“We wanted residents and visitors to explore our region, and to experience the Gulf of Maine’s true natural treasures for themselves,” said Sophia Foley, chairperson of the Gulf of Maine Council Working Group, in the press release.
The council partnered with organizations and geocachers in each of the five states and provinces around the Gulf of Maine to create the tour. Five sites are found in each of the five provinces and states — Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia — making 25 sites to celebrate 25 years of the Gulf of Maine Council’s work in the region.
Sites were selected to highlight important natural historic, cultural and economic features of the region.
“This is a great opportunity to celebrate the coastal ecosystems and heritage of the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine,” said Matt Abbott of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick in the press release.
The GeoTour is like a scavenger hunt, but instead of collecting objects, participants bring back answers to questions. Participants accumulate points for answering questions related to each site. Once they visit enough sites and accumulate enough points, they can send in their GeoTour passport to receive a limited edition Gulf of Maine Council 25th anniversary geocoin.
“We are pleased that three of the Gulf of Maine sites are part of Maine’s State Parks, said Gary Best, Maine State Parks assistant regional manager and geocache program director. “[We] look forward to being part of the 25th anniversary Gulf of Maine Council Geocache Tour.”
The GeoTour sites:
Nova Scotia
- Cape Forchu Light, Yarmouth
- Annapolis Royal Marsh, Annapolis Royal
- Grand Pré National Historic Site/World Heritage Site, Grand Pré
- Burntcoat Head, Burntcoat
- Joggins Fossil Cliffs, Joggins
New Brunswick
- Sackville Waterfowl Park, Sackville
- Shepody Bay National Wildlife Area, Harvey
- Fundy National Park, Alma
- Musquash Estuary Marine Protected Area, Musquash
- St. George Gorge, St. George
Maine
- Cobscook Bay State Park, Dennsyville
- Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, Bristol
- Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Parks, Freeport
- Scarborough Marsh, Scarborough
- Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells
New Hampshire
- Bunker Creek, Durham
- North Mill Pond, Portsmouth
- Odiorne Point, Rye
- Awcomin Marsh, Rye
- Great Bay Discovery Center
Massachusetts
- Newbury Marsh, Newbury
- Belle Isle Marsh, East Boston
- Boston Harbor, Boston
- Sandy Neck’s Great Marsh, Barnstable
- Cape Cod Tidal Flats, Brewster
To download a GeoTour passport and find out more, visit www.gulfofmaine.org/geocache. To learn about the council’s ongoing 25th anniversary activities, visit www.gulfofmaine.org/25thanniversary/.