Article and Photo Courtesy of Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Polly Mahoney, a longtime guide from Newry, was recently honored by Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award. The award was presented by MDIFW Commissioner Judy Camuso at the annual Maine Professional Guides Association Banquet in April.
As a guide, Polly has led trips for over thirty years as co-owner and operator of Mahoosuc Guide Service. As an extremely active member in her community, Polly has taught at Bryant Pond Conservation Camp, presented at the Common Ground Fair, spoke at numerous schools libraries, and Universities such as Harvard, and has worked with Native American tribes to help them develop outdoor tourism businesses. She has also shared her expertise by mentoring young people who have an interest in the outdoors and who have gone on to become guides.
She co-founded the dog sledding program at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School, is one of three non-native people selected as a member of the First Light Learning Program, and was selected by Maine Biz as a 2021 Woman to Watch. She is a board member of the Forest Society of Maine, an instructor for the Maine Canoe Symposium, sponsor of wilderness medicine courses, and women’s outdoor education programs.
Nearly 30 years ago, Polly began helping the Cree and Inuit Nations in Quebec in setting up and operating their own tourism and guiding businesses and has been working with the Penobscot Nation over the past seven years doing the same. In that role she has helped spread understanding of the culture, traditions and history of the Penobscot by offering canoe trips utilizing numerous Penobscot guides as staff.
In the nomination, it was noted that Polly is someone who often takes people under her wing – from young people trying to find their way to women who have been abused – and given them not only support and encouragement, but also opportunities to grow through outdoor adventure.
Congratulations to Polly Mahoney on being awarded the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award!