It is a popular spot for school field trips and weddings are also held in the main farmhouse. The Wells Reserve also features many group activities such as bird-watching and moonlit snowshoe excursions.

An wildlife habitat is found throughout the preserve as well as a vibrant. Much of the shore in this area is rugged rock with a fairly steep drop-off to the water. This preserve is comprised of 120 acres with 3600 feet of shoreline and 2.5 miles of hiking trails. Along the way, a small body of water attracts many birds and other critters. Rachel Carson Salt Pond Preserve, LaVerna Preserve, Pemaquid Beach Park. Situated on Muscongus Bay near Pemaquid, the area is filled with beautiful vistas of the ocean. The main trail leads directly to the ocean near Drakes Island Beach. They compare plant and animal life data within the greenhouse to the adjacent area. Students have erected tiny greenhouses as seen in the photo below to simulate the effects of increased temperatures on the ecosystem. It is here that the University of New England is currently conducting an experiment on global warming. My favorite, the Farley Trail, leads to two overlooks where herons and snowy egrets are often spotted. There are seven miles of networked trails and each offers a unique perspective on nature. I strategically planned my route to follow the sun to the various wildlife viewing overlooks and shore access points. The rising sun cast its magical light on the grounds adding both warmth and beauty to the fall colors. The preserve is open year-round from 7:00 am until sunset and on my most recent visit I arrived just as the gates opened. Sadly, two of my favorite things – dogs and bicycles – are not allowed. Now, it is a protected parcel offering opportunities for walking, running, kayaking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Located just south of Kennebunk in Wells, this 2,220 acre sanctuary is on the site of the former Laudholm Farm which operated for nearly three centuries before it proved no longer sustainable in the early 1970’s. La Verna Preserve features 3,600 feet of stunning rocky ocean shoreline, 2.5 miles of trails, and a diverse array of wildlife habitat, including mixed. It's my way, my attempt to reach out and offer some assistance and compassion to my sisters and brother veterans.The Wells Reserve is truly one of Southern Maine’s nature exploration gems. The Peace Gallery is a direct result of that program. La Verna Preserve Length: 2.4 miles Difficulty: moderate Permitted Use: Cross-country skiing Dog Friendly Hiking/Walking Picnic Snowshoeing Pemaquid Watershed Association (now Coastal Rivers) accepted the 120-acre La Verna Preserve as a formal transfer from The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 2009. As a result of this program I became acutely aware of some of the hardships my fellow veterans face coping with daily life while internally struggling with the memories of their time in military service. The program included 30 veterans, approximately half women and men from all across the country. In 2016 I attended a veterans retreat at Haystack Mountain School of Craft on Deer Isle Maine. After many moves and businesses in 1994 I moved to Maine with my wife and five children. After two years of college I moved on to open my first restaurant. After discharge I took advantage of the GI bill and attended Providence College, Providence RI.

I served in VietNam in 1969-70 HMM364 as a helicopter crew chief. Following in my father and mother’s footsteps, both WW2 MarineCorps veterans, I served in the Marine Corps 1968-1972.

Laverna nature preserve