Merryspring Nature Center

Merryspring Nature Center is a non-profit organization founded in 1974 “to practice, teach and advocate sound principles of ecology, conservation and horticulture in order to protect our natural environment, and to provide natural landscapes and cultivated areas for public enjoyment.”

Located within the Goose River Watershed, it spans the boundary separating Camden and Rockport in midcoast Maine. Its 66 acres include 4 miles of woodland trails, an arboretum of native trees, open meadows, horticultural gardens, a greenhouse, administrative office, and educational spaces. This property has existed at various times as a sheep farm, a lumber mill, and a limestone quarry. Reminders of this history are still evident, including an historic roadbed, second-growth forests, and a vernal pool at the site of the former limestone mining operation.

A member-supported organization with a small staff, Merryspring effectively operates as a town park for both Camden and Rockport. The center is open free of charge year-round, and it receives an estimated 12,000 visits annually. In recent years, Merryspring has expanded its community outreach through nature education programming for children and adults, including field trips, classes, workshops, and lectures.