University of Maine 4-H Camp & Learning Center at Bryant Pond

SustainME is a program designed in partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the University of Maine 4-H Camp and Learning Center at Bryant Pond. Outdoor skills-focused workshops follow three distinct paths: Hunting/ Fishing, Wild Edibles/Foraging, and Backyard Farming, with the goals of helping people gain the knowledge, self-confidence, and practical skills to be more self-reliant with an emphasis on sustainable food sources and preparation.

The mission of SustainME is:

• To provide skills-based workshops that introduce new outdoor activities that will inspire future involvement in hunting, fishing, backyard farming, and foraging through a broad array of topics and a diverse group of instructors.
• To connect people to their food in a meaningful way, whether it’s wild-caught, hunted, gathered, raised, or grown.
• To engage people and inspire a greater appreciation for providing for yourself, your family, and your community.
• To connect people to additional resources, mentors, and community partners that complement these program areas, and will further develop these skills.

Session I Choices:

• Learn to Hunt: Whitetail Deer Hunting
• Archery Shooting Skills
• Intro to Fly Fishing and Casting
• Wild Edibles: Seeking Nature’s Bounty
• Basics of Fermentation
• Map and Compass Skills

Fall SustainME activity descriptions
SustainME what to Bring suggestions
Registration Q&A
SustainME lunch options
SustainME Health Screening tips

Hunting and Fishing

• Becoming a Hunter: Getting started
• Choosing the right equipment
• Field Dressing wild game
• Finding places to hunt
• Wild game cooking: various game meats (bear, deer, moose, upland birds, small game).
• Wild fish cooking: fresh and saltwater fish
• Bow Hunting Skills
• Map and Compass navigation
• Fly Fishing Techniques
• Surf Casting Basics
• Wildlife Identification
• Habits and Habitats
• Fly Tying
• Mounting a scope
• Firearm Cleaning
• Tracking Wild Game
• Fishing for various species (trout, salmon, perch, bass, etc)
• Hunting tactics (specific to various species-turkey, bear, deer, moose, etc.)
• Smelting
• Ice Fishing techniques
• Reading the forest and its various ecosystems
• Many other specific skills/topics