Throughout the winter, area restaurants and cooks will be providing hot lunches to benefit Hidden Valley Nature Center.

Each Sunday one cook will donate a hot soup or chili which will be available for purchase at HVNC. Lunch will be available at HI Hut, about 1/3 mile in from the gate, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., so bring your wallet and your hunger while you enjoy the trails. You can enjoy your meal near the cozy wood stove.

HVNC’s Third Annual Liberal Cup Biathlon will be held on January 26. (There is still time to sign up!) Participants and spectators alike will be treated to the famous vegetarian chili of Tuva Bakery from Lincolnville, served for a decade at the Common Ground Fair. Most folks know Tuva for its bread and sweets, but owner Greg Larsen is also a wonderful cook.

During February, Treats and Sarah’s of Wiscasset and Fernald’s of Damariscotta will be serving up their specialties. The proceeds of these generous donations will help support the exceptional winter educational and recreational programming at the nature center.

HVNC is a nonprofit education and recreation center in Jefferson, dedicated to providing excellent opportunities for nature-based education, and non-motorized recreation. HVNC is comprised of 1,000 acres of diverse habitat and thirty miles of multi-use trails. Primitive overnight huts are available. Open to the public seven days a week all year, dawn to dusk. For more inforamtion, contact HVNC at info@hvnc.org, 207-200-8840 or www.hvnc.org.