Looking for events on specific dates? Click here to see our public calendar.

Outdoor Women Lead (O.W.L.) Outings

OWL is a collaborative project between Maine Outdoor School & Women for Healthy Rural Living. OWL outings are for women ages 16+ and free to participate. Outings are led by a female Registered Maine Guide with a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification. While all ability levels are welcome, please read the outing description to learn more about the location and ensure this outing is suited to you. We offer outings of various difficulties throughout the year.

*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.

Spanish language interpreter service is available, as well as a gear library.

Click here for more information on OWL and these outings.

Upcoming O.W.L. Outings

Stay tuned for 2027 outings!

Creepy, Crawly, & Curious Drop-in Family Program

with Women for Healthy Rural Living

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

Time: 1 -3 pm

Location: Milbridge Elementary School’s outdoor classroom

Age: All ages

Drop-in (no registration needed)

Drop in between 1-3pm on Saturday, 10/24 at Milbridge Elementary School’s outdoor classroom* for some family-friendly nature exploration — with a spooky twist. Families will get up close with real skull specimens and discover how creatures of the night are perfectly adapted to a world we rarely see. From echolocation to camouflage, this hands-on program reveals that "spooky" nature isn't something to fear — it's some of the most fascinating engineering on Earth. Bring the whole family for a creepy, crawly, curious time! All ages welcome.

*This program will be held outside - park in the parking lot of the elementary school and walk around to the back of the school, where the playground is.* 

Questions? Reach out to Lizzie at lizzie@whrl.org or by phone at 901-213-6667.

Map & Compass: Practice Your Skills

with Women for Healthy Rural Living

October 25, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm, Milbridge Commons Wellness Park

Have you used a map and compass before, but are out of practice? Or maybe you’ve forgotten the basics altogether? 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.

Map and Compass: Practice Your Skills is open to all who are 16 years of age or older. Free to participate; registration required.

Register here

Homeschool Programs

With Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA)

Please stay tuned for future programs!

This program series is designed for the Independent Downeast Educational Alliance (IDEA) of homeschoolers. For more information and to register, email independentdowneast@gmail.com.

Custom Outdoor Experiences

Interested in a guided hike or other outdoor learning experience? Visit our Guiding page to schedule your own personalized event!

Virtual Programs

Check out the Outdoor Women Lead (OWL) series, which aims to teach outdoor and naturalist skills through videos, blog posts, and suggested backyard activities. Also visit our Virtual Programming site, which includes a variety of videos that aim to get you engaged in outdoor learning in your own backyard or at a local park or hiking trail.

Past Events

  • Riverside Family Scientists series with Frenchman Bay Conservancy and Ellsworth Public Library, Summer ‘26

  • Rooted Together LGBTQ+ hike with Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Summer ‘26

  • Keynote speech for UMaine Summer Educators’ Institute and outdoor education workshop day for Washington County Educators, spring and summer ‘26

  • OWLette Girls Camp with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Summer ‘26

  • OWL Outing Club for Women paddling, plant ID, and other nature topics with Women for Healthy Rural Living, monthly

  • 5th Annual New Year’s Eve Sunset Hike with Crabtree Neck Land Trust, Winter ‘25/26

  • Map & Compass Basics with Women for Healthy Rural Living, Spring ‘26