Growing up in Freeport, Ellie Bouman, 15, has only known the joys of living in Vacationland, so when she was exposed to environments that were intensely suffering the effects of climate change, she instantly became invested in climate action.

“Seeing the deterioration of the coral in the Caribbean just in the four years between visiting was enough to make anyone want to act,” the North Yarmouth Academy sophomore said. “It was shocking.”

Naturally, Bouman was eager to participate when she heard about the Portland Museum of Art’s new Tidal Shift Award, a prize for New England-based artists between the ages of 14–22 to create art to inspire climate action.

Deeply inspired and feeling supported by Colby Myer, NYA’s Upper School Art Teacher, who first presented the Tidal Shift Award opportunity to his students, Bouman devoted all of her art class and personal time to complete “The Colorless Sea.” Her hard work paid off in the spring, as she was the youngest of six winners to receive the award, including a cash prize of $2,500.

“It’s incredibly important, any time there is motivation beyond just the grade, to show students there is space for their art amongst the world,” said Myer, who advised Bouman on her submission.

NYA has a long, cutting-edge history of nurturing the whole individual beyond just their academics. From the toddler to the postgraduate program, students’ schedules (as well as their extracurricular activities) include time for performing and visual arts, and service-forward activities, as a way of emphasizing social-emotional development among their students.

New this year is the school’s Character and Community program, headed by Betsy Tomlinson. Through service, leadership and volunteer initiatives, the Character and Community program encourages students to be thoughtful and effective members of their community and make positive change in their lives, formalizing a part of students’ education that is vital but often over-looked in many schools’ curricula.

The program comes from a unique differentiator of the independent day school: its size. From their days in the lower school to their graduation, students at NYA get to know the entire student body as well as faculty and staff, creating a successful environment for academic and personal growth.

“There is a culture of good character at NYA, mainly because there’s no place for unkindness or disrespect to hide,” Tomlinson said. “Because of this culture, students can feel comfortable to find the best version of themselves because they have the support of their teachers and peers.”

NYA’s culture is why initiatives like the Tidal Shift Award and other community engagement and mission-driven additions to their academics are second nature to teachers like Myer and students like Bouman.

“We make art not just for ourselves but to enrich the lives of other people; it’s entirely organic to me to incorporate community involvement into what I’m teaching,” Myer said. “Trying to make a change is inherent in making art.”

Learn more at nya.org.

Read More:

• 
  Creating a Culture of Character
• 
  4 Unique Winter Weekends
• 
  Wishbook + Holiday Gift Guide 2022
• 
  Terpene Dreams
• 
  New Waves in Craft Beer

The post Creating a Culture of Character appeared first on The Maine Mag.

You don’t have to be a “hut nut”—or take on the Tour du Mont Blanc—to experience the traditional European-style adventure of hut hiking. Just reserve one of the Maine Huts and Trails’ off-grid eco lodges along the 80-mile trail system in western Maine’s Kingfield/Carrabassett Valley Region. New to the hike-and-stay concept? Spend your whole getaway at one hut and enjoy fat tire biking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. For even more scenery, book three huts and traverse the trails between them. And don’t let the name fool you—these spacious and modern “huts” are equipped with woodstoves, hot showers, bunk beds, and composting toilets. From mid-December until the end of March, full-service days for overnight guests are available Thursday through Saturday and include robust family-style dinners and breakfasts, as well as bagged lunches for the trail.

mainehuts.org

Sleep in a Treehouse

Located on a forested finger of land that rises above the curving Back River tributary in Georgetown, the three minimalist dwellings that comprise Seguin Tree Dwellings—Madawaska, Isle au Haut, and Souhegan (all rentable on Airbnb)—contain expansive windows offering unobstructed views of the water through the conifers, as well as well-appointed amenities one wouldn’t expect to find in the treetops. From chunky jute rugs and L.L.Bean bathrobes to king-sized beds and private, wood-fired cedar hot tubs (one of which is accessible via a Neverland-like rope bridge), the inviting treehouses are perfect for a weekend filled with books, card games, and easy meals prepared in your own mini-kitchenette. Reset at a yoga class during the week in Seguin’s Gathering Space, or arrange a private class during a weekend stay.

seguinmaine.com

Book a Luxury Spa Weekend

With stunning ocean-view rooms, four distinct dining options, and a year-round, outdoor hot tub set above Cape Neddick’s moody cliffs (including a heated pathway to get you there), you don’t have to wait for the summer season to splurge on a visit to Cliff House Maine. In fact, winter’s snowy months might be the optimal time to indulge in the resort’s 9,000-square foot spa, where you can warm up in the circuit of saunas and steam rooms, nourish dry skin with treatments using high-quality organic botanicals, and recharge your system by booking a personal training session or fitness class. Unwind before and after your treatments and sessions in the Seaside Sanctuary, where you’ll find chaise lounge chairs, loose leaf Rishi teas, and sweeping vistas of the Atlantic.

