Upcoming events
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How to Start a Pollinator Garden Class - Virtual
3 Saturdays starting January 17th
1-3pm - Trenton Butterfly Gardens hosts this workshop on getting started with pollinator gardens, growing native plants from seed, and designing your garden.
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2026 UMaine Wild Blueberry Conference
Feb. 7, 2026 | 9am-4pm
Join the 8th annual Wild Blueberry Conference at Moore Community Center in Ellsworth. Come in person or join by zoom. Learn from a full slate of talks on all things blueberries from the latest research and technologies to disease management and drought relief.
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HCSWCD Board of Supervisors Monthly Meeting
Feb 25, 2026 | 8am-10am Via Zoom
Join our public virtual meetings where we review last month’s minutes, and go over monthly reports on NRCS programs, Financials, Grants and Projects, District Business, Technical Services, etc. Passcode is: 689337
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Water Quality Volunteers
Ongoing Workshops
Help monitor water quality in Hancock County with ongoing workshops provided for volunteers by Lake Stewards of Maine with DEP.
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Backyard Rewilding
Ongoing CLC Program
Join our Rewilding program, made possible by the Davis Conservation Foundation, led by Tabatha White. Turn your backyard into a biodiverse haven for native species! Call 667-8663 to schedule a free site visit.
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Annual Lake Conference 2026
June 12, 2026
Mark your calendars for this annual event co-sponsored by Maine Lakes and Lake Stewards of Maine at UMaine Orono. More details and registration information will follow in the coming months.
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Emerald Ash Borer DACF Update
Feb 9, 2026 | 10:30-Noon
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry will provide updates for city and town tree and forest managers and public works staff on the known status of several invasive insect species in Maine. Our speakers will cover topics such as monitoring, life cycles, extent of known locations, and management through biocontrol.
Get Involved
Our conservation work in Hancock County depends on community residents and organizations to support and contribute to it. We maintain a list of conservation-related opportunities that are organized by our partners, and, when possible, we organize events and volunteer opportunities that are specific to our soil and water projects. We invite you to join one or all of these opportunities to stay connected with conservation work in our community.
Complete our Volunteer Sign-Up Form to get started!
We also invite you to consider giving to our District. We accept donations of all sizes, and encourage you to reach out to us if you’re interested in partnering to accomplish and expand conservation goals. Please call us at 207.667.8663 or email hcswcdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.org for more information.
By providing Envirothon and other quality education programs to students today, we hope to ensure the continued value of Maine’s natural resources. Envirothon is aligned with Common Core Standards, the guiding principles for Maine’s education system.
Youth Engagement
Envirothon
What is Envirothon? A natural resource problem-solving competition for grades 9-12. In an outdoor setting, students are tested in five natural resource areas: aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife, and a current national environmental issue. Envirothon is a team effort that includes site-specific, hands-on tasks. A team includes three to five students, an alternate, and an adult advisor. Regional and state competitions are held each spring. The top Maine team qualifies for the North American Envirothon finals, an opportunity to compete against teams from across the United States and Canada.
Why Envirothon? The State of Maine has a long history of natural resource use and management. Maine is 90% forested, has 6,000 lakes and ponds, 4,500 miles of mainland shoreline, and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams. We have an abundance of wildlife and fish, and agriculture continues to be an important resource. The Maine Association of Conservation Districts has a strong, shared commitment to preserving these natural landscapes.