Category: Campground Life

There’s almost no better way to go out and enjoy the ocean than to go kayaking. To feel the wind and the waves while paddling along the coastline is an incredible experience. Here at Searsport shores we have both Tandem and Single Kayaks, and there’s so much to explore with them!

If you go right from the campground you can paddle to Moose Point State Park. Many people choose to stop here and eat lunch, hike a little, or bring the kids to the playground. It’s a great place to enjoy our natural world and to rest from your paddling.

A little farther past the park, you can see some awesome rock faces overhanging the water’s edge, surrounded by seafoam from the ocean waves. This was one of my favorite parts of kayaking; I was even greeted by a loon!

To the left of the campground you can head into the town of Searsport. You can stop to walk around the town, maybe get a bite to eat, and then head back out into the kayaks. For the more experienced kayakers, you can head to Sears Island for the day and paddle around the island.

The bay offers a unique ocean kayaking experience, and the waves generally do not pick up until late in the afternoon, so even the most inexperienced kayakers can go out in the morning and have a great time. Next time you visit us make sure you try out the kayaks!

 

 

Last week at the shores we had some unexpected guests! A swarm of wild honeybees began to make a hive in our garden. We’re unsure as to where these guys came from, but it’s most likely that they escaped from a domesticated hive nearby. Steve, the bee expert, was able to coax them into one of our hives and they seem to like their new home. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honey bees are generally harmless, unlike their cousin the wasp, and would rather drink some sweet nectar than bother anyone.

Pollinators, such as the honeybee, are extremely important to what we do at Searsport shores. Our beautiful gardens would be desolate without our little black and yellow friends.

Not only do honey bees play an important role in our vegetable production, but they also help pollinate plants that produce food for numerous species of birds and mammals. Without honeybees we lose a lot of wildlife that makes this campground so special. Unfortunately, the bee population has been declining rapidly due to the widespread use of pesticides. We at Searsport Shores have been doing our part to fight this issue by cultivating multiple bee hives and by planting organic, pesticide free gardens.

Since arriving at the campground in late May, Sears Island is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. Accessible by only one road, and completely uninhabited it is a great place to spend the day.

The island is full of hiking trails, biking trails, and even trails for horseback riding. One of my first days here was spent biking the length of the island. As you peddle through the island you are rewarded by the almost candle-like scent of the trees and the unique island ecology.

Besides all of the hiking trails on the island, the entire perimeter of the island walkable during low tide. On another one of my days off I set out hike around the island and it was so worth it. The island is simply breathtaking, and there are many unique rock faces that you wouldn’t even know about unless you hike around the back side.

If I had to describe my time on Sears Island in one word, it would be peaceful. Walking along the beach, looking at driftwood, shells, and sea glass. No sounds except the lapping of the water and the occasional bark of a distant dog. I would recommend that anyone who has a free day to check out the island!

Hello! I’m Nate and I’m spending the summer here at Searsport Shores. One of the first nature based projects I have worked on is our very own hummingbird garden. Hummingbirds are the smallest species of bird in the world, being shorter than 4 inches and weighing less than 4 grams. Don’t let their size fool you; they are an integral part of Maine’s ecosystem. These little guys are expert pollinators and play a big role in the success of gardens and wild plants.

Besides the environmental benefit of hummingbirds, they are entertaining to watch and come in bright and vibrant colors. The hummingbirds that we are most likely to attract are Ruby Throated hummingbirds. Although other hummingbird species have been rarely spotted in Maine, the Ruby Throated hummingbird is our most common species. They are most easily identified by their bright red throats and their green tinted bodies.

In order to know how to attract hummingbirds, I had to do a little research. From browsing online I made several discoveries about hummingbirds: they love to live around the edge of the forest, they need a nearby food source, and they are attracted to the color red. We set up our hummingbird area in a lightly forested space across from the gardens. Our gardens are full of flowers that hummingbirds love.

Three hummingbird feeders were strategically placed in our hummingbird paradise to attract as many as we can. The area was completed with the tying of red ribbons everywhere we could fit them, in the hopes that our little friends will catch a glimpse while they fly by.

If you’re looking to make your own backyard Hummingbird garden, check out this article by the National Audubon Society.                 https://www.audubon.org/content/designing-hummingbird-garden-15-ways-keep-them-coming

 

Hello! I’m Nate and I’m an intern at Searsport Shores this summer, living in the ocean tenting part of the park. For the past few weeks I have been working on a tiny house to live in. As you can see, this shed was pretty bare bones at first, but I was able to fashion it into a nice little living space.

Putting a couple of the windows on hinges was one of the first things I did, because if you’re going to live by the ocean, you’d better be able to smell that refreshing sea air. A house isn’t really a house without a bed, so the bed was the next thing I set out to build. With the assistance of Mike and Steve, I was able to put in a twin bed, shelving, and a table with room to spare!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also added some stained paneling to the back wall just to make it look a little fancier, which I think paid off. The final product is exactly how I envisioned it, a compact yet comfortable space with a beautiful view.

              It’s definitely an upgrade from my tent and I look forward to living in it this summer!