Last week, hundreds of ‘friends’ of Acadia National Park gathered for FOA’s 2026 Annual Meeting & 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Bar Harbor Club on Wednesday, July 8.

The air was full of good cheer and excitement as we celebrated four decades of partnership, stewardship and support for Acadia National Park.

Over the past 40 years, this community has restored trails, strengthened habitats, inspired thousands of future stewards of the park, and donated more than a quarter of a million volunteer hours to caring for our cherished park.

“The collective impact of this community in restoring, protecting, and caring for Acadia National Park has been nothing short of transformational,” said Bill Eacho, Friend’s of Acadia’s board chair. “I feel an immense sense of kinship and gratitude for everyone in this growing community, now more than 5,000 strong, helping to keep this place so remarkable.”

“Today is a celebration of that shared love and care for this park. It’s a celebration of your work, your generosity, and your friendship,” he said. “So thank you, all of you, for all you have done to support Acadia.”

Members, donors, park staff, and other Friends of Acadia supporters gathered at the Bar Harbor Club for Friends of Acadia’s 40th Annual Meeting, celebrating four decades of partnership, stewardship and support for Acadia National Park. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Remarks were delivered by Bill Eacho, Eric Stiles, Kevin Schneider, Stephanie Clement, and Lisa Horsch Clark. During the event, Jim Linnane, John Kelly, and Rebecca Cole-Will were recognized for their contributions. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia President and CEO Eric Stiles reflected back on the shape of Acadia National Park in the 80s and early 90s, when resources were stretched thin and the parks trails and carriage roads showed it.

“I first came here with my wife Lydia in 1993, and the trails were decrepit,” he said. “On the carriage roads, you’d be lucky if you could get one mountain bike down that carriage road. The culverts were clogged with debris. Blowouts on the carriage roads were very common.”

In March 1985, Stiles noted, Acadia’s Chief of Park Operations announced to the Bar Harbor Times that there were zero dollars available for working on any trails in the park that year because of federal budget cuts.

“Yet, that did not deter the folks from Downeast Maine. The Downeast Outing Club got together, along with friends and park lovers, to talk about coming together as a community to restore those trails,” Stiles said.

“That was the birth of the Friends of Acadia.”

Friends of Acadia began with a $50 gift, and leadership from two individuals, Marianne Edwards, the leader from the Downeast Outing Club, and Lois Winter, who was the deputy chief of interpretation at Acadia.

“So never underestimate what a handful of people inspired by love and drive can create,” Stiles said. “And we’re here today because of that.”

Premiered at the Annual Meeting, the “To Be a Friend” video captures the collaborative dedication of every Friends of Acadia member, donor, volunteer, and staff members, as well as our hardworking partners at Acadia National Park, Schoodic Institute, Downeast Transportation, and beyond.

Produced by Rhiannon Johnston.

We also had the pleasure of honoring three distinguished community members who were key parts of that success:

Friends of Acadia’s Vice President of Conservation, Stephanie Clement, recognizes Jim Linnane with the Excellence in Volunteerism award. (Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Excellence in Volunteerism: Jim Linnane

Jim Linnane, Friends of Acadia volunteer since 2005, was award the Excellence in Volunteerism award for “dedicating more than twenty years of service in protecting and preserving Acadia National Park’s natural and cultural resources; for being an excellent leader in introducing new people to the idea of volunteerism and for encouraging them to give back to the park; for steadiness in service whether raking the paths of the Wild Gardens or the ditches of the carriage roads; for selflessness in giving of your time, not only to Friends of Acadia, but to multiple conservation organizations that partner with the park; and for being generally enthusiastic and the first to raise your hand.”

Friends of Acadia’s Vice President of Conservation, Stephanie Clement, recognizes John Kelly with the Distinguished Public Service Award. (Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Distinguished Public Service Award: John Kelly

John Kelly, management assistant at Acadia National Park, was awarded the Distinguished Public Service Award for “his outstanding leadership advancing the Island Explorer partnership from early stages to the opening of the Acadia Gateway Center; for his finesse in helping Friends of Acadia navigate challenging projects; for his dedication to park planning, carrying projects forward such as the preparation of Acadia National Park’s Foundation Document and the Transportation Plan; and for his skill in representing Acadia National Park in twenty-six years of community meetings, full of diverse opinions and passionate people.”

Rebecca Cole-Will was awarded the Marianne Edwards Distinguished Service Award at the Friends of Acadia Annual Meeting. (Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Marianne Edwards Distinguished Service Award: Rebecca Cole-Will

Rebecca Cole-Will, chief of the division of resource management at Acadia National Park, was awarded the Marianne Edwards Distinguished Service Award for “her unwavering commitment to the stewardship of Acadia National Park; for elevating the preservation of cultural resources alongside the protection of natural resources; for her deep respect for Native cultures and dedication to fostering meaningful relationships with the Wabanaki Nations; for her collaborative spirit and readiness to say ‘yes’ whenever the park, its partners, or its communities need her; and for her exceptional leadership in conservation, science, resource management, and public engagement.

“For always being willing to lead a complex project, tackle an unexpected challenge, attend one more meeting, speak at one more event, or help advance one more good idea; for approaching every opportunity with enthusiasm, good humor, and generosity; and for demonstrating time and again that Acadia is stronger because of her willingness to step forward whenever needed.”

Following the formal meeting, attendees gathered outside on the Bar Harbor Club’s lawn and patio to raise a glass to Friends of Acadia’s 40 years of impact. The social hour was the perfect time to connect and socialize with fellow lovers of Acadia as well as the opportunity to talk with Friends of Acadia, Schoodic Institute, and Acadia National Park staff about current programs and projects.

> Read more about our recent accomplishments in Friends of Acadia’s 2025 Impact Report

Lauren Knierim, the Community Volunteer Ambassador at Friends of Acadia (left), and Lauren Gibson, the Wild Gardens Coordinator (right), talk to attendees at the annual meeting. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Members, donors, park staff, and other Friends of Acadia socialize following Friends of Acadia’s 40th Annual Meeting. (Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia Summit Steward Manager, Stephanie Ley, talks to attendees during the annual meeting. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Following Friends of Acadia’s 40th Annual Meeting, guests convened on the patio at Bar Harbor Club to socialize and learn more about FOA programs. (Friends of Acadia)

Friends of Acadia’s Recreation Technician Manager, Becca Stanley, talks to attendees during the annual meeting. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)

Past Friends of Acadia Presidents Ken Olson and Marla O’Bryne pose for a photo with current FOA President and CEO Eric Stiles. (Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Members and Friends toast to 40 years of Friends of Acadia at the Friends of Acadia Annual Meeting at the Bar Harbor Club on July 8, 2026. (Rhiannon Johnston/Friends of Acadia)