BY JOANNE WOOD

When it comes to helping preserve and protect the natural beauty of Acadia National Park, few things speak louder than the dedication of our volunteers. Among them are couples who not only share their lives but also their passion for giving back to the community by volunteering at our Membership Table in front of the Jordan Pond House restaurant from June to October. While Friends of Acadia makes no claims or guarantees, the two dynamic duos in this story prove that couples who volunteer together, stay together.

Mary and Phil’s love affair with Acadia National Park began 40 years ago when they honeymooned here from the Philadelphia area. They loved it so much that they have come back almost annually since. When asked why they kept coming back for so many years, Phil replied “Well, why do people go to their favorite beach every year? Because of the feelings it brings. Plus, with so much hiking, biking, trails, and activities year-round, there is an endless discovery of things to do!”

Mary and Phil Galperin. (Courtesy photo)

Upon retirement they began coming twice a year and started volunteering on the trail crew 30 years ago, even when only visiting for a week on vacation. “It’s a way of saying ‘thank you’ and getting to know the community and other areas of the park. It made it that much easier when we moved here permanently, because we were already plugged in,” said Mary.

When the physical nature of the trail crew work became a bit too much, they started volunteering for the membership table and have been going strong with the program for over 15 years. Mary said she enjoys talking with visitors about what they’re most excited about in the park and what they came to see, helping them with ideas. “We feel proud that we are giving them the opportunity to give back. FOA membership donations help make the park accessible to more people.”

Phil enjoys that there is no ‘hard sell’ involved. “We just help them understand how FOA plays a big part in making the park great.” When asked them how volunteering as a couple has been, they replied, “We love having a shared experience, it’s like a date!”

One of their favorite memories was when a young park visitor stopped by the table with his parents and wanted to spend his allotted ‘charity giving’ allowance to become a member of Friends of Acadia. They just loved talking with him about his favorite things to do in the park and were inspired to see such a love of philanthropy in a 10-year-old. You can read more about that story here.

The Galperins look forward to the upcoming volunteer season and hope to meet you at the membership table if you find yourself in the park.

While Jill and Todd Brown have been married since 1991, their Acadia story began in 2003. They have enjoyed family vacations every single year since, often with their two sons Kyle and Cory. In the summer of 2013, while 16-year-old Kyle was volunteering with FOA in the Acadia Youth Conservation Corps program, Jill decided to join the membership table volunteer crew. Her motivation was that she always wanted to give back because she and her family had enjoyed the park for so many years.

Jill and Todd Brown. (Courtesy photo)

Eventually, when they moved to MDI from the Maryland area, Todd was able to join her in volunteering. “With life always being so busy, it was a chance to get away and spend some time together in our favorite place, beautiful Acadia National Park,” he said. Jill said she loves how much Todd now thrives in getting into conversations with visitors and always knew how great he’d be at it. “It did not come naturally for me, but when I’m out there, my enthusiasm for the park makes it easier,” said Todd.

One of their favorite memories was meeting someone at the table from the Czech Republic and being able to welcome him in his own language. “A few years back, while visiting our son in Vienna during his semester abroad, we took a side trip to the Czech Republic for a few days and had a wonderful time,” said Jill. “One day last summer at the membership table, a man seemed flustered trying to buy Cadillac reservations online, and we heard him speaking Czech. We remembered some words we learned while there and called out to him ‘Dobrý Den!’ which is a common greeting, and the man was so shocked and happy to hear someone speak his language. It turned into a great conversation about the park and the world. It’s always nice to help people and show a little kindness and empathy; it reminds you of when it was your first time visiting someplace and could have used a few friendly words and faces.”

When asked what advice they could offer if someone was thinking about volunteering at the membership table but wasn’t sure if it was right for them, Jill replied “If you love the park, if the park is in your heart, you can do the membership table.” And Todd explained “You must enjoy the park; you can talk about it with people and the rest will take care of itself. Just share your enthusiasm.”

Both couples embody the spirit of volunteering, demonstrating that working together for a cause they care about can strengthen their relationship. Their dedication not only benefits Acadia but also enriches their own lives, creating lasting memories and deepening their connection.

At Friends of Acadia, we are grateful for all our volunteers across all our programs, especially those who bring their unique perspectives to our organization. Mary, Phil, Jill, and Todd are shining examples of how volunteering can be a wonderful way for couples to stay connected, engaged, and united in their shared mission to help protect and preserve the beauty of Acadia National Park and make it a park accessible to all.

If you and your partner are interested in volunteering together, or if you’re interested just for yourself or perhaps with friends or coworkers, we welcome you to join us! Follow this link and let us know you’re interested. Our efforts will help ensure that Acadia remains a natural treasure for generations to come. We look forward to welcoming you to our community of dedicated volunteers.

JOANNE WOOD is Friends of Acadia’s Development Manager.