, Executive Director of the Piscataquis County Soil
& Water Conservation District (L) looks on as Piscataquis County
Secondary School sophomores Alivia Hunt and Alison Quimby (Center),

is next to science teacher, Heather Doherty (Center R), accepts the third 2017 Teddy

Roosevelt Conservation Award from John Rust (R) of Maine Woods Forever,
on behalf of their Environmental Science class. PWM image

Click Here: For all the details on the 2017 Teddy Roosevelt Award Recipients via the Maine Woods Forever Web Page

Additional Background About the "Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award"

Award Criteria

The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award is given to youths or youth organizations who demonstrate a commitment to Maine's forests and woodlands, and those accomplishments may include:

* Effectively working alone or with others in educating others on the importance of conserving Maine's forests and woodlands, large and small

* Outstanding contributions toward conserving Maine's forests and woodlands

* Leadership in a local, regional, or statewide project that increases awareness by the public at large of a significant issue relating to Maine's forests and woodlands

* Educating and increasing public awareness of the heritage of the Maine Woods.

* Improving the quality of life in the Maine Woods dependent communities

* Fostering an increased appreciation of Maine woods resources

* Fostering stewardship of private forestland

* Fostering or supporting a conservation organization or foundation seeking to conserve large tracts of land and its wildlife

* Forming or fostering alliances between conservation organizations

* Making improvements in the quality of conservation and/or conservation education

Special attention is paid to unsung nominees who have achieved success not otherwise recognized. Weight is given to leadership qualities demonstrated by inspiring others to participate in or influence conservation and education practices.

Qualifications for the Award:

* Must involve activities within Maine

* Must be age 10 through High School (applicants older than 18 are acceptable if still attending High School) or youth organizations whose conservation projects primarily involve youths of these ages.

###

From the Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project Blogger - Phil Morse

I have attended each of the past five Maine Woods Forever Roundtable gatherings at Unity College in Unity, Maine. I have thoroughly enjoyed the setting of the meetings, the guest speakers,  the opportunity to meet representatives of the various organizations in attendance, and the opportunity to make new friends. As a member of two nonprofit organizations that have direct connections to Theodore Roosevelt; the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine with its historic 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, the luxurious high-speed interurban in which, Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger between Lewiston, ME, and Portland, ME on August 18, 1914,  and also the New England Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (Oyster Bay, NY), I'm delighted with the Maine Woods Forever's annual presentation of their Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award.

The Narcissus 1912 Renovation Blog was started two years ago with the intent to share information relating to Theodore Roosevelt and his connections in Maine, his connection to the Narcissus, the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places, Narcissus, and its relationship to Maine's railway history.

Here are links you may find of interest:

Click Here - A Previously Unknown Image of Theodore Roosevelt in Maine - Resolved

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a Young Teenager

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt International Highway - Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt's Bible Point in Island Falls, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor, Maine

Click Here - Seashore's Trolleys Relative to Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - 1858-1900  

Click Here - Seashore's Trolleys Relative to Theodore Roosevelt Timeline - 1901-1909

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Narcissus

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts in Maine - at Trolley Museum 8-5 through 8-7, 2016

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt - Conservation - National Parks & Monuments

Click Here - Great, great, great-granddaughter of Narcissus owner visits Trolley Museum

Click Here - Troy R. Bennett's Musical adaptation: Ode to The Grand Old Interurban

Click Here - Oral History - Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr reminisces, his days during the trolleys of Maine

Click Here - Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service - 57 Million Riders 1915

If you have any questions concerning the Narcissus Project and the Theodore Roosevelt connections in Maine, please contact me, Phil Morse, at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723 - cell.

Click Here - for the Narcissus Project Blog

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

Click Here: Donation Options

The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive

Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Ceremony - Maine Woods Forever 4-15-2016

Breaux Higgins (R) accepts the Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation
Award from John Rust (L) of Maine Woods Forever.
Image courtesy of MWF

Maine Woods Forever announces winners of the 2016

"Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award"

For more information

John Rust, chairman Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award Committee

207-337-5858

Unity, Maine - Maine Woods Forever is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 "Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award" - a youth-oriented award created to recognize young people and youth groups whose efforts are in the spirit of Roosevelt's conservation ethic and achievements. The award recognizes what Maine's youth are doing to appreciate and conserve our forest heritage. It also encourages them to become future conservation leaders.

The 2016 awards were announced on April 15, 2016, at Maine Woods Forever's 33rd Roundtable event, held at Unity College's Center for the Performing Arts.

"The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award honors today's young people and the legacy of America's most celebrated conservationist, President Theodore Roosevelt," notes John Rust, chairman of the award committee. "Many credit his rugged sojourns in Maine during the late 1800s with shaping his determination to conserve our natural world.

