Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund support played an important role in preparing for the season ahead. MOHF funding supported planning and coordination among partner organizations; assessment and prioritization of trail needs; preparation and staging of tools, materials, and supplies; scheduling; and field logistics.

That behind-the-scenes work allowed the Rec Rangers to move efficiently among multiple sites and focus their time on high-priority maintenance, infrastructure repair, and public-access improvements. The work reflects the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund’s purpose of supporting conservation and compatible outdoor recreation throughout the state.

This year’s Rec Ranger crew was led by Matt Kusper and included Jake Treadway as Assistant Crew Leader, Lauren Mitchell and Elizabeth Strickland as crew, with Rockefeller intern Emily Kidd supporting stewardship work both on and off the trail.

Together, the crew’s work supported over 100 miles of trails that connect people with the High Peaks region’s forests, wetlands, waterways, wildlife, and mountain landscapes.

At RLHT’s properties, the Rec Rangers rehabilitated approximately 300 linear feet of bog bridging at Hatchery Brook Preserve and 640 feet at South Bog. These improvements provide safer footing in wet areas while helping keep visitors on durable surfaces and reducing impacts to surrounding soils and vegetation.

At Hatchery Brook, the crew also built a new seven-step stone staircase, creating a more stable route through a vulnerable section of trail. At the Mingo Springs Birding Loop, they installed a new kiosk and two roadside signs to improve visitor information and wayfinding.

The season also brought a new 0.3-mile connector trail between the Mingo Springs Birding Loop and Hunter Cove Wildlife Sanctuary.

“The proverb “Many hands make light work” truly applies to the partnership with the HPA recreation rangers. There’s no way a one-man crew could get all the work that we got done this summer without the crew. I am extremely grateful, as are the community members who use our trails,” said RLHT’s Land Steward, Ken Beaulieu.

 

At MH&T, the Rec Rangers cleared overgrowth and blowdowns along 12.8 miles of trail, installed approximately 16 linear feet of rock armouring to stabilize vulnerable tread, and repaired a roughly 30-foot footbridge near Big Eddy that had been damaged by flooding.

These projects improve day-to-day trail safety while protecting the long-term condition of the network. Rock armouring helps reinforce areas susceptible to erosion, while bridge repairs and regular vegetation management make it easier for visitors to follow designated routes.

Seth Page, Director of Operations at MH&T, offered, “The Rec Ranger crew is an invaluable resource for Maine Huts & Trails. Through this partnership, we are able to maintain far more of our trail network than we could on our own while being able to provide unique learning opportunities for the crew members themselves. It is a win-win for everybody.”

For HPA, the Rec Rangers established the 0.92-mile Walrath Trail, including three small wooden footbridges. They also cleared blowdowns across the three-mile FRCT Saddleback Spur system, helping restore a safer and more enjoyable route for hikers.

The crew’s work at Mosher Hill Falls was especially meaningful. The trail’s loop around the falls previously required visitors to navigate often loose and slippery rocks while crossing Mosher Stream above and below the waterfall. This season, the Rec Rangers constructed two long-lasting aluminum bridges, one above the falls and one below, so visitors can safely cross and recross the stream as they explore the gorge and 45-foot waterfall.

The bridge project was completed with help from HPA board members John Rogers and Mike Decarolis, as well as hikers who volunteered their time. The work improves access at the Bernard and Jean Kinney Family Forest, a 199-acre conserved property just minutes from downtown Farmington that has long been a valued community recreation destination.

“This season was a great example of what strong partnerships can accomplish. From rebuilding bridges and improving trail surfaces to clearing miles of trail and creating new connections, the crew made a real difference across the region. We’re grateful to the land trusts, volunteers, funders, and community partners, including Hight Dealership, for giving us the support and tools to do this work well,” said Matt Kusper, Lead Recreation Ranger for HPA.

The season’s accomplishments are rooted in the people who carried out the work. For Emily Kidd, who grew up in western Maine and joined the team as a Maine Coast Heritage Trust Rockefeller intern, the experience offered an opportunity to see conservation from both sides: sharing stories and supporting outreach, while also working alongside the Rec Ranger crew in the field.

One memorable trail day on the Saddleback Spur brought together a board member, a longtime volunteer, Emily, and a teenager from Colorado who was eager to try trail work. By the end of the day, he was already talking about returning to work with the crew. For Emily, it was a powerful example of how stewardship can create a sense of belonging and invite new people into conservation work.

“This position has given me a deeper appreciation for all that goes into maintaining these resources,” Emily said, “and the importance of stewarding the resources we have for the stability of community.”

Her experience captures the heart of the Rec Ranger program: conserving special places and making space for people to experience them responsibly. As Emily reflected, thoughtful conservation does not have to separate people from nature. It can protect natural resources while creating meaningful, mindful access to the places that help communities thrive.

This season’s work would not have been possible without the generosity of Hight Dealership, which provided the Rec Ranger crew with a work truck. The truck was essential for transporting crew members, tools, materials, signage, and supplies among project sites across the High Peaks region.

From remote trailheads to busy conservation areas, reliable transportation helped the team respond efficiently to maintenance needs and make the most of each day in the field. Hight Dealership’s support was a meaningful investment in the people and infrastructure that make safe, sustainable outdoor recreation possible.

We are deeply grateful to Hight Dealership for helping keep the Rec Rangers moving all season long.