O.W.L.

Strengthening women and girls’ confidence in the outdoors and life through our outing club and girls' summer camp.

A collaborative project of WHRL and Maine Outdoor School, our goal is to strengthen women and girls’ confidence in the outdoors — and in life! OWL is a three-pronged initiative:

OWLette, a summer camp for girls ages 11 – 16, located at Milbridge Commons. Girls learn outdoor, naturalist, and gardening skills.
An Outing Club for Women, a support network of women 16+ who go on outings in Washington County.
An online hub for women who are interested in learning more outdoor and naturalist skills on their own time via our Facebook Group, iNaturalist project, videos, and blog posts.

This program is inclusive to all definitions of women. Please reach out if you’d like to learn more.

If you are looking for a co-ed outdoor camp or experience, please check out Maine Outdoor School, EdGE, and Washington County 4-H.

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Outing Club for Women

OWLette

Educational Videos

Outing Club Hike to Pigeon Hill

Outing Group for Women

This outing group is reserved for women and girls 16+.

Wildlife Identification

Mowry Beach in Lubec

Saturday, June 18th: 1:00 – 4:00 pm.

With summer within reach, it’s an exciting time for wildlife and the other living things they rely on. How many different species can we identify in the intertidal zone, ocean, and boardwalk at Mowry Beach in Lubec? This is an easy, short hike with ample time for soaking in the view and exploring the beach.

More information about the preserve here.

Register Now!

Paddling on the Narraguagas

July 16th, 4:30-7:30pm.

During the heat of summer, local wildlife is most active during the cooler hours of dawn and dusk. This mellow evening paddling outing gives us the best chance of seeing a variety of wildlife, including beavers, river otters, muskrats, a variety of birds, and maybe, if we’re really lucky, a moose or bear! We will meet in Cherryfield and paddle upstream so the way back as we approach sunset will be even easier.

This is a flat-water paddling experience and the current on this stretch of the river is usually quite minimal—you’ll hardly notice you’re paddling upstream. Canoes, paddles, and life jackets available to the first 6 people who need them; otherwise, BYO boat.

Register Now!

Upcoming Summer Outings

Fogtown Celebration

June 30th

Join us at Fogtown Brewery in Ellsworth for an OWL based celebration! More information TBA.

Mistake Island with MITA

August 20th, Times TBD

We are beyond excited to partner with MITA – Maine Island Trail Assoication – to offer an outing out to Mistake Island off the coast of Jonesport. This outing will be stewardship focused: we’ll be volunteering with MITA to help clean the shorelines.

MITA’s cleanups are full-day events where experienced volunteer skippers take crews to targeted islands to clean shorelines. They’re great introductions to volunteering with MITA, and chances to explore the islands while keeping them clean for all. Volunteers ride in our fleet of skiffs to clean island shorelines, taking a break for lunch and returning by mid-afternoon. However, note that conditions can be challenging. Volunteers should be physically fit and comfortable climbing in and out of small skiffs and scrambling over slick, rocky shorelines.

The Bold Coast Hike

September 17th, 9am-3pm.

Absorb the beauty of Cutler’s rugged Bold Coast complemented by the dark, mossy forest we’ll hike through to get there. We will hike half this trail network, about 5.5 miles, to allow for time for breaks, learning about the unique ecology and geology, and exploration along the shore.

This is an advanced hike due to the distance and uneven terrain. For more information about the trail network, click here.