cliffhousemaine.com

Take a Portland Music Tour

Portland is awash with exciting music venues and emerging artists experimenting with new sounds. From the venerable State Theatre, where you’ll find a mix of popular touring indie bands and local folksy favorites, to the intimate jazz bar Blue, to the offbeat favorite Space Gallery, it’s easy to create a show-filled weekend. If you’re visiting during one of the solstices or equinoxes, welcome the new season at the outdoor concert series Vigorous Tenderness, which showcases marginalized voices in classical music and takes place in stunning locations around the greater Portland area. Perhaps the best part about catching a gig (or several) in Portland is indulging in the pre-concert dining and post-concert cocktail options dotting this small yet renowned foodie town. New and exciting spots open year after year, including most recent late-night favorite The Danforth (by the innovative cocktail team behind Death & Co.), which is open nightly until 1AM.

statetheatreportland.com; portcityblue.com; space538.org; @vigorous.tenderness; thedanforth.me

• 
  Creating a Culture of Character
• 
  4 Unique Winter Weekends
• 
  Wishbook + Holiday Gift Guide 2022
• 
  Terpene Dreams
• 
  New Waves in Craft Beer

The post 4 Unique Winter Weekends appeared first on The Maine Mag.

Get ready for the holidays with our sponsored gift guides, filled to the brim with favorites for anyone on your list!

For the Adventurer

Whether its time to hit the slopes or enjoy a cozy après-ski afternoon, these products are made for those who seek adventure.

Green Gifts

Give the gift of cannabis this holiday season with our top picks for your 420-friendly companions.

Sponsored by Wellness Connection

Cozy Comfort

Keep your friends and family extra warm this winter with quintessential blankets in a variety of patterns.

Sponsored by ChappyWrap

Ale Accessories

From dog toys to hoodies, hats, and crowlers, these beer-themed gifts will have the whole family representing your favorite brewery.

Sponsored by Baxter Brewing Co.

All Things Sparkly

Turn up the glitz and glam with shimmery finds for your special someone.

Sponsored by Brown Goldsmiths

Resin Relaxation

For those who like to stay in and chill out during the cold winter months.

Sponsored by SeaWeed Co.

Luxe Life

Luxurious essentials for those who appreciate the finer things in life.

Holiday Hosting

A selection of crowd-pleasing favorites for the ones welcoming you into their home this season.

The post Wishbook + Holiday Gift Guide 2022 appeared first on The Maine Mag.

No doubt if you’re a cannabis user, you prefer either indica or sativa, or a hybrid of the two. Kaspar Heinrici, director of business development at SeaWeed Co., which opened Maine’s first recreational cannabis dispensary in 2020, wants you to know that there is a more accurate way of talking about your preferred cannabis strains.

SeaWeed is at the forefront of the industry in Maine, thanks to their adherence to science-based practices, their development of gourmet live resin products, and their commitment to educating the public. “At SeaWeed we have started to focus on our products’ terpene profiles to help customers make more informed product selections,” says Heinrici. “Because our products are all strain-specific live resin, they exhibit very nuanced terpene profiles, which gives someone the ability to narrow in on exactly what they are looking for.”

Jayson Whitmore is the bud tender trainer and educator at SeaWeed, as well as assistant manager of the company’s Portland location. He and Heinrici have developed a user-friendly system for talking about terpenes. “Now that cannabis is becoming legal in more places around the U.S. and in all of Canada, scientists have more access to it, and they’re doing more research,” says Whitmore. “We incorporate the new science into how we present cannabis to the public.”

We asked Heinrici and Whitmore what terpenes are, why they’re SeaWeed’s preferred way of identifying cannabis strains, and how SeaWeed goes above and beyond for their customers.

What are some common misconceptions about cannabis?

As a company, we’re pivoting away from the indica and sativa nomenclature, because those terms describe lineage and physical characteristics of the plant, but not the effects you might expect. Here at SeaWeed, we’re more interested in terpenes, the flavor and aroma compounds that show up in many plants including citrus, hops, and mangoes, and also in cannabis. Terpenes deliver flavor as well as an aspect of the high. They’re becoming the preferred way to shop for cannabis, and our products are all made with strain-specific live resin—not distillate—which gives them very specific terpene profiles. They’re something you can test for and they’re more targeted, so we’re introducing them on our menu. We chose six and have ranked them from energetic to relaxing, using color-coding and graphics to differentiate them. This helps us match you with a strain that delivers the specific effects you want. The important part of ensuring cannabis improves your life is to identify the right strain, in the right product type, at the correct dosage, for the experience you are looking to have.

Where does your cannabis come from?

Our growers are all over Maine, and we tend to work with small farms. Some of them have been growing for 15 or 20 years, since medical cannabis was legalized. Maine’s growing season is short, and can get very cold and humid, so most plants are grown indoors or in greenhouses. We usually get a lot of outdoor in the fall to produce many of our concentrates from. All of our products, from each local source, are lab tested and clean, so you know the THC percentages are always accurate. Every month we highlight a grower and feature their products offering the customer special pricing to introduce them to a new cultivator. We will often make a live resin vape cartridge from their material so the customer can experience their cannabis in different forms. We’re building up smaller companies to make the adult use recreational scene more robust, so we offer products from many local vendors alongside our own, and we sell our products into other stores around the state. Maine’s cannabis network is very collaborative.