This year's awardees have clearly lived up to this ethic."

Awards were presented to:

1) Breaux Higgins, an Eagle Scout from Bar Harbor, was presented, an award for an individual youth who has shown outstanding dedication, leadership, and strong and steady growth in exhibiting Maine's conservation ethic. One notable project was to restore Bates Cairns at Acadia National Park and increase the public's awareness of their use and significance.

Bates Cairns are stone trail markers. They suffer from significant chronic vandalism because hikers may not fully understand their meaning. Park visitors (2.5 million in 2015 - PWM) add or remove rocks from the cairns, build new ones pointing in different directions even destroy them completely. This behavior is a safety issue. It leads hikers astray. A natural resource issue. Rocks are taken from the already thin mountain soil, and an aesthetic issue. These man-made objects clutter the beautiful natural landscape.

Breaux partnered with the US National Park Service staff at Acadia for his Eagle Scout Service Project to offer a multidimensional service project to optimize the promotion of preservation and safety. Breaux developed a program to educate the public by raising awareness of the meaning of the Bates Cairns in Acadia and combined the simple message of the cairns with principles of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics. His message reached a substantial number of visitors and, more importantly, created a program that can be sustained by Parks and volunteer staff.

Massabesic Middle School's 7th Grade Aroostook Team

accepts the Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award (front:

7th Team members, Andrew Lawpaugh, Brenna Ramsdell,

Back: John Rust of Maine Woods Forever. 7th-grade science

teacher, Patrick Parent).

Image courtesy of MWF

2) The Massabesic Middle School's 7th grade Aroostook Team was presented an award for outstanding achievement by a youth organization to recognize their many collaborations as citizen scientists to study and then educate the public about many environmental conditions concerning Maine's forests. These have included:

* The 2nd Annual Invasive Species Forum, which reached over 100 community members and hundreds more of their peers;

* Collaborating with the Vital Signs Program as well as state entomologists and Forest Service employees to present their work;

* Contributing to Maine Project Learning Tree's biannual newsletter, which reached over 1,200 educators and natural resource professionals throughout the State;

* Participating in Invasive Plant Patrol training and certification, Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program;

* Assisting the York County Soil and Water Conservation District with a survey of the state-endangered New England Cottontail;

* Surveying their hometowns for forest pests such as red pine scale (Matsucoccus Matsumura), hemlock wooly adelgid (Adelges Tsugae), and winter moth (Operophtera spp).

The award was accepted by 7th-grade Aroostook Team students, Brenna Ramsdell, and Andrew Lawpaugh, both of Limerick, and their 7th-grade science teacher, Patrick Parent.

"Each year, this group of about eighty 7th graders impact and influence others because they experience their natural world, its complexities, and its importance," said Pat Maloney, Coordinator of Maine Project Learning Tree. "They communicate their passions, their knowledge, and their appreciation of the Maine woods as a natural system in need of human understanding."

"The Aroostook Team's work will have lasting impacts beyond their graduation. The influence these students have had on the Vital Signs community of scientists, managers, educators, and fellow students is a testament to their dedication to Maine's forests." - Team Vital Signs (Christine Voyer, Molly Auclair, and Caroline Casals), Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, Maine.

John Rust (L) of Maine Woods Forever, presenting the Theodore Roosevelt

Maine Conservation Award to the Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's

Association represented by Sam Spaulding (R). Image courtesy of MWF

3) The Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Association was presented an award for outstanding achievement by a youth organization to recognize their Junior Guides Program, which offers children ages 9 through 12, as well as graduate Junior Counselors (ages 13-18), an exceptional outdoor skills education and experience. Sam Spaulding accepted the award on behalf of the Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Association.

"This program has done an excellent job of educating, preserving, and protecting the future of our natural resources while sharing the rich outdoor traditions and history of the region," said Bill Pierce, Executive Director of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Rangeley. "The program has had alumni return every year as Junior Counselors who volunteer and help indoctrinate new Jr. Guides. In a word....it has created LEADERS."

Pierce adds. "The children of the Rangeley community, often from single-parent or overly-busy families that may not have otherwise had these experiences, benefit greatly. Parents have witnessed its lasting rewards highlighted in the sun-kissed faces and rousing stories of their now empowered and confident children."

Congratulations to all.

