Read the full story via Ellsworth American

Nearly 10,000 hours were spent volunteering at Acadia National Park. That’s a big deal.

A recent story in the Ellsworth American highlights the hard work and dedication of Acadia’s volunteers, and how their support matters to our park.

Here’s an excerpt from the story:

“There is a volunteer opportunity for everyone,” said Perrin Doniger, Friends of Acadia’s vice president of communications and marketing. From creating a bog walk to helping in the office with administrative tasks to talking to visitors about the plants and habitats of the park, there are several ways to get involved, she explained.

The work of the park’s stewardship volunteers are perhaps the most noticeable. These volunteers maintain trails and carriage roads, trim roadside brush and clear drainage. The program runs three days a week from June through October on a drop-in basis.

If getting your hands dirty isn’t for you, consider being a membership volunteer and sitting outside the Jordan Pond House throughout the summer answering visitor questions.

One unique volunteer opportunity involves actually carrying dirt up to a mountain summit. The Save our Summits program helps restore summits at Penobscot Mountain (1,068’) and Sargent Mountain (1,040’) from June through September. From a Ziploc bag to an entire backpack full of dirt, any amount can be carried.

Interested in native plants? Become a volunteer docent at Wild Gardens of Acadia. Learn about the park’s 400 plant species and 13 different environmental habitats that mirror what you’ll find in the park.

While volunteers cannot replace the skilled work that the staff does, Doniger explained, the work is vital to the overall health of the park.

Full story: FOA volunteers provide support at the park – via Ellsworth American

Learn about all of Friends of Acadia’s volunteer opportunities.