Photo courtesy of Lili Pew..

The fall colors have long since passed their brilliant peak, yet still I find my thoughts turning to this summer—a season fueled by the enthusiasm of each and every friend of Acadia. Hundreds of wheelbarrows full of gravel and rock were moved by our dedicated volunteers, rebuilding and strengthening miles of trails and carriage roads. Over 100 Acadia Quest teams explored the park, finding new meaning in the beauty of Acadia. At our 20th Annual Benefit Auction, hundreds of friends shared a night of fun and festivities, cheering each other on as they gave to support the place that is so dear to us all. Words cannot describe the gratitude that I have for all of you who made this summer the success that it was.

In early August, Friends co–sponsored of an evening with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, where they previewed their new documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. It was an evening filled with the synergy of vision, passion, and collective action—the story of the emergence of our nation’s national parks. 1,800 people attended the two showings at the Criterion in Bar Harbor. I asked Ken and Dayton to share their take on our national parks. Their words spoke of a shared sense of legacy and stewardship that each citizen of this nation has— to honor, support through active engagement, and give back. To preserve and protect our greatest national treasure in perpetuity— through organizations like Friends of Acadia. What a challenge that is for each of us to embrace as 2016, the centennial of the National Park Service and Acadia National Park, approaches.

This summer of endless activity also marked a new beginning for me in Acadia: hiking its trails. Years ago, I badly injured one of my knees, and even now it remains a guarded resource with limited use (despite the thousands of miles of cycling I do each year). The uneven ground of Acadia’s trails and insistent pull of gravity have long made this old injury an obstacle to my exploration of the quiet, inner core of the park. Two of my friends asked me to join them on a hike up Canon Brook to Eagle’s Crag, descending the South ridge trail to Blackwoods. Seeing that my fighting spirit was tempered by the pain in my knee, they told me “Lili, use our hiking poles and your spirit will fly!” They helped me rediscover the heart of Acadia. Seeing the faces of children, families, and friends along the ways of Canon Brook, Sargent Mountain to Bald Peak, Jordan Cliffs, Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail, and finally Cadillac Mountain, were incredible moments that made my spirit soar.

Today, I share a renewed sense of purpose to protect, preserve, and steward what, to me, can only be the greatest national park in the nation. Come—join me, and Friends of Acadia, in making our dream for Acadia a reality. Thank you to all of you—especially Kim and Finn—for this wonderful new beginning.

- Lili Pew, Chairman