Invite 116 // Mar 18

I love winter more than most people. When it snows, I'm drawn to the window with the same energy as a kid hoping for a snow day. I find shoveling both rewarding and enjoyable. I like the way my face tingles in extreme cold.

This time of the year is a challenge for me. I seek out the last pockets of snow and mourn putting my XC skis in the basement.

Yet, at the same time, something changes in me when I see that first glimpse of green — a few blades of grass next to a melting snowbank or a patch of moss under a tree.

I emotionally teleport to summer. I can sense the raw green energy of a July day. It's a trap because we're, of course, far from that point.

Eulogizing winter, craving summer, stuck with spring.

At least that's how I normally feel, but this year I'm looking for the good in transition — vernal pools, rushing streams, muddy palettes. I can't delude myself into loving spring as much as winter or summer, but what would happen if I tried?

✌️ Max

This issue of The Maine Outsider is sponsored by Kaneel. Cultivate a deeper relationship with the change of seasons through Slow Blooming, an 8-week, in-person course in Portland. Supported by guided mindfulness meditation, environmental education, and community connection, you’ll learn from a single tree as it awakens from its winter hibernation. 🌱 Join Slow Blooming​

Reach 1,000 Maine outdoor enthusiasts while supporting a community resource. View sponsorship opportunities.

Vernal Equinox Concert

Fri, Mar 20 | Portland | Donation Based

Listen to chamber music along a path at Baxter Woods as musicians celebrate the vernal equinox with new and experimental compositions that amplify marginalized voices in classical music.

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Tracks and Trees Snowshoe

Sat, Mar 21 | Carrabassett Valley | Free

Snowshoe around Flagstaff Lake with a registered Maine guide while learning to identify animal tracks and trees, with lunch provided at a backcountry hut.

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Guided Hike at Dodge Point

Sat, Mar 21 | Newcastle | Free

Hike to a historic brickyard beach at Dodge Point with naturalist Sarah Gladu to spot traces of the past and early spring growth.

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Maine Maple Sunday Weekend

Sat, Mar 21 - Sun, Mar 22 | Statewide | Free

Sample maple syrup at sugarhouses across Maine during the 43rd annual Maine Maple Sunday weekend, where producers demonstrate how syrup is made and offer sugarbush tours.

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Drawing Nature for Kids

Sun, Mar 22 | York | Free

Sketch natural objects like shells, pinecones, and leaves with a Maine Master Naturalist in a kid-focused environment.

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Outdoor Studio

Fri, Mar 27 | Jefferson | Paid

Create nature mandalas and paint with plant inks foraged along the Medomak River, with all materials provided and instruction from teaching artist Katama Murray.

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World Trails Film Festival

Sat, Mar 28 | Portland | Paid

Watch 90 minutes of global trail films with local land trusts, meet trail builders, and learn how trails connect communities across the region.

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Pond-A-Palooza

Sun, Mar 29 | Bethel | Free

Skim across a pond at the bottom of a ski hill while competing for prizes based on style, distance, and splash at Sunday River's annual spring tradition.

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Better with friends. Some of life's best outdoor experiences are shared with others. Share this newsletter with a friend to inspire your next group adventure by forwarding this email or sharing a link to subscribe.

Coming Up (Previously Featured)

​Maple Sugaring and Sauna | Sat, Mar 21 - Sun, Mar 22 | Paid​

​Queer + BIPOC Maine Guide Prep Course | Fri, Apr 17 - Sun, Apr 19 | Paid​

​Sugarloaf Marathon and 15K | Sun, May 17 | Paid​

Trail Log: Share your Experience

Have you attended any of these recent activities? Use the quick check-in links(30 seconds or less) to log your attendance and share your experience.

📝 Happy Wanderers: Head of Tide Preserve - Thu, Mar 5​

📝 Women in the Wild - Thu, Mar 5​

📝 Fosty KAT Race - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 Women's Intro to Mountain Hiking - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 2026 Women's Wave - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 Intermediate Nordic Ski to Poplar Stream Hut - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 Winter Fun Day at Camden Hills State Park - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 Mt. Abram Open to All Program - Sat, Mar 7​

📝 Queen of the Valley Freestyle Comp - Sun, Mar 8​

Your responses help us decide which events to feature again and motivate the newsletter's continued creation.

👋 I'm Max. I created the Maine Outsider to help people connect with organizations offering outdoor events and experiences around the state.

I monitor 300+ newsletters, but can't know everything. If you're hosting an event or have a tip about an upcoming experience, use our tip line to let me know.

Thanks for reading. Now, get out there!