Volunteer intern, Bri Rudinsky, with the “Endanger Ranger” table, highlighting Maine’s endangered species. - Photo Credit: USFWS

Summer on the coast of Maine is an extremely busy time. Tourists change as quickly as the tides and there is a constant flow of new faces on the refuge trails. To help re-connect people with nature, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge offers educational weekend programs on Saturdays and Sundays from May through August. Four refuge interns, Brynna Bolger, Sophia Poonawala, Ryan Robert and Bri Rudinsky, designed and implemented several outreach programs for refuge visitors. A variety of approaches were utilized this year from educational table displays to guided walks of the Carson Trail. With 2012 being the 50th anniversary of Rachel Carson’s, “Silent Spring”, many of the programs highlighted things that Ms. Carson fought to protect as the programs helped people discover their “sense of wonder” by experiencing nature. Some of the most popular programs this summer included, Endanger Ranger, which focused on endangered species in the State of Maine and invasive insects, such as the emerald ash borer. The key to success with these programs was the commitment of the interns and their enthusiasm to connect refuge visitors with nature. This season was one of the most successful at the refuge with over 150 individuals being engaged in refuge-run programs.