Winiarski spruces up campsites, boat landing

by Staff Pioneer Times
13 years ago

    A year ago, the East Grand Outdoor Education students worked on cleaning up some of the Baskahegan campsites. This year, one of the students is working a full-time summer job overseeing work on the lake sites and boat landing in Brookton.
    Kenneth Winiarski, a Brookton resident, was a joint recipient of $4,000, along with East Grand Outdoor Education teacher Dave Conley, from the Stetson Mountain fund and another from a nature-based tourism grant made possible through tax increment funding (TIF) established as a cooperative agreement between First Wind and the Washington County based Sunrise County Economic Council.
sp-baskahegan-dcx3-pt-30NEW SIGN — Kenneth Winiarski places new signs on Round Island. There are three campsites on the Island and it is the most popular spot for camping.
    Winiarski, who was hired by grant monies through the fall, has completed much of his work.
    Through the summer, the 16-year-old has cleaned up campsites on Baskahegan Lake in Brookton. Fire pits were rebuilt, fiberglass outboxes installed and heavy-duty cedar picnic tables assembled and placed on Long, Round and Ant islands, Norway and Abraquidasset points.
    “The best locations for camping on the lake are on Ant, Long and Round islands while Ship Island, Norway and Abraquidasset points make great lunch sites,” said Conley, instructor of the East Grand School Outdoor Education Program.
    Winiarski is currently working on signage that encourages users to treat campsites with respect by “leaving them in better shape than they found them.” According to Conley, Baskahegan Lake is a great place for small mouth bass and white perch fishing.
    “Those new to the lake will want to do a little research on where to avoid shallow rocky areas when using a motor boat,” he added.
    Fire permits are required on all sites and can be obtained at the Brookton General Store or by calling the Maine Forest Service in Old Town, 827-1800, and a permit number can be issued over the phone seven days a week, 8a.m. to 6 p.m.