WILLOW CREEK — Julia Chen, owner of Northwoods Outfitters, passed the rigorous Maine Guide certification exam in July, becoming the first Willow Creek resident to earn the credential in more than 10 years and only the sixth active Registered Maine Guide in Aroostook County.
The certification, administered by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, requires candidates to demonstrate proficiency in navigation, survival skills, wildlife identification, water safety, and trip planning. Chen completed a weeklong field assessment on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway followed by a written exam covering regulations and emergency procedures.
“It’s not an easy test,” said Chen, who logged more than 80 hours of study and practice time while running her business. “But if you’re going to take people into the Maine woods, you need to know what you’re doing.”
Chen is now licensed to lead fishing, hunting, canoeing, and hiking trips anywhere in the state. She said she plans to offer guided full-moon paddles on Pleasant Lake and multi-day river trips on the Mattawamkeag starting next spring.
The Maine Guide program, established in 1897, is among the oldest guide licensing systems in the United States.