What kind of magic happens in SeaWeed’s facility?

At SeaWeed, we have a strong focus on live resin, because we have developed a highly specialized lab to produce it. We use fresh frozen flower, which helps to to maintain terpenes—increasing the aromas and flavors, and providing a well rounded high. In this facility, we make a range of extracts like shatter, which is cannabis extract that looks and feels like glass, which you smoke by vaporizing it through a process called, “dabbing.” Then we also have a kitchen, where we make full spectrum live resin edibles. Full spectrum means we’re trying to keep everything from the plant. We have gummies and chocolate bars that are strain-specific. Someone might come in and ask for a gummy that won’t put them to sleep, and we can recommend a live resin that’s more energizing. We pride ourselves on the quality of our concentrates, from the cannabinoid content to the clarity of the oil, which is reflected in our edibles as well. Our gummies are actually pâte de fruits, a confection developed in France made with real Maine fruit, and are vegan. Our chocolate is organic, and we will often add inclusions like nuts or dried fruit for an added touch. We value the aesthetic experience of smelling and tasting food and cannabis.

How do you want people to feel inside your store?

We want people to know that we’re a local company where all are welcome. Our store is clean, with bright, open windows letting in sunlight, and with natural wood and tile finishes. We want to make sure everyone feels comfortable here. We put a lot of thought into our packaging. Staying within state guidelines, we want to make sure everything is recycled that can be. We reuse or recycle packaging by taking back jars, plastic pre-roll tubes, and child-resistant zipper bags, and giving people money off their purchases in exchange. The cannabis industry can be very wasteful, and we don’t want to be part of the problem. We want to be positive contributors to our community and our planet.

Why do you hold community events?

To us Maine is an intimate place built on connections so supporting the community is core to our mission, whether that is simply displaying a local artist’s work or inviting craftspeople to sell their products in our store. This can extend to charitable raffles we hold to support local efforts. For example, for the month of June we accepted donations for a pride month sticker raising over $1,000 for EqualityMaine.All our events are oriented toward this mission, whether it is hosting cultivators, food trucks, educators, crafters, or cannabis enthusiasts, it is all in the service of making connections. Our South Portland store opened on October 9th 2020, the day that adult-use cannabis was legalized in Maine.,You can expect us to throw a big party—something fun, with bands, t-shirts, and our cannabis community—on our second anniversary, October 9th 2022.

The post Terpene Dreams appeared first on The Maine Mag.

It’s summer: pool parties, barbecues, and days at the beach. At each of these, you might be tempted to reach for an icy pilsner or a crisp IPA. “Entrepreneurship comes from a place of need,” says Rob Barrett, co-owner of Kit NA, Maine’s first non-alcoholic craft brewery. Three years ago, Barrett made the decision to “be more present in my personal life, to be a better father, be a better husband, be a better boss, coworker,” and he gave up alcohol. He calls it, “One of the best decisions I’ve made.” People who drink less sleep better, have more energy, and experience fewer negative side-effects of alcohol, such as heart, liver, and kidney disease. Barrett is part of a larger trend among Millennials and Gen-Z moving away from drinking.

That’s why Barrett and his business partner, Will Fisher, co-owner of Austin Street Brewery in Portland, have launched Kit NA. After Kit, there aren’t many other craft breweries for NA beer, period.

Non-alcoholic beer makes up less than one percent of the U.S. market, and 60 to 70 percent of that is covered by just two companies. That’s changing quickly, as for the last two years running, the number of NA offerings has grown by roughly 40 percent.

Since launching in January 2022, Kit has expanded into five Northeast states, and is reaching another three this year. “We try to visit all of our distributors, every other month,” says Barrett. “We’ve never had to beg to work with anybody,” says Fisher. “Everybody we’ve talked to is very interested in craft NA.” Kit also does direct-to-consumer shipping anywhere in the U.S. “The best place to find us is where you live,” says Fisher. “We’ll ship right to your door.”

Here, we talk to Barrett and Fisher about their vision for the future of NA beer, their new R&D tasting room, and how they put consumers first.

What do you want consumers to know about NA beer?

“No more hangovers,” says Barrett, laughing. “Non-alcoholic beer, for most people, it’s an afterthought. Or there’s a stigma behind it. This gives people a positive reason not to drink. Beer tastes good,” he says, noting that the taste of craft beer was what he missed most when he gave up alcohol. “We don’t want to tell people to give up alcohol. They can easily switch to this if they need to drive home or get up early. The craft beer market obviously is big here in Maine, but also across the country and the world. There are a lot of good beers out there and there’s also a very high alcohol content, and high calorie content.” Kit is for those who are pregnant, trying to lose weight, or simply want to enjoy the taste of craft beer without the negative side effects. Technically, Kit is gluten free as well, due to the way it’s made: in most NA beers, alcohol is extracted from the finished product after brewing, but with Kit’s process, alcohol never develops in the beer at all. This gentler process results in a lower gluten threshold.