Maine Woods Forever

Maine Woods Forever is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and protecting the legacy of Maine's forests and woodlands. Maine Woods Forever was founded in 2004 to foster collaboration between the many people and organizations devoted to conserving our forests and woodlands for today and future generations. For further information, please visit:

www.mainewoodsforever.org and www.thoreauwabanaki.org

Additional Background About the "Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Award"

Award Criteria

The Teddy Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award is given to youths or youth organizations who demonstrate a commitment to Maine's forests and woodlands, and those accomplishments may include:

* Effectively working alone or with others in educating others on the importance of conserving Maine's forests and woodlands, large and small

* Outstanding contributions toward conserving Maine's forests and woodlands

* Leadership in local, regional, or statewide projects increases awareness by the public at large of a significant issue relating to Maine's forests and woodlands

* Educating and increasing public awareness of the heritage of the Maine Woods.

* Improving the quality of life in the Maine woods-dependent communities

* Fostering an increased appreciation of Maine woods resources

* Fostering stewardship of private forestland

* Fostering or supporting a conservation organization or foundation seeking to conserve large tracts of land and wildlife

* Forming or fostering alliances between conservation organizations

* Making improvements in the quality of conservation and/or conservation education

Special attention is paid to unsung nominees who have achieved success not otherwise recognized. Weight is given to leadership qualities demonstrated by inspiring others to participate in or influence conservation and education practices.

Qualifications for the Award:

* Must involve activities within Maine

* Must be age 10 through High School (applicants older than 18 are acceptable if still attending High School) or youth organizations whose conservation projects primarily involve youths of these ages.

###

From the Narcissus 1912 Renovation Project Blogger - Phil Morse

I have attended each of the past two Maine Woods Forever Roundtable gatherings at Unity College in Unity, Maine. I have thoroughly enjoyed the setting of the meetings, the guest speakers,  the opportunity to meet representatives of the various organizations in attendance, and the opportunity to make new friends. As a member of two nonprofit organizations that have direct connections to Theodore Roosevelt; the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine with its historic 1912 Portland-Lewiston Interurban No. 14, Narcissus, the luxurious high-speed interurban in which, Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger between Lewiston, ME, and Portland, ME on August 18, 1914,  and also the New England Chapter of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (Oyster Bay, NY), I'm delighted with the Maine Woods Forever's annual presentation of their Theodore Roosevelt Maine Conservation Award.

The Narcissus 1912 Renovation Blog was started a year ago with the intent to share information relating to Theodore Roosevelt and his connections in Maine, his connection to the Narcissus, the restoration of the National Register of Historic Places, Narcissus, and its relationship to Maine's railway history.

Here are links you may find of interest:

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt First Visited Maine as a Young Teenager

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt International Highway - Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt's Bible Point in Island Falls, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Grieved in Dark Harbor, Maine

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Association and the Narcissus

Click Here - Theodore Roosevelt Artifacts in Maine - at Trolley Museum 8-5 through 8-7, 2016

Click Here - Great, great, great-granddaughter of Narcissus owner visits Trolley Museum

Click Here - Troy R. Bennett's Musical adaptation, ode to The Grand Old Interurban

Click Here - Oral History - Clyde Walker Pierce, Jr reminisces, days during the trolleys of Maine

Click Here - Ninety Communities in Maine had Electric Railway Service - 57 Million Riders 1915

If you have any questions concerning the Narcissus Project and the Theodore Roosevelt connections in Maine, please contact me, Phil Morse, at p.morse31@gmail.com or call 207-985-9723 - cell.

Click Here - for the Narcissus Project Blog

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We continue the restoration work on the 1912 Narcissus, the only surviving high-speed, luxury interurban coach of the Portland-Lewiston Interurban. 

Click Here: Narcissus Restoration-Related Posts

Being more than a century old, the stately, "Elegant Ride," Narcissus, is a gem.  This shimmering precious stone of Maine transportation history is brilliantly resplendent as it emanates so many elements of history, including; time, places, people, and events, that it was coupled to, that when just a smattering of its seemingly innumerable stories are shared, the contents captivates, fascinates, then generates, interest to learn more 🙋. The majestic Narcissus is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Please consider joining the epic journey to complete the Narcissus Project by making a donation today!

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The restoration of this majestic icon of Maine's electric railway history is but one in a series of captivating stories containing an abundance of incredible coalition of narratives.

Click Here: History-Related Posts - Narcissus and Portland-Lewiston Interurban

     The Narcissus is featured in the national Gold Award-winning novel, Teddy Roosevelt, Millie, and the Elegant Ride. The "Elegant Ride" is the Narcissus. Theodore Roosevelt was a passenger on the Narcissus on August 18, 1914, between Lewiston and Portland, Maine, while campaigning for the Progressive Party candidates.

Click Here: Bookstores and Businesses promoting the Narcissus Project

Independent book publisher Phil Morse, holding

Gold Book Award Winner plaque for

 Middle Reader category for The Eric

Hoffer Book Award. Congratulations to

award-winning Maine author,

Jean M. Flahive