Thoreau left things untouched but made a point to record in a journal his observations of the surroundings, including plants and animals, in an effort to learn all he could about the region. He also watched American Indians to learn their ways.

To recognize Thoreau’s last trek to Maine 150 years ago, Maine Woods Forever, an organization devoted to protecting the legacy of Maine’s North Woods, is sponsoring a three-day Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival.

It will start July 21 in Greenville.

People are still visiting Maine to enjoy the surroundings and they are visiting many of the same places where Thoreau is known to have stopped, according to Paul Johnson of Oakland, a member of the Natural Resource Education Center of Greenville and Maine Woods Forever. Some places have remained unchanged, he said.

Thoreau made excursions to the state in 1846, when he traveled from Bangor to Mount Katahdin; in 1853, when he traveled to Greenville and canoed down the West Branch of the Penobscot; and in 1857, when, accompanied by Indian guide Joe Polis, he canoed the length of Moosehead Lake, camped on Mount Kineo, then proceeded down the lower West Branch, on to Chamberlain Lake, before entering the East Branch of the Penobscot River.

"He was really one of the first ecotourists to Maine," Johnson said.

Maine Woods Forever was formed about three years ago and represents a diverse group of people in and out of state, including the Penobscot Nation and the Natural Resource Education Center, according to Johnson. Its mission is to promote the conservation of natural resources; find common ground with diverse people and groups to foster responsible use and shared stewardship of Maine’s North Woods; and work with others to designate and conserve exceptional natural, cultural and historic sites, he said.

The organization’s first project serving the public is the festival, which will be launched at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 21, with a canoe outing to Lobster Lake sponsored by the Sierra Club.

"We just think this is a wonderful addition to people’s experiences in Maine," Johnson said.

The group also has planned a 7 p.m. slide show on the plants Thoreau encountered in the Maine woods, by Bart DeWolf, sponsored by the Moosehead Historical Society, Moosehead Lake Garden Club and the Natural Resource Education Center.

At 10 a.m. Sunday, July 22, the organization will unveil its first kiosk next to the Katahdin parking lot. The kiosk will feature local information about Thoreau’s travels. Other kiosks will be erected later in strategic places accessible to the public along Thoreau’s routes.

"This is the kickoff of an ongoing project," Johnson said.

Also on Sunday, exhibits will be on display and a silent auction will be held in the Greenville School gymnasium. Tribal artists will have their work on display.

The Chewonki Foundation will present its program, "Birds of Prey," at the Community House followed at 2 p.m. by a place-name program sponsored by Penobscot historian James Francis. Thoreau impersonator Richard Smith will read some of Thoreau’s writings at 3:30 p.m., and a slide show, "Recreation Along the Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Through the Seasons," by photographer Bridget Besaw, will follow. Maine singer-songwriter Dave Mallett will share his Thoreau-inspired tunes during a concert that will end the day’s activities.

At 11 a.m. Monday at the Community House, the organization will unveil two granite sculptures: one of two hawks on a pedestal, and a 10-foot-long replica of a Penobscot Indian canoe. This will be followed by a concert in the school auditorium featuring the Penobscot Drum Group, the Burnurwurbskek Singers and Mallett.

All of the programs are by donation, according to Johnson.

In addition, Johnson said the organization has developed a map of Thoreau’s travels in Maine that will be on sale. The Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail map will include descriptions of what Thoreau found on his journeys to the state as well as a Penobscot Indian perspective of his travels. There also will be commemorative T-shirts for sale.

For information visit www.thoreauwabanakitrail.org or e-mail Jenn at mainewoodsforever@yahoo.com.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Wednesday, July 11, 2007 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."