Who are the people behind Kit NA?

“I wanted to partner with someone who knew the operations of the brewing industry,” says Barrett, a Portland entrepreneur who owns several other companies like the architecture and construction firm Barrett Made, and the venue and co-working space The Public Works. They met when Fisher hired Barrett Made for a job at Austin Street Brewery. “Will was a diamond in the rough as far as brewers go,” says Barrett. They realized they worked well together, and when Barrett found out that Fisher was also exploring his own relationship with alcohol, they began talking over his idea for Kit. “It’s kind of like starting a friendship,” says Fisher, joking that they found themselves interviewing each other and realized they had a lot in common. Now, their team includes two brewers who are veterans of the industry. Their location at 52 Alder Street is a tasting room as well as a research and design (R&D) facility, “a little brewery lab where we create these recipes on a small scale, which allows us to fine-tune them without wasting a ton of materials,” says Barrett.

Why is Portland the right place to launch an NA brewery?

Barrett grew up in Portland, and Fisher is from New Gloucester. “We love Maine, and the beer scene in Portland is known around the world,” says Barrett. “I think for most people, growing up in a town, you want to leave as soon as you can. I left to find something better than Portland, but I couldn’t do it. Portland’s got it all.” Barrett and Fisher knew that if they launched Kit NA in the city bragging more craft breweries per-capita than any other in the U.S., they could grow “through first-rate feedback out of the gate.” At the same time, their products would have to be the best, to compete in the saturated Portland market. “We didn’t want to launch something that we weren’t super proud of.” He sleeps better knowing they’re doing good for their neighborhood, too, he says. “We feel with a non-alcoholic offering, there’s community benefit.”

What distinguishes Kit’s flavor profiles?

“In my opinion, it tastes even better than regular beer,” says Barrett. “Water, hops, and yeast. That’s it. Simple and straightforward ingredients. No additives, no chemicals, all natural.” Fisher adds, “Other breweries get into it knowing what their market is.” Not so with NA beer, since there have historically been so few people making it, and since many of Kit’s first sales have been direct-to-consumer. Tasting rooms are an opportunity for breweries to get feedback, though, and Kit is no exception, which is why they’ll continue to host them at their Alder Street location. They’re learning what their customers want. “They want beer that does the best job of replacing what they’re used to,” says Fisher, “to make that transition as seamless as possible when it comes to flavor.” Along with a Blonde Ale, the Get Set IPA is one of Kit’s two flagship brews. It has a “bright tropical and mandarin, crisp, resinous finish,” says Barrett. He situates it in Portland tradition. Foundation Brewing may have been the first to coin the term “Maine IPA,” and Barrett says, Maine Beer Company’s Lunch and their Peeper are two other great examples of the category. “Low bitterness, light in color, but really hoppy,” he says. Places like Austin Street, Goodfire Brewing, and Thistle Brothers have released more modern takes on the IPA, “Very hazy, very hop-forward.” Barrett and Fisher say that with Kit’s first releases, “We really want to push the category of NA beer.”

What can people expect from Kit in the coming months?

Kit NA will be hosting pop-up tasting rooms at their location at 52 Alder Street in Portland from July through September, and they want you to come. July 14th will be their first, with eight beers on draft. “They’re interactive, so guests can chime in and rate beers, providing feedback right in the tasting room,” says Barrett. “We create these recipes on a small scale, which allows us to fine-tune them and experiment with our products. We’ll have some really cool and interesting beers on draft.” They have a Hazy IPA going into production this fall and are excited to release a variety pack with all three brews. Two new varieties are forthcoming in 2023, and they’ll be on draft at the tasting rooms, along with some surprises. Stay tuned.

The post New Waves in Craft Beer appeared first on The Maine Mag.

THE COURSE
Arthur Fenn designed the first six holes of the Poland Spring Golf Course, then in 1912 Donald Ross added his signature by redesigning the original six holes and adding twelve more, completing the full eighteen-hole championship design. This treasure of Poland Spring has bent grass greens, beautiful fairways meandering through the Maine woods, and four sets of tees to accommodate players of all levels. Sitting atop “The Hill,” the course features some of the most beautiful sunsets and fall colors that are nothing short of spectacular, and fifteen of eighteen holes have views of the White Mountains or Lower Range Pond.

THE HOLE
The 4th hole presents golfers with one of Poland Spring’s risk-reward challenges and forces the player to evaluate the tee shot in terms of skill and nerves. The corridored fairway carved out of pine and white birch trees guide the player and serve as defense against a poorly struck shot. Players should choose a club that they have confidence in, will allow them to keep the ball in play, and set themselves up for a second shot from the fairway. A tee shot in the fairway is pivotal in setting up the approach to the small undulating green. Players will approach this green from 100 to 180 yards, depending on the tee played and skill level. Two bunkers guard the right side of the green, the first is 55 yards from the front right edge and the other is 20 yards from the right-hand side of the green. This green requires an approach shot that has height and spin to hold the green. Avoid hitting it long on this hole because the drop off makes recovery shots difficult from behind. Once on the green, players will find that this medium size green slopes slightly from front to back and right to left. Four is an excellent score on this hole.

