Women for Healthy Rural Living : Milbridge, Maine

Mending Cafe
2026-10-13 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-11-10 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-08 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-01-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-02-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-03-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-04-13 18:00 - 20:00, 2027-05-11 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) and 4 more dates | WHRL – 87 Main Street (front door)
Have you always wanted to learn how to mend your clothes? Do you have a pile of clothes you love that need a little TLC before you can wear them again? Are you a seasoned mender looking to meet and connect with others? There is a place for you at WHRL’s Mending Cafe! Share your favorite technique for putting a patch on your jeans, sewing on a button, darning your knitwear, and more! Some repairs may benefit from the use of a sewing machine; we will always have at least one available.
We welcome all skill levels to this program. Although this will not be a class, there will be menders who can help you brainstorm ideas for your repairs. We will have some tools and materials available, but we recommend bringing your favorite sewing notions from home. We will have plenty of fabric scraps, embroidery floss, yarn, and iron for pressing. We will also have some of our favorite books on mending techniques available for in-class use and inspiration!
Please note that this program will take place monthly on the second Tuesday of each month on a drop-in basis.

Exploring Fungi on Catherine Hill
2026-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Catherine Hill
What’s spookier than a local ghost story? Not knowing your mushrooms! Learn the story of Catherine’s ghost on this breathtaking little mountain in the Blackwoods and learn some mushroom ID while you’re at it. In OWL outings, frequent stops are built into the program to discuss elements of the natural world that we learn about on the way. The pace is always determined by the needs and desires of the group with a primary goal of going slow to enhance our connection with nature and each other. Moderate hike.* Roots, rocks, and moderate elevation change. Trail info available at https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/maine/catherine-mountain–2
OWL Outings are led by Registered Maine Guides at Maine Outdoor School who all hold a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification. To learn more about MOS’s guides, visit https://www.maineoutdoorschool.org/staff.
*To determine the difficulty level of outings, we use Maine TrailFinder’s difficulty rating system. For more detailed information about these difficulty levels, including visual examples, explore the rating system here.
Gear LibraryWHRL and MOS have a gear collection for OWL outings. Please reach out directly to Lizzie at 413-717-7827 or by email at lizzie@whrl.org if you are interested in using any of the items below. Use is first-come, first-served.Need something that you don’t see on the list below? Reach out!
Available Gear

Trekking poles (6 sets)
Layers: rain ponchos

Space is limited, and registration is required. Registration opens on September 21.

Map and Compass: Practice Your Skills!
2026-10-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Milbridge Commons Wellness Park, Main Street, Milbridge, ME, 04658, United States
Map and Compass: Practice Your Skills is open to all who are 16 years of age or older.
Have you used a map and compass before, but are out of practice? Or maybe you’ve forgotten the basics altogether? Your phone or GPS won’t always work, but a map and compass will–if you’re confident in your skills! This program will go over map and compass basics for folks who are new to these tools and will serve as a review for those who are old pros. Orienteering with a map and compass is a skill that must be used or lost, so let’s use it and stay fresh! Registrants will receive a brief handout on the basics before the program to ensure everyone knows what to expect during the program.

Growing Good Garlic with Dan Cunningham of Folklore Farm
2026-10-31 13:00 - 15:00 | IEM Garden at the Red Barn, 5 Main Street, Milbridge, ME, 04658, United States
Have you ever wanted to grow your own garlic? Here’s your chance! Join local farmer Dan Cunningham of Folklore Farm for this hands-on workshop. You’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about growing garlic while getting your hands in the dirt and helping to plant a row in our community garden. Dan will teach you everything from planting to harvesting, curing, and storing your garlic.

Space is limited for this free program, and registration is required. Registration will open on September 1st.

Dan Cunningham has owned and operated Folklore Farm in Cherryfield, Maine, since March 2021. He has over 10 years of experience managing small organic farms throughout the Northeast. He loves farming in Downeast Maine.

