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Information for
Lyme Disease Awareness Month (LDAM)
The 2023 Lyme Disease Awareness Month theme is: Tick Free ME
Learn more about Lyme Disease Awareness Month and how to get involved:
About LDAM
Maine CDC observes Lyme Disease Awareness Month during May every year. Maine CDC encourages everyone to enjoy the outdoors during the entire year, while also protecting themselves from ticks:
Know when you are in tick habitat and use caution.
Wear light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs.
Use an EPA-approved repellent such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on skin. Use permethrin on clothing.
Perform tick checks after any outdoor activity. Take a shower after exposure to tick habitat to wash off any crawling ticks.
Governor's Proclamation of May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month
2023 Governor's Proclamation of May as Lyme Disease Awareness Month (PDF)Activities and Events
Newsletters
In order to promote Lyme Disease Awareness Month (LDAM) in May, the following materials have been developed for inclusion in newsletters:
For the general public (PDF)
For medical providers (PDF)
For veterinarians (PDF)Youth Curriculum
Do you have or work with children ages 5 to 14 years old? Maine CDC developed a tick curriculum including videos and activities for children to help them learn more about ticks, the diseases they can spread, and prevention. Students, teachers, youth organizations, and parents are welcome to use this curriculum to help youth learn how they can stay safe from ticks and tickborne diseases.
2023 LDAM Calendar of Events:
- May 6 – Educational Table at Kittery Trading Post in Kittery from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
- May 12 – Maine Forest Service Forestry Friday: Tick Talk with Chuck Lubelczyk, Virtual Presentation on Teams from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (registration required)
- May 20 – Educational Table at LL Bean Flagship store in Freeport from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Poster Contest
Lyme Disease Awareness Month Poster Contest Instructions
- The theme for the 14th annual Lyme Disease Awareness Month poster contest is: Tick Free ME
- Rules and Information on How to Submit Posters for the 2023 LDAM K-8 Poster Contest: Rules (PDF)
- All poster submissions must be accompanied by a signed waiver: LDAM Poster Contest 2023 Waiver (Word) | (PDF)
- Posters should illustrate at least one of the four personal prevention techniques:
- Know when you are in tick habitat and use caution.
- Wear light-colored clothing that covers your arms and legs.
- Use an EPA-approved repellent (DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus).
- Perform tick checks after any outdoor activity. Take a shower after exposure to wash off any crawling ticks.
For more information about tick prevention, please visit Tick Prevention and Property Management.
2022 Poster Contest Winners
Grade 3 Winner Holly Hamilton
3rd grade
Spruce Mountain Elementary School
Grade 4 winner Charlotte Chamberlain
4th grade
Spruce Thomaston Grammar School
Grade 5 winner Patrick Nawfel
5th grade
Spruce Mountain Elementary School
Grade 7 winner
7th grade student
Gorham Middle School
Honorable Mention Alyssa Lampen
7th grade
Gorham Middle School
Participants for the 2023 “Tick Free ME” poster contest include:
| Name | School | Grade |
| Holly Hamilton | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 3 |
| Jason Caron | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 3 |
| Landon Croteau | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 3 |
| Amiyah Brown | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 4 |
| Anna Faulstich | Yarmouth Elementary School | 4 |
| Bailey Moras | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 4 |
| Callie Colson | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Charlotte Chamberlain | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Emma Emery | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Grace MacDonald | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 4 |
| Isabella Guzman | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Mya Knowlton | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 4 |
| Mylee Anderson | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Olive Grierson | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Sophia Chen | Thomaston Grammar School | 4 |
| Isabella McGrath | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 5 |
| Kaden Lee | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 5 |
| Oliver Quinn | Thomaston Grammar School | 5 |
| Patrick Nawfel | Spruce Mountain Elementary School | 5 |
| Alyssa Lampen | Gorham Middle School | 7 |
| Cooper Warner | Gorham Middle Schooll | 7 |
Lyme Disease Awareness Poster Gallery
LDAM Community Partners
Lyme Disease Awareness Month partners for 2023 include:
| Kennebec Valley YMCA | Maine Public Health Association |
| Maine School Garden Network | Maine Senior College Network |
| Professional Logging Contractors of Maine | Maine Osteopathic Association |
| Maine Primary Care Association | Maine Veterinary Medical Association |
| Healthy Acadia | Maine Calling - Maine Public Radio |
| Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust |
