SAT: Fort Knox looking for spooky help!

The Friends of Fort Knox are once again looking for volunteers to assist with their annual Fright at the Fort haunt attraction.

Volunteers are being recruited to help haunt the fort or lead guests through the twists and turns of the Fright course. Groups of volunteers are encouraged as the haunt is arranged area by area throughout the fort, making it easy to assign volunteer groups to each area. An orientation session for all Fright volunteers will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Fort Knox Visitor and Education Center in Bucksport.

Interested volunteers may contact Leon Seymour, executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, at 469-6553 or e-mail him at FOFK1@aol.com

See below for directions.

One of Maine's largest Halloween events, Fright at the Fort will creeeep from the grave to scare all you happy campers on four nights in late October:
5:30-9:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, Saturday, Oct. 23, Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30
FMI: http://fortknox.maineguide.com/fright/ has more info, including the volunteer application form

Readers will remember how the Fort impressed me in broad daylight. Imagine the same setting at night! Guests are guided through the shadowed passages of the early Victorian-era granite fortification, where imaginatively terrifying scenes and spirited spooks await them.

Proceeds help the Friends of Fort Knox with ongoing restoration efforts. The organization's mission is to preserve Fort Knox and enhance its educational, cultural and economic value for the people of Maine. Fort Knox is a Maine State Historic site managed by the Maine Department of Conservation's Bureau of Parks and Lands on behalf of the people of Maine.

Directions:
From Belfast: Proceed north on US Rte 1, through Searsport and Stockton Springs, immediately before crossing the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, take a left onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right.

From Bar Harbor: Follow US Rte. 1 south across the Penobscot Narrows bridge, immediately adjacent to the town of Bucksport. Once over the bridge take a right onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right.

From Bangor: On Rte. 1A South....follow Rte 1A South through the towns of Hampden, Winterport, Frankfort and Prospect. In Prospect Center, take a left onto Rte. 174. Follow Rte 174 approximately 4 miles. Fort Knox will be on your left. On Rte 15 South....follow Rte 15 South through the city of Brewer and the towns of Orrington and Bucksport. In Bucksport, take a right onto US Rte.1 South and proceed over the Penobscot Narrows bridge. Immediately upon exiting the bridge take a right onto Rte. 174. Fort Knox will be approximately 1/4 mile up on your right

Calling all haunters!

In past years (see 2006 article here), I have posted about the highly recommended Maine haunt attraction, Fright at the Fort, held each October at historic, haunted Fort Knox. This year is no different (except in that I expect to actually visit it myself this Halloween).

The Friends of Fort Knox are beginning to ramp up for their annual horrific event by seeking additional volunteers. These volunteers are being sought to help haunt the dark passageways and spaces of the venerable old Fort during what has come to be known as one of Maine’s largest Halloween season events. Even if you find yourself unable to muster the appropriate ghoulish spirit to scare the pants of shivering mortals, you may still help out by serving as group tour guides or as security helpers.

Fright at the Fort has attracted over 10,000 visitors in the past and event organizers hope to top that number this year. This year, for the first time Fright will be held on five different nights, concluding on Halloween, Friday, October 31. Fright will also be conducted on Fridays/Saturdays, October 17, 18, 24 and 25, from 5:30 to 9 PM (visitors should arrive by 8:30 PM).

The Friends of Fort Knox use revenue generated from Fright at the Fort in preservation projects for the State historic site. Last year’s Fright proceeds are currently funding emergency masonry repair at Fort Knox.

Volunteers interested in helping out are encouraged to contact the Friends of Fort Knox at 469-6553 or email fofk1[at]aol.com. People interested in additional event information may go to the Friends’ web site fortknox.maineguide.com

Be a frog friend

The Forecaster brings to our attention that it is that time of year when the peepers start their peeping, and the Maine Audubon Society seeks for volunteers to keep track of all those little green and brown guys. Ribbit! Hop to it, oh ye green-loving citizens of Maine! Need is strongest in northern and downeast areas of the state. Photo by Michelle Souliere (c)2007.

Volunteers sought for frog survey
(published: April 24, 2008)

FALMOUTH – It’s the time of year when noisy Maine peepers herald the beginning of spring.

It’s also the time that Maine Audubon is sending out a call for volunteers across the state to listen for and note the sounds of frogs on several evenings through the early summer.

Although the heavy snow cover and a cold spring delayed the season by about two weeks, the spring peepers can now be heard along the coast of Maine and as far north as Acadia National Park, Maine Audubon wildlife biologist Susan Gallo said.

Gallo is asking for volunteers to help in the Maine Amphibian Monitoring Project, which will survey Maine’s amphibian populations for the 12th consecutive year.

Volunteers are asked to conduct two-hour roadside surveys and commit to helping with the project for three years. Ideally volunteers will have e-mail and Internet access, Gallo said.

People who want to volunteer will be asked to take an online quiz on frog calls before being asked to make 10 stops along an assigned route, waiting five minutes at each stop to list the frog species they hear.

Maine has nine species of amphibians, and usually only a few are heard at any one time, Gallo said.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Gallo at 781-2330, ext. 216, or sgallo[at]maineaudubon.org . Potential volunteers can take the frog quiz, designed by the U.S. Geological Survey, at www.pwrc.usgs.gov/frogquiz
[Source]

An updated list of areas still in especial need of volunteers can be found here. At the time of this post, the following areas were targeted for recruitment: St. John, Chapman, Greenfield, Madison, Caucomgomoc Lake, Bridgewater, Moose Mountain, Dickey, Bootford, Penobscot Lake, Musquacook Lake, Oakfield/Stair Falls, Patten, Pittston Farm, Ellsworth, and Tunk Lake.

The Maine Audubon Society hosts a headquarters for information about the Maine Amphibian Monitoring Program, which can be found online here: http://www.maineaudubon.org/conserve/citsci/mamp.shtml