Bold Coast Bogs, Moss, and Lichen at Boot Head Preserve, Lubec
2026-11-07 12:00 - 14:00 | Boot Head Preserve, Lubec
This trail is the perfect place to learn about non-vascular plants (mosses), symbiotic organisms (lichens), and meet a carnivorous plant or two (in a bog)! This is a moderate* network of trails through the woods and along the rocky coast. In OWL outings, frequent stops are already built into the program to discuss elements of the natural world that we learn about on the way. The pace is always determined by the needs and desires of the group, with a primary goal of going slow to enhance our connection with nature and each other. Participants will need close-toed shoes comfortable for hiking in, like hiking boots or sneakers, a backpack to fit warm and waterproof layers in, water, and snacks. More information about the preserve here https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/boot-head-preserve
OWL Outings are led by Registered Maine Guides at Maine Outdoor School who all hold a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification. To learn more about MOS’s guides, visit https://www.maineoutdoorschool.org/staff.
*To determine the difficulty level of outings, we use Maine TrailFinder’s difficulty rating system. For more detailed information about these difficulty levels, including visual examples, explore the rating system here.
Gear LibraryWHRL and MOS have a gear collection for OWL outings. Please reach out directly to Lizzie at 413-717-7827 or by email at lizzie@whrl.org if you are interested in using any of the items below. Use is first-come, first-served.Need something that you don’t see on the list below? Reach out!
Available Gear

Trekking poles (6 sets)
Microspikes (4 sets, two small, two medium)
Snow Shoes
Warm layers: hats, mittens, jackets, snowpants, a few pairs of snow boots, rain ponchos, scarves, warm socks

Space is limited, and registration is required. Registration opens on October 19.

Holiday Quilling
2026-11-07 14:00 - 16:30 | WHRL Thankful Room, 87 Main Street (parking lot door), Milbridge, Maine, 04658
If you’ve ever wanted to try quilling—or build on skills you already have—now is the perfect time! Add a personal touch to your holidays by creating something beautiful through the art of quilling. Also known as paper filigree, quilling is a decorative art form dating back to the Renaissance that involves rolling, shaping, and gluing thin strips of paper to create intricate designs and patterns.
Join Holiday Quilling with Kelly on Saturday, November 7th, from 2 – 4:30 pm for a fun and creative workshop with a holiday focus. Participants can make a snowflake ornament, create a gift tag, or design a one-of-a-kind holiday card. Projects can be as simple or as detailed as you’d like, and starting with a smaller project offers an easy, approachable way to learn. All materials will be provided.
This workshop is open not only to women, but to everyone in the community—ages 14 and up (a guardian is required if the participant is under the age of 16). Registration is required.
You may recognize Kelly from here at WHRL, where she serves as our Communications Coordinator, managing social media and newsletter publications. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time at home with her husband, hiking, and exploring various crafts—including quilling. She learned the art as a child from her grandmother and is excited to share this timeless craft with others.
Registration opens September 1st.

Wilderness First Aid
2026-11-14 - 2026-11-15 | WHRL Thankful Room, 87 Main Street (parking lot door), Milbridge, Maine, 04658
Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or lost. The temperature drops, the wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Prepare for the unexpected. Wilderness First Aid (WFA) builds a solid foundation in backcountry medical care. This 16-hour course teaches the essential skills needed to respond to emergencies in remote environments—where calling 911 isn’t an option. By learning a few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good and bad outcome – and maybe even save a life.
Wilderness First Aid is the perfect course for outdoor enthusiasts who want basic first-aid training for short trips with family, friends, or outdoor groups. Hands-on, practical, and fun—WFA isn’t just life-saving training, it’s an unforgettable experience. We are excited to have Nancy Zane, a Registered Maine Guide and owner of NorthStar Adventures, return to teach this course!
You’ll Learn How to Assess and Respond to a Wide Range of Scenarios, Including:

Patient Assessment & Scene Safety

Learn how to evaluate injuries, prioritize care, and stay safe while helping others.

Soft Tissue & Musculoskeletal Injuries

Includes fracture stabilization, wound care, sprains, strains, and burn management.

Environmental Emergencies

Manage heat and cold-related illnesses, lightning strikes, near-drowning, and more.

Medical Emergencies

Gain confidence responding to allergic reactions, shock, asthma, diabetic emergencies, and other common backcountry medical issues.

Survival Skills & Evacuation Strategies

Learn how to keep yourself and others safe while awaiting rescue or self-evacuating.