640 Maine St, Poland, ME 04274 | 207.998.6002 | polandspringresort.com

PENOBSCOT VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB | 9TH HOLE

THE COURSE
Penobscot Valley Country Club is a semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course located in Orono. It was designed by the celebrated Donald Ross and built in 1924. The club has hosted golfers from Arnold Palmer to Tom Watson to Gene Sarazen and has established an impressive pedigree of competitive events. Since 1926, ten Maine Amateur Championships have taken place at Penobscot Valley. Members have special privileges at Penobscot Valley, but the public is always welcome. The nearby Maine Savings Amphitheater brings some of the nation’s largest music acts, and they often play at the course when they are in town. If you get lucky, you might be able to catch the next big star playing a round! Penobscot Valley Country Club is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.

THE HOLE
The 9th hole at Penobscot Valley, called “orchard,” is a true test of a par 4. A well-placed tee shot to the right side of the fairway will leave you with a significantly shorter shot to the very elevated green. A tee shot to the left side make it a more challenging hole. Landing on the green is no small feat. The green is a bit of a turtleback shape, with everything rolling off the front and back. A long shot will give you a very difficult pitch to a green that slopes away from you, while a shot that is short will allow you to try again. The green is very fast with not a whole lot of flat spots. This hole will test every part of your game.

366 Main St., Orono | 207.866.2423 | penobscotvalleycc.com

OLD MARSH COUNTRY CLUB | 18TH HOLE

THE COURSE
Old Marsh Country Club, a semiprivate, 18-hole championship golf course in Wells, was designed by Brian Silva and built in 2008 as an homage to the golden-age stylings of C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor. In its first year, it was ranked in the “Top 10 Best in America” by Golf Magazine and is consistently ranked in the top 25 courses in New England by New England Golf Monthly. Old Marsh is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.

THE HOLE
The 18th hole at Old Marsh Country Club, titled “home,” is ranked as one of the hardest finishing holes in the state. You have one last strategic decision to make before you’re “home”: challenge the right side of the fairway to shorten your path to the green—a path over water—or drive to the left, safer side of the fairway and add 20-plus yards to an already difficult approach. The green is protected by three deep bunkers and slopes from front to back. With a depth of almost 40 yards on the green, club selection is very important on your approach.

445 Clubhouse Rd., Wells | 207.251.4653 | oldmarshcountryclub.com

BOOTHBAY HARBOR COUNTRY CLUB | 8TH HOLE

THE COURSE
Penobscot Valley Country Club is a semi-private, 18-hole championship golf course located in Orono. It was designed by the celebrated Donald Ross and built in 1924. The club has hosted golfers from Arnold Palmer to Tom Watson to Gene Sarazen and has established an impressive pedigree of competitive events. Since 1926, ten Maine Amateur Championships have taken place at Penobscot Valley. Members have special privileges at Penobscot Valley, but the public is always welcome. The nearby Maine Savings Amphitheater brings some of the nation’s largest music acts, and they often play at the course when they are in town. If you get lucky, you might be able to catch the next big star playing a round! Penobscot Valley Country Club is owned and operated by Resurrection Golf, Maine’s premier golf course management and ownership group.

THE HOLE
The 8th Hole at Boothbay Harbor Country Club is the signature hole of the course. This medium-length par 4 begins with a great view of the award-winning clubhouse, then tests players’ accuracy off the tee between deep bunkers on the right and a water hazard on the left. It then sets players up for a mid-short iron approach to a difficult, narrow green guarded by a flowing creek in front and flat-bottomed bunkers behind. The difficult approach is accompanied by a beautiful backdrop of local flowering bushes set along rock outcroppings.

Boothbay Harbor Country Club | | 207.633.3673 | boothbayharborcc.com
Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort | 207.633.4455 | boothbayharboroceansideresort.com

The post Maine’s Best Golf Holes appeared first on The Maine Mag.

If one word defines the force driving entrepreneur Shay Bellas, it’s inspiration. When she sees a need or an opening, she builds a business. After owning and serving as general manager for the Maine Freeze, the state’s trailblazing pro women’s football team, Bellas launched a marketing services firm she still runs, 19 Oak Strategic Sales and Marketing. Her latest venture, NaviTour, a tourism tech company, aims to change the way guides in Maine (and eventually, everywhere) do business. The website and mobile app will allow people to book experiences with local guides—from yoga instructors to James Beard award–winning chefs—and provide those guides with a platform to manage their businesses. Bellas joined forces with travel experts and other experienced entrepreneurs to bring NaviTour to life. The team is building the website and app and soliciting feedback from guides. The startup plans to launch in time for the start of the tourist season in May, but one goal of the service is to create more year-round opportunities for guides in Maine.

Where did the idea for NaviTour come from?

My family and I were on a bucket-list trip, and I’d signed us up for a tour. I had a question for our guide beforehand, but I couldn’t contact them because I had booked the experience through a big, impersonal travel website. Everything was a couple of steps removed. We’re all used to being able to get answers in seconds from our phones, so it seemed ludicrous that there was such a disconnect. It got me thinking that it would be great if there was an app that let you get in touch with your guide directly. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was a whole host of things an app could do to help both guides and their guest

What will the app be able to do?

