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University of Maine at Fort Kent

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Enrollment & Advancement Center • University of Maine at Fort Kent • 23 University Drive, Fort Kent, ME 04743

Baxter State Park Naturalist to speak on the UMFK campus

November 4, 2013

Note: this is an archived news release. As such, the information provided may no longer apply.

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The University of Maine at Fort Kent's Environmental Studies Speaker Series welcomes Baxter State Park Naturalist, Jean Hoekwater, on Friday, November 8, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon in Nadeau Hall teleconference room. Hoekwater will speak on “The People's Mountain: Resource Protection Strategies for Katahdin's Alpine Zone.”

The presentation is free and open to the public.

"Every year Baxter State Park works with over 35,000 hikers, enlisting them in Park efforts to preserve the alpine zone while celebrating the importance a Katahdin hike represents for so many people, from Appalachian Trail through hikers to outing clubs to family hiking groups,” according to Hoekwater.

Hoekwater will introduce interesting mountain plants and animals and discuss mountain trails and stewardship with a special emphasis on visitor information efforts over the years

Naturalist Hoekwater has enjoyed working with Baxter State Park staff, visitors, various special interest groups and scientists to document and protect the wilderness experience and natural resources of Baxter since 1988.

She is responsible for information/education initiatives at the park, providing services and educational resources to staff and visitors on natural history, public safety and resource protection.

Jean coordinates park-wide interpretive services, including Alpine Stewards and Wilderness Educators, the Appalachian Trail Steward and the Togue Pond Visitor Center. She also coordinates citizen science initiatives and facilitates research and media projects in the park.

Jean Hoekwater earned a bachelor of arts in human ecology from College of the Atlantic.

Hoekwater is a past board member of the Forest Society of Maine, and currently serves on the board of the Waterman Fund.

The Environmental Studies Speaker Series at UMFK regularly brings speakers to campus. These presentations are open to the public and cover such topics as water quality, waste management, wind power, endangered species, forestry and marine science. The program is offered in collaboration with the UMFK Environmental Studies degree program. Speakers are only scheduled during the academic year.

For more information on the Environmental Studies Speaker Series, contact Dave Hobbins at: dhobbins@maine.edu or (207) 834-7614.