Whether you’re a weekend hiker or an outdoor guide, this course empowers you to think clearly, act confidently, and care for others when it matters most.
You will leave this course with a SOLO Wilderness First Aid certification, valid for two years. Wilderness First Responder recertification will be available to participants for an additional $15.00 per person. You must have a SOLO WFR to recertify with a WFA course. If you have a WFR from a company other than SOLO, you can only recertify with a WFR recertification course.
CPR certification will be available immediately after class for an additional $25 per person.
Open not just for women! All community members age 14+ are welcome to attend. All those under 18 must have a guardian present. For any questions, email Lizzie at lizzie@whrl.org or call 901-213-6667.

2026 Wilderness First Aid

Your InformationName(Required)

First

Last

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)Mailing Address(Required)

Street Address

City

AlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahU.S. Virgin IslandsVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces EuropeArmed Forces Pacific
State

ZIP Code

Is there anything else we should know? Any accommodations that will make this day work for you?Optional Certifications with North Star AdventuresWilderness First Responder Recertification (Optional)Wilderness First Responder recertification is available to participants for an additional $15.00. **You must have a SOLO WFR to recertify with a WFA course.** If you have a WFR from a company other than SOLO, you can only recertify with a WFR recertification course.

Yes - I have a SOLO WFR and would like to pay $15.00 to recertify during this WFA course
CPR Certification (Optional)CPR certification will be available immediately after class for an additional $25

Yes - please register me for the CPR certification
PaymentWilderness First Aid(Required)

Price:

Wilderness First Responder Recertification

Price:

CPR Certification

Price:

Total

Credit Card

Cardholder Name

Card Details

Saturday Morning Craft & Chat
2026-11-14 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-12-12 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-01-09 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-02-13 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-03-13 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-04-10 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-05-08 09:00 - 11:00, 2027-06-12 09:00 - 11:00 and 3 more dates | WHRL – 87 Main Street, 87 Main Street, Milbridge, ME, 04658, United States
Join us for a relaxing Saturday morning craft group, open to everyone and all skill levels! Whether you’re into knitting, crocheting, needlework, or paper crafts, bring your craft and come along to enjoy some creative time. It’s a fun, casual space to learn, share ideas, and make new friends. We meet on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Hope to see you there!
Reach out to Kelly if you have questions!

Nature's Gifts, Ingersoll Point, Addison
2026-12-12 12:00 - 15:00 | Ingersoll Point, Addison
How can we use nature to improve mental and physical health? This outing will provide guided nature-connection activities you can use anytime to regain a sense of calm and deepen a connection to place as well as show examples of how we can build survival skills by learning from the year-round species that do it best. To top it off, we’ll learn about some nature-based crafts to inspire holiday gifts. In OWL outings, frequent stops are built into the program to discuss elements of the natural world that we learn about on the way. The pace is always determined by the needs and desires of the group with a primary goal of going slow to enhance our connection with nature and each other. Moderate hike.* Trail info available at https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails/trail/ingersoll-point-preserve. Bring warm winter layers, including waterproof, insulated boots. As a base layer, long johns (wool or synthetic) are recommended under bulky, warm mid-layers and water- and windproof outer layers, including mittens/gloves and a hat. Bring a comfortable backpack to carry extra layers and water in. Questions about how to prepare? Just ask! We have extra gear to share.
OWL Outings are led by Registered Maine Guides at Maine Outdoor School who all hold a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification. To learn more about MOS’s guides, visit https://www.maineoutdoorschool.org/staff.
*To determine the difficulty level of outings, we use Maine TrailFinder’s difficulty rating system. For more detailed information about these difficulty levels, including visual examples, explore the rating system here.
Gear Library
WHRL and MOS have a gear collection for OWL outings. Please reach out directly to Lizzie at 413-717-7827 or by email at lizzie@whrl.org if you are interested in using any of the items below. Use is first-come, first-served.
Need something that you don’t see on the list below? Reach out!
Available Gear

Trekking poles (6 sets)
Microspikes (4 sets, two small, two medium)
Snow Shoes
Warm layers: hats, mittens, jackets, snowpants, a few pairs of snow boots, rain ponchos, scarves, warm socks

Space is limited, and registration is required. Registration opens on November 9.
