BAR HARBOR, ME — Friends of Acadia and Acadia National Park invite volunteers to come together Saturday, Nov. 7, for the 34th annual Take Pride in Acadia Day, a longstanding fall tradition that combines hands-on stewardship with a celebration of the community that cares for Acadia.

Each year, volunteers fan out along Acadia National Park’s historic carriage roads to rake leaves and clear drainage features before winter.

While raking leaves may seem like a simple task, the work plays an important role in protecting the carriage road system. Fallen leaves can clog ditches, culverts, and other drainage features designed to move rainwater and snowmelt away from the roads. When those channels become blocked, water can flow across the road surface instead, eroding the finely graded material and contributing to washouts and other damage.

“Clearing leaves from the carriage roads before winter helps ensure that the drainage system can do what it was designed to do,” said Brian Sale, Friends of Acadia’s stewardship manager. “With hundreds of volunteers working together, we can accomplish an incredible amount of work and help the park protect these historic roads from erosion and washouts during winter storms and spring snowmelt.”

Take Pride in Acadia Day has brought volunteers together each fall for more than three decades. In addition to providing critical help to park staff, the event has become an annual gathering for people who share a love of Acadia and want to give something back to the park.

“There is something very special about coming together each fall with so many people who care deeply about Acadia,” said Stephanie Clement, Friends of Acadia’s vice president of conservation. “For 34 years, Take Pride in Acadia Day has created an opportunity for volunteers to work side by side, reconnect with one another, and care for a place we all love. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this tradition over the years, and we’re excited to be back out on the carriage roads together again this year.”

After the morning’s volunteer work, participants will gather to celebrate their accomplishments and enjoy chili, cornbread, cake, and cider.

Take Pride in Acadia Day would not be possible without generous support from our community. Thank you to our lead sponsor Chilton Trust, and this year’s event sponsors: Acadia Bike & Coastal Kayaking Tours, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor Savings & Loan, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, Beal’s Lobster Pier, The Bluenose Inn – Lafayette Hotels, Burdick & Associates Landscape Design, Debbahs, Galyn’s Restaurant, Geddy’s, Gideon Asen, John Williams Boat Company, Jordan Pond House/ExplorUS, MDI Grows Landscape Services, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Nor’Easter Pound & Market, Peruvian Link Bar Harbor, Riverside Group, and Wright-Ryan Homes.

We hope you’ll join us! The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, and lunch will be served at noon. Please register by Friday, Oct. 30, at friendsofacadia.org/takepride. Volunteers will receive their assigned meet-up locations along the carriage roads before the event.

About Friends of Acadia 
Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations.

Ellen Rand, Sierra Sheehan, Isla Preston-Schreck, and Rebecca Rand work to clear leaves from the carriage road as part of their Girl Scout volunteer group during Friends of Acadia’s annual Take Pride in Acadia Day in 2021. (Photo by: Ashley L. Conti/Friends of Acadia)

Volunteers enjoy a post-raking lunch of chili, cornbread, cider, and cake during Take Pride In Acadia Day. (Photo by Lily LaRegina/Friends of Acadia)