Guides will be able to book tours and experiences, manage their calendars, track expenses, publicize their businesses, update their content and their social media, and be in touch with guests before and after the tour. Guests will be able to find tours—and not just the expected ones but amazing new experiences, too—ask questions, share photos and reviews, recommend their guides, and transact, including tipping, which is super helpful. Guests can even invite friends and family to remotely join in.

What are the challenges faced by Maine guides?

It’s funny because we couldn’t be in a better place to start. Maine is a microcosm of the global tourism business, and we have thousands of guides offering all kinds of experiences. Even though people are far-flung, there’s often only one degree of separation, so it’s been relatively easy to learn what the challenges are. Number one is that so many guides struggle to make a living, so guides supplement what they love to do with what they have to do for work. That’s in large part because the traditional touring season is short, just five months out of the year.

How will NaviTour help?

I think our biggest advantage is the support we’ll give guides. NaviTour will match each guide with an account manager, who will help with self-promotion and marketing, and will brainstorm with them to develop ways to enrich and expand what they offer. It’s also a priority for NaviTour to make sure that guides are earning a livable wage. If we can grow the tourism pie, they’ll be able to work more than just Memorial Day through leaf-peeping season.

What are the types of experiences that will be available to book?

There are so many activities and experiences, beyond the usual outdoors fare. We have places and outings for hardcore sportsmen and women and ways to sample a day in the woods or on the water. We have spectacular sights. We have food and beer tours. Maine is also rich in undiscovered opportunities—magical places and people most guests don’t know about. I thought, wouldn’t it be great if there was one place you could go to find all of that? Not just for people from out of state, but for Mainers, too? And offer more experiences for people visiting Maine to enjoy. NaviTour will do that.

Learn more by visiting navitour.com or downloading the NaviTour mobile app.

The post The Woman Reinventing How Guides Do Business appeared first on The Maine Mag.

The past two years have ushered in dramatic changes for all parts of our lives, from how we work to how we shop to how we celebrate birthdays. Financial planning hasn’t been immune to changes, so we spoke with Natalya Pearl, vice president and senior relationship manager at Bangor Wealth Management of New Hampshire, and Derek Davis, vice president and relationship manager at the bank, to learn how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the landscape of wealth management.

How have individuals’ priorities shifted since the pandemic?

Natalya Pearl: It’s been a period of self-reflection for folks. People are reevaluating their goals and their careers. The question that I have been getting a lot is, “How can we do this and retire at the age of 60 instead of 65?” At the same time, I have had some folks who do not want to retire anymore because they just cannot do the things that they have been looking forward to, like international travel.

Derek Davis: Another topic that comes up in my conversations with clients is them realizing that they’re not in love with their career, and they want to try something different or pursue a hobby and spend their working years doing something they’re more passionate about. Working with them to make sure their financial plan is going to be able to allow them to be successful and provide for them no matter how this new endeavor turns out is important.

What are some financial lessons that were learned during the pandemic?

NP: Everyone realized that an emergency fund was important. It’s crucial to have those three-to-six-months’ worth of living expenses, just in case things like a pandemic happens. The pandemic also reminded people to avoid emotionally driven decisions when it comes to money. The stock market was in turmoil in March 2020. There were a lot of people who were in panic mode that needed a reminder that we are investing for their long-term goals. If you did sell at the bottom, you wouldn’t have seen the strong comeback that markets have experienced since then.

How should people prepare for uncertainty in the future?

NP: Beyond the emergency rainy-day fund, people have to figure out if they have adequate coverage in terms of health and life insurance. This year was one when people were more open to talk about their estate plan and if they have one in place.

DD: I think the best way for individuals to prepare is to lean on the knowledge of a financial planner. You can see just from the topics Natalya brought up that we are aware of the things that you should be doing to make sure your financial ducks are in a row. And should the unexpected happen in the future, be it a pandemic or health event or family needing care, working with a financial advisor will provide you a plan to overcome those obstacles before they ever appear.

How have recent federal legislation changes impacted financial planning?

DD: Some of the positive regulations that were updated primarily came in the SECURE Act. Prior to the new law, individuals would have to start taking money from their retirement accounts when they reached the age of 70 and a half. That’s now been bumped to 72. Another positive is that investors are now allowed to take money from their retirement accounts to off set costs of either childbirth or adoption. There’s also the ability for college savings accounts to be used toward school loans. Finally, they made it even easier for part-time workers to be covered by employer retirement plans.

NP: The biggest negative with the SECURE Act is that they eliminated the stretch IRA. Prior to Jan 1, 2020, if you were a beneficiary of a large IRA, you had your entire lifetime to distribute those assets. Now, if you’re not the spouse (or one of the exempt beneficiaries), you only have ten years to distribute those assets. Our job is to monitor changes, and help people adjust their plans, if needed, in light of those new rules.

