Upcoming events
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Online Listening Session with Maine Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry
Oct. 24, 2025 | 11am-12pm
Join our District’s major funder, Maine DACF, for a listening session for farmers, food producers, and agricultural stakeholders. Registration and a pre-session survey are available. Email hscscdinfo@hancockcountyswcd.com to get the Survey link.
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Forest improvement Tour - Trenton
Oct. 25, 2025 | 9am-1pm
Join the Downeast Chapter of Maine Woodland Owners at 267 Oak Point Road in Trenton for a fun and educational tour of John Correa’s forest.
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Mushroom Walk Hosted by Natural Resource Council of Maine
Oct. 26, 2025 | 9sm - 12pm
This walk given by Greg Marley, a 50-year mushroom veteran, features a hike through the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust lands in search of wild mushrooms. Location: South Trail Entrance - 1589 Acadia Hwy, Orland, ME | Space is limited, so sign up soon. -
Soil Health for Sandy Soils Workshp
Oct. 28, 2025 | 4pm
UMaine Cooperative Extension and MOFGA present at Pine Root Farm in Steep Falls to discuss how to optimize soil health in sandy soils.
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Transitioning to Native Plants in the Landscape or Garden
Nov. 3, 2025 | 9-7:15pm
The UMaine Cooperative Extension presents this virtual workshop on integrating native plants into managed landscapes.
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Local Working Group & Election Day
Dec. 15, 2025 | 5-7pm
Join us for a dinner and our annual Local Working Group. Your voice is important in the development of conservation programs and funding allocations! You will also be able to cast your vote for one HCSWCD Board Supervisor position.
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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.
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.