Cow Island, Maine facts for kids

Cow Island is a small, beautiful island located in Casco Bay, Maine, in the United States. It's about 26 acres in size, which is like 20 football fields! You can find it near Great Diamond Island, not far from downtown Portland. Cow Island is part of the town of Long Island.

A special group called Rippleffect owns Cow Island. This group is a non-profit organization that helps young people learn and grow. They are also in charge of protecting the island's natural environment. Rippleffect makes sure people can still visit and enjoy the island responsibly.

Exploring Fort Lyons: A Historic Island Base

On Cow Island, you can find the old remains of a military base called Fort Lyons. This fort was built way back in 1907. Today, Rippleffect has turned these old ruins into their main island facility. It's an eco-friendly campus where they run exciting programs for kids and teens.

There are other old military structures scattered across the island too. Near the center of the island, you might discover a large concrete shelter, sometimes called a "pill-box." Underneath it are two tunnels. These tunnels were probably used to store ammunition and other important supplies for the fort long ago.