Paddle with a Purpose Watershed Celebration to support Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay
Paddle with a Purpose, a community event highlighting the Presumpscot River, the largest freshwater source flowing into Casco Bay. Join us May 13 from 5-7 pm at Tidewater Farm Preserve, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME to raise awareness and support for these vital waters and the organizations working to protect them; Friends of the Presumpscot River & Friends of Casco Bay.
Jen Deraspe, Westbrook resident and Registered Maine Guide, will be paddling her canoe on a solo journey from Bethel to Casco Bay to bring awareness and resources to the watershed. Her goal is to raise at least $5,000. Donations will directly support Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay’s work to protect, advocate for, and engage the community in learning about and caring for local waters.
“Awareness brings stewardship. This expedition is intended to enhance public awareness of our waterways as a means to protect and restore this resource essential to life. Since early contact with the Wabanaki peoples here, settlers have significantly impacted the waterways through damming, excessive extraction of fisheries and shoreline forests, and dumping effluent byproducts of industry into the river and ocean. It is our essential work to repair this damage and bring healing back to the waters that sustain life,” shares Deraspe.
Deraspe will connect with community leaders along the journey shoreline and share her experience daily through blogging. She will launch on the Crooked River in the Bethel area and paddle about 85 miles in eight days to Sebago Lake and the length of the Presumpscot River to Casco Bay.
Watershed Celebration Event Details:
Date: May 13
Time: 5-7 pm
Location: Tidewater Farm Preserve, 200 Presumpscot Point Rd, Falmouth, ME
Event: Experience a special Water Blessing & Land Acknowledgement with Mihku Paul, highlights of the journey with Jen Deraspe, a drumming circle, and mission & vision with Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay.
Light refreshments will be served. Open to the public rain or shine.
All proceeds will directly support Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay. For more information, to follow the journey, or make a tax-deductible contribution:
“We are deeply grateful to Jen Deraspe for selecting us, along with Friends of Casco Bay, as a direct beneficiary of Paddle with a Purpose,” said Whitney Conway, Outreach & Education Coordinator, Friends of the Presumpscot River. “Funds raised will directly impact our efforts to advocate for, protect, and connect communities to this ancient ‘River of Many Falls’, the Presumpscot, the primary source of freshwater into Casco Bay. A clean river makes a clean bay!”
Sarah Lyman, Development Director at Friends of Casco Bay said “Jen’s solo Paddle with a Purpose journey highlights the interconnectedness of our local waters from the headwaters through to the Presumpscot River to Casco Bay. It takes a community to care for the River and the Bay, and Jen knows this. We’re honored that Jen is turning her passion into inspiration for others to get involved and support local work for these waters we love.”
About the Organizations:
Friends of the Presumpscot River’s mission is to work to restore and protect water quality, river habitat and native fisheries in the Presumpscot River through stewardship, advocacy and education, while creating recreational opportunities and instilling appreciation of the river in all the communities it touches.
Friends of Casco Bay’s mission is to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay. As home to the Casco BAYKEEPER® we act as the eyes, ears, and voice of the Bay. We use an integrated approach to tackle the largest threats to the health of our coastal waters, meeting our mission through science, advocacy, and community engagement. We track the health of the Bay, advocate to reduce pollution and increase climate resiliency, and engage the public in our efforts to improve and protect Casco Bay.
