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Events

Forests of Lilliput Walk

Join us as we journey into the world of mosses and lichens! Maine Master Naturalist Jeff Pengel will guide us on a walk in the woods as we learn about these amazing, but typically unnoticed, organisms of the forest. Bring a hand lens if you have one (we will have loaners if needed) and your camera, and be prepared to dive into this miniature world! Be sure to wear comfortable walking/hiking gear and clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty (you can often get a better view of moss and lichen by kneeling or laying down on the forest floor). No experience necessary, and all are welcome. We hope to see you there!

This walk will be led by Maine Master Naturalist Jeff Pengel. Jeff was trained as a geologist and botanist and holds degrees in Natural Science and Secondary Education. He is a Certified Interpretive Guide, a Maine Master Naturalist instructor, and an Appalachian Mountain Club naturalist trainer. Jeff has worked as a geologist, high school science teacher, outdoor educator, and park ranger but has spent most of his career in IT and project management.

Birding Walk w/ Feminist Bird Club of Maine

Join Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission and the Feminist Bird Club of Maine for a birding walk along the shores of Lake Auburn! Whitman Spring Road Trail is a wide, accessible trail that runs along the western shore of Lake Auburn through a transitional forest ecosystem. No experience or tools are necessary, though binoculars may be helpful if you have them (we will have some to loan out if needed). All are welcome, and we hope to see you there! *Photo by Rob Crosby.

The Feminist Bird Club of Maine is dedicated to creating welcoming and affirming spaces for queer community, BIPOC, neurodivergent folks, women and femmes, young people, and allies to be together in nature and build community. This group is for anyone who has a love for or is interested in birds!

This walk will be led by Maine Master Naturalist Samaa Abdurraqib. Samaa (she/her) is an auntie, a writer, a bird nerd, and a lover of the outdoors. She is a certified Maine Master Naturalist, which allows her to lead outdoor teaching experiences for people who want to learn about the beings (plants, insects, animals) in this region. Samaa is also a published poet and is the Executive Director of Maine Humanities.

Previous Events

Mount Apatite Hike w. Androscoggin Land Trust

  • Tuesday, May 19th
 

Join Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission and Androscoggin Land Trust on a hike at Mount Apatite! We will be hiking the Blue Trail loop, which is approximately three miles total and includes some hilly sections. 

Growing Community Seedling Sale w. Androscoggin Land Trust

  • Friday, May 15th
 

Come visit us at the Growing Community Seedling Sale! LAWPC staff will be there to discuss the intersection of clean water and agriculture, and provide information about live staking. 

Birding Walk

  • Saturday, May 9th
 

Whether you’re brand new to the hobby or have been birding for years, join Lake Auburn Watershed Protection Commission on a birding walk for Global Big Day! Maine Master Naturalist Christine Murray will guide us through the woods and along the trails as we try to spot our feathered friends, many of whom will be returning to or passing through the area on their northern spring migrations.

Stream Explorers

  • Friday, May 8th
 

Curious about what lives in your local streams, and want to get involved in a fun community science project? Stream Explorers is a collaborative project with Maine Audubon and Maine DEP focused on macroinvertebrates and what they can teach us about water quality. Attendees will learn tips and techniques for macroinvertebrate surveying and identification, and get a complete hands-on experience of the process.

Tree Identification Walk

  • Sunday, April 26th
 

Learning to identify trees can enrich your time outside, turning every hike, nature walk, and backyard ramble into a fun exploration. For this walk, we will focus on the subtler aspects of identification that can be overlooked in the summer months when leaves are out in abundance. Materials will also be provided to create bark rubbings, which can be a great reference for future identification.

Earth Day Clean Up

  • Wednesday, April 22nd
 

Come join LAWPC staff as we celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up our local park! We’ll gather at Basin Park in Auburn to pick up trash, tend to live stakes, and prune back overgrowth along the North Auburn Dam Trail. Gloves, tools, and snacks will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Live Stake Planting and Invasive Species ID Workshop 

  • April 18, 2026
 

This event will be held a week after the live stake harvesting workshop. Attendees will learn proper live staking planting technique and invasive species identification. Together, we will plant dozens of live stakes in eroded areas on LAWPC land with live stakes harvested from the previous workshop!

Plant identification and Live Stake Harvesting Workshop 

  • April 11, 2026 (Rain date: April 18) 
 
Learn about live staking, identifying live staking species, and soil erosion in this outdoor workshop event, led by Maine Conservation Corps steward Lilit Mathieu! During a brief introduction, you will learn about what live staking is and how it combats soil erosion. You will receive a live staking species ID guide to use during the plant ID workshop, then we will start harvesting! Attendees will learn proper live staking harvesting and storage techniques and can take stakes home to plant on their property! Drinks, food, and harvesting equipment will be provided. Email Lilit at  LakeAuburnShoreCorps@awsd.org with questions. 

Live staking webinar

  • April 4, 2026
 

This webinar will provide an in-depth review of live staking, including its purpose, signs of soil erosion, live staking species, and proper live stake harvesting, storage, and planting technique. A meeting link will be sent to you an hour before the webinar. Email Lilit Mathieu at LakeAuburnShoreCorps@awsd.org with questions.

Septic Program Information Session
  • Wednesday, March 25th
 

Do you live within the Lake Auburn watershed? Do you own a septic system? If so, you may be required to have your septic system inspected under the City of Auburn’s subsurface wastewater ordinance. Join LAWPC to learn more about the ordinance and the types of support that LAWPC can provide to property owners. This session is geared toward those in Year 3 of the inspection schedule, though all are welcome.

Winter Wildlife Walk – Take 2
  • Friday, February 13th
 

Are you curious about what wildlife get up to when it’s cold and snowy? Want to know who is making the tracks you see in your yard? Just looking for an excuse to get out of the house? Come join LAWPC and USDA Wildlife Biologist Ben Nugent for a winter wildlife walk! We’ll take to the woods to look for clues about what our furry and feathery friends have been up to lately. Attendees will learn about different adaptations that allow animals to survive Maine’s cold winters, and how to find and decode signs that tell the story of their days. RSVP requested for planning purposes. Snowshoes are available upon request. All are welcome — we hope you’ll join us! 

Winter Wildlife Walk
  • Tuesday, January 27th