The depth of winter is upon us, so what better time to get outside and enjoy the season.

Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT), in partnership local Girl Scout Troop 525, invites the entire community to an afternoon of winter fun on Saturday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m. for our first ever Sledding Party at Oak Point Farm.

Girl Scout Troop 525 has been hard at work planning a special celebration of winter that is sure to be fun for all. The troop consists of nine local first and second grade girls from across the peninsula who regularly hold their troop meetings at Oak Point Farm. With the guidance of troop leaders Sara Watts and Tracey Hall, the girls have led the way in brainstorming activities, planning, and creating posters and flyers for this free, community-wide event. Hall said, “This is a girl-led event. They’ve worked hard and thought through the details, even reminding us leaders that we need to get a fire permit and suggesting in the flyers that kids bring helmets.”

Sledding will take place on Oak Point Farm’s cleared hillside. The hill, which ends in a large field overlooking the Townsend Gut, is an ideal sledding spot, and one we anticipate will become a destination for the region. With enough open space for good long runs, as well as shorter, more gradual ones, sledders of all ages and abilities should be able to partake in the fun.

If snowshoeing is more your pace, we invite you to saunter along the one-mile loop trail which meanders through forest and fields with spectacular water views. Along the way, enjoy our February story trail, “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen illustrated by John Schoenherr. This celebrated children’s book, suitable for all ages, tells the story of a young girl who ventures into the woods with her father one moonlit winter night in search of owls.

Conditions permitting, the pond is available for ice skating and the fields are open for all types of winter play and snow creations. We will have a bonfire to warm fingers and toes, as well as toasted treats and hot cocoa for refueling your energy.

We encourage participants to bring any winter gear they would like to use including sleds, snowshoes, ice skates, protective gear and anything else that might be required to enjoy the afternoon. We will have a limited number of sleds available for general use.

This event is snow dependent. Please check for updated notices on our website the week of Feb. 9 at bbrlt.org in case of cancellation and rescheduling, or follow our event on Facebook to be notified of cancellation.

For those unable to attend this event, please keep in mind that our sled hill, ice pond, trails and fields are always available for winter activities at your convenience and whenever weather conditions permit. We hope this inaugural Sledding Party will be the introduction of many fun winter activities available throughout the season at Oak Point Farm.

If you have sleds or other winter equipment that you would like to donate to BRLT for general public use, feel free to contact us or bring donations directly to Oak Point Farm, 60 Samoset Rd., Boothbay Harbor.