Getting Outdoors in Lubec

Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Regional Steward Melissa Lee loves her job and who can blame her? She not only takes care of MCHT’s spectacular Bold Coast preserves, but on occasion, she also has the opportunity to connect with her community through the youthful eyes of the Lubec Outing Club. This fall, Melissa joined the young adventurers on two outings, as they played outdoors and explored their rugged coastline.

In late September, Melissa partnered with Lubec Elementary School teacher Dan Wagner to lead 5 students on a bike tour down the Mowry Beach boardwalk, along the community’s quietest streets, and back to school. They finished their adventure with an ice cream at Uncle Kippy’s. “I’m gonna ride my bike every day!” exclaimed first grader Ida May Zanoni. To encourage more kids in the area to ride bikes, Melissa is partnering with the school, the local library, and Healthy Acadia to purchase new bicycle racks for the town.

They are also hosting activities to promote proper use and safety. In October, Melissa accompanied local families on a hike to a remote beach featuring impressive headlands to observe and enticing nooks to explore. Once they arrived at the beach, the kids ran, looked for crabs and periwinkles, pulled each other around in a tote, and splashed in the water. The group included two kindergarteners who were best friends. Whenever they hit a muddy patch on the trail, they would hold hands and start singing, “yea mud, yea mud, yea mud!”

“I believe that getting folks of all ages outdoors is one of the best ways to improve their health and their outlook on life,” shares Melissa, “And it’s really fun.”