The Maine Outsider
The Maine Outsider is a free newsletter curating outdoor events across the state. Our mission is simple — help you find the fun and help great organizations find you.
Maine Outsider: Invite 126 // Jun 17
Invite 126 // Jun 17 Early June sits in a gap. School's still in session, crowds are minimal, and the ocean is still too cold for most people to bother. The mosquitoes can be bad, and the black flies provide constant companionship away from the coast. But the color green makes up for all that. Everything is alive this time of year. The trees, grasses, and salt marshes are at their greenest. It's humid and warm, and a few lawns in my neighborhood have gone feral. Take a week off, and nature...
Maine Outsider: Invite 125 // Jun 10
Invite 125 // Jun 10 I can tell summer is approaching when events start piling up in my queue. The calendar goes quiet until Memorial Day, then land trusts, outdoor clubs, and other groups all seem to wake up at once. There are weeks in December or early April when it's a challenge to scrape together a full email. This is not one of those weeks. We have 5Ks, marsh walks, citizen science projects, and more. Let's get to it so you can spend less time reading and more time outside. ✌️ Max Reach...
Maine Outsider: Invite 124 // Jun 3
Invite 124 // Jun 3 The Maine summer recipe is a good one. Canoe camping on a river trip, sailing to an island, hiking a summit in July to pick blueberries, playing cards at camp under a propane lamp. You could run it back year after year and be perfectly satisfied. But beneath the nostalgia and tradition, there is also change. New ways to experience the state are emerging. This week, I'm highlighting places and experiences that have opened in the last year(ish). I won't judge you if you...
Maine Outsider: Invite 123 // May 27
Invite 123 // May 27 If you're a mountain biker in Portland, you might have noticed that the scope, scale, and quality of trails around town have noticeably improved over the last few years. New trails at East Windham A bike park at Riverton Trolley Extended trails at Winnick Woods in Cape Elizabeth Groomed winter fat biking in Gorham Portland is quietly turning into a great city for mountain biking. There's a person behind that vision. Ryan Dunfee is the volunteer president of GPNEMBA, the...
Maine Outsider: Invite 122 // May 20
Invite 122 // May 20 We've got a full slate this week, and I haven't had time to plan my own Memorial Day Weekend adventures, so I'm going to cut right to it. Lilacs are blooming, alewives are running, and migratory birds are singing. Spring is putting on a show, and all you have to do is show up. Get out there, folks. ✌️ Max Reach 1,000+ Maine outdoor enthusiasts while supporting a community resource. View sponsorship opportunities. Feathers Over Freeport Birding Festival Sat, May 23 - Sun,...
Maine Outsider: Invite 121 // May 13
Invite 121 // May 13 This week, we have a reader submission from Jan, a longtime subscriber, who's mapping a car-free bike adventure loop in the Lakes Region using public transit. Here's what he had to say: The Lakes Region Explorer bus runs a few times per day between Portland and Bridgton. It allows you to go up north with friends and bikes for 4$ and zero car logistics. The drivers I've met so far have all been very friendly and keen to fit as many bikes as you can on the bus (along with 2...
Maine Outsider: Invite 120 // May 6
Invite 120 // May 6 Things are coming to life out there, folks. Green grass is emerging, buds are starting to form, and peepers are calling. It's a fun time to be outdoors as each day brings something new. This week's slate features a balance of upcoming activities, like birding and citizen science projects, as well as future summer events worth getting on your calendar right now. Now, on to the good stuff. ✌️ Max SPONSORED: Ever tried yoga outdoors with goats, horses, or ocean breezes?...
Maine Outsider: Invite 119 // Apr 29
Invite 119 // Apr 29 Happy hump day, Outsiders. After 119 issues, this intro spot is getting harder to fill with original and interesting ideas. So I'm opening it up. Starting soon, this space will feature short community profiles, guest posts, and nature writing, poetry, or art from people doing interesting things outside. I already have a shortlist, but I'd love your nominations. Who should I be talking to? Who's planning, organizing, or just quietly doing something worth knowing about in...
Maine Outsider: Invite 118 // Apr 15
Invite 118 // Apr 15 This week's Earth Day theme is an invitation, not a guilt trip. With the right mindset, cleanup, maintenance, and stewardship can be recreation in their own right. My favorite illustration of this is Beau Miles, a YouTuber with a knack for turning ethical obligations into ridiculous experiences. A few favorites: Bad river Rubbish run A tree a minute Someone dumped rubbish and I couldn't ignore it Junk paddle View these events with that spirit, or if you're feeling...
Maine Outsider: Invite 117 // Apr 1
Invite 117 // Apr 1 I've internalized the rhythms of Maine's outdoor event calendar after writing this newsletter for three years. I don't need data to say this confidently: the first two weeks of April are the quietest time of year, rivaled only by the first two weeks of December. Last issue, I hit you with the sappy vernal re-frame—a call to action to view mud season in a new light. This week, my heart is in Florida. Or anywhere where the sun touches green. This gray soup weather can wear...
The Maine Outsider is a free newsletter curating outdoor events across the state. Our mission is simple — help you find the fun and help great organizations find you.