Baxter with Kids
Baxter with Kids
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Hikes for the Whole Family
Caverly Pond: Only 3/10s of a mile and close to the gate, this makes a wonderful hike for children. It’s about a mile from the Togue Pond Gatehouse You’ll find great views of Katahdin and a good chance to see deer if you are quiet.
Cranberry Pond: Near the Togue Pond Gatehouse this easy trail has bog bridges to keep your feet dry and leads to a sweet little pond where kids can learn about everything from bog plants to bullfrogs.
Find more hikes here -
Become a Junior Ranger
The Junior Ranger Program was created to teach younger visitors to help in preserving Baxter State Park. To become a junior ranger, visitors can get the booklet at any of the campgrounds, gatehouses, or the visitor center or download a copy here. A great way to explore Baxter State Park with the whole family!
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Interpretive Programs
Baxter State Park offers different interpretive programs to provide its visitors with more knowledge about The Park’s natural and cultural history. These programs are family-friendly and include; evening campground programs, walk with a ranger programs, and family programs. More information on when and where these programs will be available can be found on the Parks website or Facebook page.
How about Fishing?
Our instructional video series, How to Baxter, provides fun and practical advice for taking on the Park’s best adventures. Kids love to fish. You don’t have to be an expert to enjoy this great family activity. Narrated by Maine’s own Bill Green, our first episode “tackles” fishing in its many lakes, streams, and rivers. Learn more about fishing in the Park here.
Resources
Sharing Nature with Children
A Kid’s Hiking Guide
Ten Days in the North Woods: A Kid’s Hiking Guide to the Katahdin Region by Hope Rowan
In this guide, which takes the form of a story, a young girl and her family describe a trip to discover the forests, mountains, ponds, and waterfalls of Maine's Baxter State Park, the Debsconeag Wilderness Area, and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Available in our store.
About Percival Baxter
Teach them about Percival Baxter! Read Percy's Patience: The Story of Governor Baxter and Baxter State Park by Barbara DeVito Bourgoine
A wonderful biography for children as young as six, it can be enjoyed by kids up to sixth grade due to the unique format. Each page is footnoted so you can read the narrative for its own sake, or slow down to absorb “fun facts.” The book includes a timeline, maps, portraits, and references that will intrigue older readers. Available in our store.
Leave no Trace
Baxter State Park belongs to wildlife first, humans second. Teach your kids to leave no trace, a foundation for a lifetime of respect for nature. Find out how to minimize your impact. and begin early to share this with your family, you are their best role model and teacher. Learn More