What can working with a financial planner do for a client?

DD: We work with our clients to help them achieve financial goals, timeframes, and understand what their current resources are. From there, we map out a way to most efficiently and effectively achieve their goals. But, more importantly, we also take the time to monitor the progress and make changes should those goals and timeframes shift. A big misconception is that you only need a financial planner when you’re in your 50s or 60s or right about to retire, but a financial planner can be used to help you work towards any financial goal at any age.

NP: The holistic approach is probably the most important thing that we can stress. I help folks with more than just investing their assets. For instance, during open enrollment period I assist clients in choosing a health insurance plan, help them get a tax break by investing in health savings accounts or flexible spending accounts; evaluate the cost of group term life insurance, review their disability coverage and contribution rate to their employer sponsored plan. It’s not just investment management—it’s all of the pieces of the puzzle.

What would you advise people who say that they can just manage their wealth using different online resources and tools?

NP: There are many tools available and some folks feel they can do it themselves, but it’s not about what you know—it’s about what you don’t know. Even if you’re convinced that you can do it yourself, you should certainly give a financial planner the chance. You may be thinking that you’re addressing all of the areas of your life, but I can almost guarantee you that you’re not. We can all try to be the mechanic and work on our own car, but there is something to be said about going to see that professional.

DD: I think that if that’s the client’s enjoyment and passion, great, but we also don’t want to put them in a position where their financial future is dependent on them placing the right trades.

Wealth Management products are: Not FDIC Insured | No Bank Guarantee | May Lose Value

The post How to Financially Plan in Uncertain Times with Bangor Savings Bank appeared first on The Maine Mag.

MAINE TEEN CAMP

Porter | Coed | Resident | Ages 13–17 | teencamp.com | mtc@teencamp.com | 207.625.8581

Maine Teen is a coed camp in southwestern Maine, with several session options for registration. It offers an elective program, ranging from performance and creative arts to sports and trips. Tech-free and choice-led in a unique, diverse, and teen-centered camp environment.

ACADIA INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY

Seal Harbor | Coed | Resident | Ages 10–18 | acadiainstitute.com | explore@acadiainstitute.com | 800.375.0058

AIO introduces young people to the exciting world of marine science through a unique hands-on curriculum that combines biological, physical, and chemical oceanography with field, classroom, offshore, and laboratory work. Each summer, 200 young people attend AIO from all over the United States and around the world to spend two weeks on the coast of Maine near Acadia National Park.

WYONEGONIC CAMPS

Denmark | Girls | Resident | Ages 8–17 | wyonegonic.com | info@wyonegonic.com | 207.452.205

WINONA CAMPS

Bridgton | Boys | Resident | Ages 8–16 | winonacamps.com | information@winonacamps.com | 207.647.3721

Wyonegonic and Winona Camps are the oldest sister/brother camps in the nation. The two separate camps are in beautiful forested, lakefront settings. Campers choose from a broad base of traditional activities depending on individual goals and interests. There is particular focus on waterf ront activities, outdoor skills, and wilderness trips.

BIRCH ROCK CAMP

Waterford | Boys | Resident | Ages 7–16 | birchrock.org | birchrock@birchrock.org | 207.583.4478

Birch Rock Camp models a life of simplicity, championing civility and mutual support. With only 85 campers, the camp community provides a nurturing place where boys can truly enjoy boyhood, disconnect from the electronic world, and reconnect to the natural wonders of life. A daily choice of exciting activities is offered in waterfront sports, field games, primitive skill crafts, wilderness trips, and more, balancing independence, structure, and fun. Two-, three-, four-, and seven-week options are available.

HURRICANE ISLAND CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND LEADERSHIP

Hurricane Island | Coed | Resident | Ages 11–18 | hurricaneisland.net | programs@hurricaneisland.net 207.876.6050

At Hurricane Island, students connect with the natural world and with one another. They participate in field work within a community of researchers in action. Middle and high school students can choose from a range of week-long ecology programs or in-depth two-week marine science sessions on beautiful Hurricane Island.

CAMP AGAWAM

Raymond | Boys | Resident | Ages 8–15 | campagawam.org | 207.627.4780

At Camp Agawam, a boy learns to become his best self. Through a structured seven-week program filled with opportunities for leadership, teamwork, and healthy competition in a digital-free environment, boys develop character traits to play a positive role in their communities. Since 1919, sportsmanship, service to others, and stewardship of the natural world have been at the heart of the Agawam experience.

CAMP CENTERSTAGE

Livermore | Coed | Resident | Ages 7–18 | campcenterstage.org | 207.500.2233

Camp CenterStage is committed to nurturing young artists of all experiences in a noncompetitive and encouraging setting. CCS’s invigorating program offers campers the opportunity to learn valuable life skills through a variety of arts and traditional camp experiences, including acting, music, photography, dance, creative writing, filmmaking, painting, swimming, hiking, yoga and more. CCS’s two-week long sessions are: Standing Ovation, Barefoot Arts, and Under the Stars. It also offers a one-week leadership intensive.

