Doing anything special August 22? If not, why not join us at our scenic shooting range, where you'll share good food with good friends and have the chance to help us shape YOUR outdoor club?

At CVOA Central, we've turned "our" board meetings into "your" membership meetings. Everyone is welcome: Your input, your ideas, your insights are all invaluable as we move forward. Having an active and involved membership is what helps makes us special. We promise we'll listen!

On August 22, we'll be meeting at the range from 4 to 6 pm ... with a fabulous BBQ to follow ... and charting some new directions for our 700-member strong and always active outdoor club. We'd love to hear what you think:

• First, we'll be looking at how to best spend your dues money as we put together a budget for 2016.
• Next, we'll be exploring new ways to help our community as we stretch our charitable reach beyond building picnic tables for our hiking trails and stocking fish ponds for our youth and into make charitable contributions to local groups that help preserve and promote the use of our natural resources and recreational opportunities.
• We'll be laying out our 2016 Adventure Calendar, hopefully one that is packed full of day trips in Maine, weekend get-aways and, for the first time, a week-long summer trip to an exciting new destination that you will enjoy.
• And finally, we will work on our plans for Homecoming Weekend.

Remember: This is YOUR club, YOUR dues, YOUR fun!  We'd love to hear YOUR thoughts. Better yet, we'd love to have you roll up your sleeves and pitch in. Bet you have a good time when you do!

So, mark your calendar and join us August 22. If you can't, send me a note and let me know what you're thinking.

HAPPY TRAILS,

~ Nancy Perry, President

Contact any of the current Adventure Group members with your thoughts; Christopher Paradis, Gail Miller, John Pease, Joseph Loughran, Linda Trueworthy, Nancy Perry, Peggy Bickford, and John Morey are all looking forward to helping develop the day, weekend, week-long , or ........ adventure of your dreams. And you have CVOA to share it with!

Current ideas looking for leaders to guide the development are:

Day trips:

• Windjammer cruise off the Maine coast
• Paddle on the Cupsuptic, lunch at Gingerbread House
• Rafting with Great Northern Outdoor Center

Weekends:

• Windjammer cruise off the Maine coast
• Rangeley weekend - hiking, kayaking, biking - in a nice motel on the lake or a campground on the Cupsuptic
• Paddle from Flagstaff to Grand Falls with an overnight at Maine Huts and Trails
• Camping at an AMC camp, similar to Little Lyford Camps
• A long biking weekend along the C&O Canal from Washington to Pittsburgh
• Biking on Prince Edward Island
• Camping in Nova Scotia

Week-long summer adventures (packaged by a tour operator):

• Ireland Ashford Castle B & B trip
• Tour of Grand Canyon, Zion, and Bryce National Parks
• Alaskan cruise

Forward your desire to [email protected] and let's get started!

~ John Morey, Adventure Coordinator

Mark your calendars for one of the most popular events of the season. We will gather at the King and Bartlett bridge just off route 27 at 10 am to put in our boats.

This is a leisurely float down the North Branch of the Dead River then across Pumpkin Pond to the Eustis Dam. We have a very short portage around the dam then back in the river. If we are lucky we will see loons, geese, and maybe even an eagle or two. As we come to Flagstaff Lake there are spectacular views of the Bigelows.

We take out at the "Point" at the Wing Community where Joe will be waiting for us with burgers, chicken and all the great food from CVOA pot luckers. The paddle is about 5 miles with the current and takes about 2 hours.

This is a beautiful float. You won't want to miss it. Sign up now with Gail at [email protected].

~ Gail Miller, Trip Leader

A new budget, a new policy on charitable gifts, a first glance at a slate of proposed adventures and a sneak peek at a new storage shed and ... yes ... a flush toilet ... at our upgraded shooting range .... That and more is all on tap for our quarterly board and membership meeting August 22 at the shooting range.

We'll be cramming a lot of work into the formal side of the meeting from 4 to 6 pm ... building up an appetite for the tempting BBQ and social gathering that will follow. BBQ will feature pot luck contributions from CVOA chefs. Details will be sent out during the week before the meeting.

All members are invited. But, if you plan to attend, you must RSVP by August 19 so we are sure to have enough food ([email protected]).

Topping the agenda will be a proposed CVOA budget for 2016, including for the first time a specific amount set aside for charitable organizations, or projects that support and bolster our mission of preserving and promoting our natural resources and recreational opportunities.

In addition, we'll be trying to put together our 2016 "Adventure Calendar" ... and we'll lining up members to lead our day trips, weekend outings and week-long vacations.

Finally, we'll be putting together our plans for the big Homecoming Weekend at Sugarloaf ... the booth, the shooting range activities and BBQ, and hopefully a nice hike, bike ride or paddle to enjoy the spectacular October foliage.

If members have other items they would like to discuss, you must get them to Nancy before the agenda newsletter goes out August 15.

Meanwhile, save the date ... and we'll see you at the range!

HAPPY AUGUST! GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT!

NANCY

Interested in some pristine fall fishing? A hike along the "Grand Canyon of Maine"? Some excellent kayaking on peaceful ponds and remote lakes? Or just a weekend of "Glamping" in the wilderness with gourmet meals, hot showers, flush toilets and roasting marshmallows under the stars by an open fire? If so, we might have a deal for you!

CVOA is heading to the AMC's Little Lyford camps in the 100-Mile Wilderness September 18-20 for a weekend of fishing, leaf peaking, hiking, great meals and even better company.

