Trails temporarily closed! Not a joke!

"April prepares her green traffic light and the world thinks, 'Go!'

Christopher Morley

Yes & No

Spring is a funny thing - there is a lot of excitement generated by organizations and individuals when they begin to restlessly anticipate implementing plans made through the dark and cold of winter. But really, we still have one more month to get through - with more rain, wind, cold, and sharp weather softened just a bit by longer days with a weak sun. This year, with all the extra rain and late, heavy snow, Woodlawn has decided to say No to foot traffic on the trails (until you hear otherwise!). The mud and the drainage issues mean that people traversing the trails will negatively impact the trails as they dry out - damage to the trail bed but also to the sides of the trails as you try to avoid the large puddles. So please, until it is consistently warm and a lot of the water has drained away, respect the signs that indicate we have closed the trail network until further notice. The paths around the hay fields are available for dog walking and are dry(ish!). Be careful with parking as well - really - just be careful. This has been a wet and damaging season - there are still so many fallen limbs. Which leads to an early chance to say Yes - April is National Volunteer Month so we would love you to say Yes to the idea of coming up to help Woodlawn at our spring clean up day (April 16) and, among other projects, literally pick up sticks so that when the grass greens up, we can start mowing safely!

There is a lot more for Yes! The lecture series continues to fill up - when it comes to learning, there are a lot of you who are eagerly saying Yes. Keep that enthusiasm up and consider a big Yes to the invitation to join Senior College and to renew your membership later this month! We have had excellent response to the many education programs - over 40 teachers were in the Barn learning about Wabanki studies on Saturday. Also, organizations and individuals are regularly reaching out about using the Barn for which we are grateful. While we want to say Yes to everyone, we have to be careful about occupancy limits and cover our costs - we want you to be here, we welcome your enquiries, and together, let's find a fair and safe Yes!

Last but certainly not least, we will be launching a new fundraiser next month that will let you put your name (or the name of someone you love!) in stone to demonstrate your Yes when you think about how critical Woodlawn is for the community: to learn, play, and appreciate this special place. The No at our Trailhead is temporary, the Yes is for a great future, together!

Thanks for caring about Woodlawn.

Kathy Young

director@woodlawnellsworth.org

From the Caretakers...

Mud Season: Why do hiking trails close?

After a cold winter with daily use, the frost is pushed deep into the ground under our trails. As spring temperatures rise, the packed snow and ice begin to melt. This melting mixed with spring rains creates one big muddy mess on the trails. The frost layer under our trail bed takes longer to melt. Which in turn means, our trails take longer to dry up. We understand that spring is a time to be outside taking in the sights of nature, but our trails are temporarily closed. And you might ask, why can’t I just hike in my muck boots? To that, our answer is simply, we close them to protect our trails from damage.

Closing the trails ultimately keeps them in great shape for more activities throughout the year. When hiking is allowed on wet and muddy trails, mud becomes packed and rutted which holds onto more water on the trails, keeping the trails wetter longer. Imagine when the rutted mud does eventually dry, how difficult it might be to hike next season on hard rutted trails. By closing our trails in the spring for a short period of time, we keep them in the best possible shape for future activities.

So even though you could put on the old muck boots and go tromping through the mud, we ask that you please don’t when our trails are closed. Our campus is still open to the public and you’re welcome to enjoy the mild spring temperatures and birds chirping around campus. The mowed edge of the hay fields are great walking paths.

We are as sorry and disappointed as you! Watch our FB page for updates!

Leave your mark at Woodlawn!

A new fundraiser will ensure Woodlawn continues to deliver exceptional community programs: we are launching a Bricks & Benches Campaign that will provide an opportunity to recognize someone you love or simply indicate your own support for Woodlawn.

This is just a teaser, the details are still to come. We want you to imagine and get excited about how you might help us as we continue to take care of this historic landscape. I wish I had a dollar for everytime, over the last three years, someone has told me that 'this is the first time I have come up the driveway - wow!'

Help us provide more opportunities for the Wow to happen with a capital letter. Next month I will have designs of the garden area to share and there will be a range of locations for benches to choose from. There will be granite benches, these 'fancy' benches, and heavy duty ones for out on the trail. As Woodlawn gets ready for more people coming for all kinds of events and programs, we need to make sure it is welcoming, restful, and beautiful without taking away the essense of its historic character. All elements will have space to engrave a commemorative message.

Woodlawn Yard Sale: Recycle, Repurpose, Keep Giving!

We were given a lot of desks, chairs, and other office equipment in anticipation of the needs for the Barn. We have now installed all that we require and offer the remainder up to other organizations or individuals to come and take it away. We will have it available all of Earth Day - please help continue to recycle these items. If you want to come earlier, email info@woodlawnellsworth.org

Offered for free, a donation encouraged!

Wish List:

Amazon let's us create a wish list - click the link and pick items to purchase that are mailed directly to us. We will recognize your generosity as a membership donation!

Binoculars

Leaf blower

Wood chipper

Use of a post hole digger

Use of a mobile wood mill

Please consider becoming a

Friend of Woodlawn

today

As a Friend of Woodlawn, you support our vision to be

where history connects people to place

Thank you!

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Woodlawn

P.O. Box 1478

Ellsworth, Maine 04605

(207) 667-8671

For general questions, click here