WATERVILLE — Volunteers help make Quarry Road Recreation Area tick — and ensure the winter carnival happens every year.

On Thursday, they were out in force preparing for the carnival to be held 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Cross-country skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, winter bike demonstrations, dog sled rides, a bonfire and Christmas tree maze are among the planned activities.

Dillon Kendall, 25, of Waterville, was setting up a large tree maze Thursday with other volunteers from Centerpoint Community Church: Michaela Gorman, 20, and Zach Poulin, 18, also of Waterville.

They were choosing the best evergreen trees from hundreds that city workers picked up from curbs after Christmas and dumped at Quarry Road.

Several hours into their work, the trio had placed dozens of trees upright in the maze.

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There were tall trees, short trees, fat trees and skinny trees — even trees with strands of tinsel and forgotten ornaments, including a homemade blue star sporting a baby Jesus scene.

“There’s a Charlie Brown tree right there,” Gorman said, as they trudged through the maze and she spotted a scrawny fir.

Kendall, who snowshoes, said he had never been to the recreation area before volunteering there Thursday.

“I love it — I want to come back,” he said.

The three said they volunteer for other activities as part of their church, including raising money for Sidney Riverbend, a home for at-risk teens; helping move people from the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter to homes and assisting at the church’s annual fall family festival and Christmas craft fair.

Inside the warming yurt, Waterville Senior High School senior Emmett Demaynadier, 17, was coordinating ski equipment rental, handing out snowshoes for visitors to use free of charge, and selling hot coffee and cocoa. Demaynadier, of China, has been volunteering about four hours a week at Quarry Road since December.

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“I first heard about this through my school and the National Honor Society,” Demaynadier said. “They were looking for volunteers, and it sounded like a pretty amazing place to spend time.”

The yurt was warm inside with tables and chairs set up for visitors who wanted to rest, have a snack and buy something hot to drink.

“The Central Maine Ski Club is coming in,” Demaynadier said. “I was told to be ready for a crowd this afternoon.”

He said he wished he could be at Quarry Road for the carnival Saturday, but he had received a season pass to Sugarloaf as a Christmas gift.

“I would love to make it, but the snow is calling me,” he said.

As children climbed a hill hauling colorful snow saucers in anticipation of sliding down, Caroline Mathes, treasurer and program director for Central Maine Ski Club, pulled into the parking lot.

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She said she would be outfitting carnival visitors with ski equipment Saturday. In addition to Central Maine Ski Club, those lending ski equipment for the carnival are the New England Nordic Ski Association, Alfond Youth Center and Quarry Road Recreation Area, Mathes said.

“We have four sources, doubling our skis from last year,” said Mathes, who also is vice president of the board of directors for Friends of Quarry Road.

Mathes said carnival organizers are meeting one last time Friday morning at Jorgensen’s Cafe downtown to work out details for the event.

“Things are coming together — it looks good,” she said.

Snow guns were used last week to make snow at the site, but then Tuesday’s storm dumped plenty more natural snow for the carnival. Forecasters expected another snowstorm on Friday.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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