Rocks tossed up by waves during January 2024 storms cover an area at Seawall Picnic Area. (Photo by Catherine Schmitt/Schoodic Institute)

Winter storms over the last few months, particularly two in January, created unprecedented damage to infrastructure and resources in Acadia National Park. While park teams were assessing the damage, people started asking, “How can we help?”

Here’s a way!

Join us for upcoming volunteer cleanup events, one at Schoodic on May 1 and one at Seawall Picnic Area on May 3.

Registration is required and limited to 25 for each event. See below for frequently asked questions about what to expect.

When are the volunteer storm cleanups?

There are currently two scheduled cleanup dates:

• May 1, 2024 at Schoodic (meet at entrance to SERC campus, we will shuttle to work site). Runs from 8:15 a.m. to noon. [Directions]
• May 3, 2024 at Seawall Picnic Area (meet at picnic area). Runs from 8:15 a.m. to noon. [Directions]

Do I need to register?

Yes! Please use the form above. We are limiting registration to 25 participants for each event. If there is great interest and still work to do, we may add some more dates in the near future.

Can kids come?

Unfortunately, due to the nature of this work, we are only allowing volunteers 18 and over currently for these events.

What will we be doing?

• At Schoodic – During the intense storm events this winter, many sections of the outbound road at Schoodic incurred major wave action. Large amounts of cobbles, and some marine debris was moved to the inland side of the road. Many of these cobbles are encroaching upon wetland habitat, blocking culverts, and cannot be removed by heavy machinery for fear of damaging the sensitive embankment. It is the hope that we can move the stones into staged equipment, that will then take the material back to the ocean side of the road where it came from.
• Seawall Picnic Area – Similarly, during the intense storm events many trees fell within the picnic area. Many of these trees have been cut into more manageable chunks but now it is up to us to aid in the removal of them.

For both – Many sections will involve walking on steep embankments, and possibly stepping in waterlogged areas. Boots are strongly advised. Lots of bending and repetitive motion, potential lifting of heavy weights.