The Bureau of Parks & Lands, a division of the Maine Department of Conservation, began accepting campground reservations for 2007 on Thursday.

The Bureau unveiled its new real-time Internet reservation system, which is available 24 hours a day and offers campers instant confirmation when a reservation is made. Over the past five years, Internet reservations requests have increased and now account for nearly 80 percent of all reservations made.

The campground reservations office still accepts phone and walk-in reservations, and many campers were waiting in line for doors to open at 9 a.m. Thursday.

A year ago, the office received about 1,800 reservations during the first 24 hours.

The Bureau of Parks & Lands manages 12 campgrounds at Maine state parks and has nearly 1,000 campsites available system-wide.

Campers can make Internet reservations by logging on to www.CampWithMe.com. In-state callers can dial 800-332-1501, while out-of-state campers can call (207) 624-9950. Mail-in requests can be made at Bureau of Parks & Lands, Attn: Reservations, 22 SHS, Augusta, 04333-0022.

Complete information including campground maps are available on the Web site, from the Bureau of Parks & Lands at the listed address, or by calling 287-2209.

Union fishing event planned

“In Memory of Mike Sabins,” a youth fishing event, will be held at Ayer Park in Union on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The event is sanctioned by the Hooked on Fishing program and equipment will be provided. Refreshments will also be provided.

Children are encouraged to attend the event with an adult.

The event is the fourth event – but the first in the winter – for the Mike Sabin Youth Fish and Game Association.

In response to the death of their son, Mike, Scot and Mary Sabin are organizing a group focused on teaching Maine children about their outdoor heritage. Mike was an avid hunter and fisherman, and his parents hope to be able to offer activities and courses for young people to be able experience the Maine outdoors.

For more information, or to volunteer to help during the event, call Scott or Mary at 785-4076.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329.