And ... the best news for all you procrastinators ... we have a few open beds. Although all nine cabins are currently full, we do have half a dozen bunk beds that have opened up. Maybe one has your name on it?If so, get moving!

We're heading north with the changing leaves and we promise this will be a trip you'll not want to miss. If you are interested in reserving bunk space ... or want to be put on a waiting list for a cabin ... please contact Nancy at: [email protected].

Fall is the season to be in the woods in Maine. CVOA is offering a navigation class that will take you as far as you want to go in the navigation field. Take what you want and leave the rest. A great way to learn more about maps, compasses and hand-held GPS units. Practical outdoor skills units will also be used.

Join us on Oct 3rd and 4th for a two day orienteering course. The two-day class will be at the Carrabassett Valley Public Library Begin Room from 9AM to 4PM. To sign up, contact Dick Parker at [email protected].

Cromwell Harbor Motel

359 Main Street

Bar Harbor, ME  04609

Reservations:  1-800-544-3201

Information:  207-288-3201

Email:  [email protected]

Webpage:  www.cromwellharbor.com

CVOA is returning to Bar Harbor this Fall and it is time to book your room!  We will be staying at the Cromwell Harbor Motel again, located in easy walking distance to downtown Bar Harbor.  The rooms are $88, or $98 per night, subject to availability.  We have not pre-booked any rooms, so it is recommended you make your reservation with the Cromwell Motel ASAP.  You can cancel the reservation up to 7 days in advance, with a $20 cancellation fee.  First night deposit is required at the time of booking. Be sure to tell them you are part of the CVOA group.

Arrive Friday, hopefully early enough to get in a bike ride, a hike, or just a stroll through town.  Friday is the traditional Al Diamon Memorial pub-crawl.  We will meet up at Galyn's Restaurant (17 Main Street, down the hill towards the dock) for happy hour around 5 pm.  From there, people head out to find that perfect meal in one of the 40 area restaurants (see www.barharborinfo.com/dining for a list of restaurants).  The motel does not have a restaurant so you will want to head into town for breakfast and lunch, or bring your own.  Some of the rooms have kitchenettes; so inquire when booking your reservation.  Saturday night we will probably have a happy hour at the hotel, then people are free to do dinner in town on their own.

There are literally hundreds of miles of hiking trails, some more challenging than others, but all are spectacular.  The Carriage Trails are great for walking or biking and pass through some of the more beautiful sections of the Park.  Biking the Park Loop is a great experience, probably one of the most scenic rides in the state.  Kayaking around the many islands in the harbor is also a fun activity.  And don't forget your golf clubs!  There are several outstanding golf courses on the Island including Kebo Valley and Northeast Harbor Golf Club.  This is a good time to shop in the town of Bar Harbor as the stores are offering end of season deals.  Sunday morning there is a farmer's market just down the street, with lots of great local produce.  Acadia National Park is beautiful this time of year.  And don't forget to get up early and catch the sunrise on top of Cadillac - it is worth the effort!

So, make your reservation and let Pete Weston if know you are going to attend.  It is that easy! Contact him at [email protected] or call 207-885-5995 if you have any questions.

Click here for a printout of the information.

We have 63 of our 72 Whistler slots filled.

Click here for all the details.

There's no dust building up on the shelves of the local merchants who stock CVOA's popular hiking guide! Retailers from Stratton to Kingfield have been reporting steady sales this summer as hikers descend upon our mighty mountains for summer treks on some of the finest peaks in Maine.

Merchants ordered an additional 40 books this month, depleting the supply in our bin to just about 30 guides. They say the hiking guide is a valuable resource to the recreation-minded communities in western Maine.

To date, we have sold more than 500 of our best selling "Take A Hike", a local's look at all the fabulous trails in our area ... from easy walks to scenic waterfalls to challenging treks across our 4,000 footers.

"Thanks for writing this," said Sue Fotter of Fotter's Market in Stratton, which caters to a steady stream of hikers who pick up the book while shopping ... or come in looking for it because they heard about it from a friend. She and her husband Richard said the local insight included in the book ... like the old safe on the Jones Pond walk ... is part of the allure. Other hikers just say it is crammed with more detail than other guides they have purchased.

Whatever ... we're just happy it's getting visitors out there enjoying our own backyard!!

We're sorry to report that there have been several incidents lately of vandalism and misuse of facilities at the CVOA Range and we're asking for increased vigilance.

About a month ago the chain that locks the range entrance gate was deliberately cut, requiring temporary repairs.  More recently the trap machine was used without payment or the restocking of clays and a key required to open the trap house was misplaced.

The sign on the range gate has also been tampered with.

"We've been operating this range for 14 years now without any serious incidents," according to Range Chairman Neal Trask.  "Now we seem to be having a flurry of them - all of which lead to increased costs."

Tighter controls on access are being imposed and additional security devices are under study, Trask explained.

The lock combinations on both the clay storage building and the trap house are being changed, and up-to-date training on the use of the equipment will be required to obtain the new codes.

Meanwhile, we ask that any members using the range respect rules and regulations and report any incidents of inappropriate use of equipment and facilities to Trask at [email protected] or 235-2732 or to Range Secretary John McCatherin at [email protected] or 235-2121.

With the new toilet/storage building coming on line soon, it's all the more important that we keep an eye out.

~ John McCatherin, Range Secretary