CAMP O-AT-KA

Sebago | Boys | Resident | Ages 8–16 | campoatka.org | info@campoatka.org | 207.787.3401

Located on the shores of Sebago Lake in southern Maine, boys have been coming to O-AT-KA for over 117 years to explore interests, gain skills, make lasting friendships, and grow to be self-assured young men of character. Campers from around the world are immersed into a supportive, unplugged environment with robust arts, athletics, aquatic and wilderness programs. Sessions run from two to seven weeks.

CAMP TIMANOUS

Raymond | Boys | 3.5 & 7 Week Sessions | Ages 8-15 | timanous.org | 207.655.4569

We provide a simple, active lifestyle where campers grow in character and kindness alongside friends of all ages, mentored by engaging and supportive counselors.

PORTLAND YACHT CLUB JUNIOR SAILING PROGRAM

Falmouth Foreside | Coed Two-Week Sessions | Ages 6–17 | portlandyachtclub.com | 207.781.9820

The Portland Yacht Club’s sailing program offers novice to advanced classes, STEM adventure, and travel race teams. Registration begins February 1.

The post Maine Summer Camps Listing appeared first on The Maine Mag.

Hydro-Québec CEO Sophie Brochu discovered her passion for the economics of energy as a university undergraduate and has spent her career committed to energy innovation and public service. She is equally committed to Maine, where she has spent a portion of every summer until the pandemic. Charismatic, direct, and thoughtful, Brochu is revered as a leader and a mentor to women. She holds a deep love for the state and is committed to broadening the relationship between Maine and Quebec.

Where did you grow up, and how did your upbringing and education impact your choice of career?

I grew up in Lévis, Quebec, about two hours from Jackman, Maine. I was lucky to be raised in a family with very clear values regarding people. Being respectful was important. My mother would have loved for me to wear dresses, but I was a little tomboy. She respected that and didn’t try to change me. At Université Laval in Quebec City, the last undergrad course I took was on the economics of energy. I fell in love with the topic. The professor talked about the world, including the important issue of how we can responsibly develop resources. This brought me back to the values I had been taught as a child, which also included, “Do what you want, but do something that you’re passionate about.”

What have been a few of your most rewarding career experiences?

In 1987, the summer before graduate school, I was on my way to interview to be a waitress on an excursion boat. I was passing the offices for SOQUIP [Société Québécoise d’Initiatives Pétrolières], so I stopped in and asked them if they needed anybody. I never went to the interview. I was at SOQUIP for 10 years and was responsible for developing the natural gas network in the province. There weren’t many women, but it wasn’t striking to me because I had always been among the boys—I didn’t want to be one of them, but I was comfortable there. I moved on to the company that distributes natural gas in Quebec, Énergir, and became president and CEO in 2007. That was fantastic because I was able to work on projects involving wind and solar in Quebec and in the U.S., notably in Vermont, and with people in both countries who shared the dream. That’s how I got into renewables. In English you say “serendipity,” and I found a lot of it. I define happiness as doing what you like with the people that you like at the place you like.

“What I have become and how I view creating a life and way of living—a very large piece of it comes from Maine.”

You cancelled a long-awaited sabbatical to take the top position at Hydro-Québec in April 2020. Why?

The job had been offered to me five years prior, and I declined because I felt committed to Énergir. In 2020 I had given Énergir two years notice of my departure. My goal was to take a sabbatical to teach and study. Hydro-Québec called me in March, at the onset of the pandemic. We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we felt something bad was on the verge of evolving. I thought, like so many others, “What can I do to help?” I felt I had to put my shoulder to a bigger wheel than myself.

What do you love about Maine, and how do you spend your time when you’re here?

As long as I can remember I’ve gone to Maine every year. My parents would set aside a few days every summer to bring my brother and me there. I came to dream about Maine, about making sandcastles, eating an ice cream on the wharf, running after my brother. I met my husband when I was 17, and we started to go to Maine together. When I’m there I don’t do much. I might play golf at Webhannet or Cape Arundel Golf Club. When we have the good fortune to rent a place, we buy fish and go to the local market and cook at home. I have insomnia, and when I want to go back to sleep, I imagine myself on an Adirondack chair looking at the ocean in Cape Arundel. There is no place like Maine. It is a paradise.

What are your personal goals for the company, and what are your plans for a long-term partnership between Maine and Hydro-Québec?

Quebec and Maine share hundreds of years of history, citizenry, trade, and culture, and one of the rewards of being at Hydro-Québec is being able to craft a relationship between our two societies. We’re going to be working together on a project that creates jobs, brings in high-speed broadband to places in Maine and Québec that don’t have it, and establishes a framework for clean energy transition, including charging stations for electric cars. A dream I have is that those relationships will develop into other spheres, such as science and culture for example. In many areas we have so much to share.

What is something that no one knows about you, but you wish they did?

Perhaps that the four year-old girl, sitting on a beach in Wells, helped shape who I am today. What I have become and how I view creating a life and a way of living—a very large piece of that comes from Maine.

Learn more about Hydro-Québec at hydroquebec.com.

The post Renewable Relationship appeared first on The Maine Mag.