Upcoming Workshops

Scroll down to learn more and register for our workshops!

Supporting Maine’s Native Pollinators – April 19, 2023 | 4-5pm | 9 Olson Rd. South Paris, ME

Trees for bees, choosy butterflies, and helpful hoverflies. We will discuss the breadth of Maine’s native pollinators, their importance in our ecosystem and food supply, and how you can support these small but mighty creatures. We will especially focus on utilizing native plants in creating pollinator habitat.

After gaining inspiration for our gardens, attendees may choose to pick up order forms for the OCSWCD Native Plant & Seed Sale. All proceeds go towards supporting our programs!

About the presenter: Hannah Mullally is the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Maine. She partners with tribal nations, private landowners, and local governments to implement voluntary wildlife habitat restoration across the state. Hannah has been a self-proclaimed pollinator nerd her entire educational and professional career.

This event is FREE, but participants are asked to please register.

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Registrants will be emailed in the event we need to cancel or reschedule. If you have any trouble registering, please contact Chantelle Hay at oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com.

Pond Construction & Maintenance – May 10, 2023 | 9am-1:30pm | Waterford, ME

Looking to add a pond to your landscape or learn more about what goes into creating a healthy pond?

Maine Natural Resource Conservation Service Agricultural Engineer, Candi (Benwitz) Gilpatric, will be giving a presentation on Pond Construction and Maintenance in Waterford, ME. Candi has 30 years of experience with NRCS and currently provides engineering assistance to the Southern Maine counties. She will focus on how to choose a pond site by researching the hydrology and soils of the area. She will also discuss the various styles of ponds and the methods for construction. For those of you already with ponds, she will discuss some helpful maintenance items to keep your pond safe and healthy.

Joining Candi will be Andy Ces from Shy Beaver Hatchery. Andy will be giving participants information about fish and stocking ponds.

Lunch will be provided. After lunch we will conclude the day with a walk and talk on site at a local pond, where Candi will point out key features.

This class qualifies for 3 hours of Continuing Education Credit for individuals Certified in Erosion Control Practices by Maine DEP (recertification).

https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/training/ccec.html

Fee: 50.00/person if paid by check or 52.00/person if paid online to cover fees. Lunch is included in registration fee.

To Register: Registering is a two step process. Follow the instructions below. Only completing one of these steps is not a complete registration.

Step 1 – Please fill out our quick registration form.

Step 2 – Pay the registration fee below or send a check to:

Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District, 17 Olson Rd. Suite 3, South Paris, ME 04281

Pond Construction & Maintenance Class Fee

This fee covers the cost of the class and your lunch! You can pay with PayPal or click on one of the card icons below the PayPal button to pay with a specific card (Visa, Mastercard, etc.)

$52.00

Registrants will be emailed in the event we need to cancel or reschedule. If you have any trouble registering, please contact Chantelle Hay at oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com.

Bird Walk at the Tenmile River Demonstration Forest – May 27, 2023 | 9-10am| Brownfield/Hiram, ME

Join us for a bird walk and get acquainted with the feathered friends of the Tenmile River Demonstration Forest!

This walk is intended for all levels of birders and bird curious people. Our trip leader Joe Scott will be helping us identify birds by both sight and sound. This is a great opportunity to get some fresh air, deepen your appreciation for nature, and get more familiar with birds!

Participants should bring binoculars and wear sturdy hiking or walking shoes. We will be walking on easy to moderate level hiking trails. Layered clothing and hats are recommended as well as sun screen, insect spray, and water.

About Our Trip Leader: Joe Scott is an experienced birder whose most recent activities include volunteering for the Maine Bird Atlas, organizing a section of the Christmas Bird Count, and leading Bird Walks for the Greater Lovell Land Trust. His favorite time of the birding year is Spring migration.

This event is FREE, but participants are asked to please register so we know how many to expect.

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 26, 2023

All programs and activities of the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District are offered on a non-discriminatory basis without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political belief, citizenship status, veteran’s status or disability.