Acadia was hit by multiple storms this winter. Those storms brought down hundreds of trees and moved tons of cobbles and stones across roadways, threatening wetland habitat and the functionality of drainage systems.

While park teams are hard at work managing damage, others asked how they could help.

Acadia National Park, in partnership with Friends of Acadia, has hosted three volunteer storm damage clean-up events in recent weeks. More than 50 volunteers have pitched in to haul broken trees and limbs, move rocks, and clean-up a few dump trucks worth of debris. It’s physical work, and we’re supremely appreciative!

Here’s a recap of what those hardworking hands accomplished:

Otter Creek Cove Causeway Clean-up on April 13

The causeway was overcome with debris left by the storm. 12 students with Husson University’s Conservation Law Club came out, with support from two of Acadia’s Maintenance staff (one utilizing the new tractor FOA purchased the park) and removed one trailer and two dump trucks full of seaweed, torn up trail stabilization materials, and broken trees and limbs from the causeway, and staged another three dump trucks full of material to be removed.

A volunteers tosses a rock into a pile during a clean-up event on the Schoodic Peninsula. (Photo by Brady Richards/NPS)

Schoodic’s Outbound Road Clean-up on May 1

The outbound road had tons of cobbles pushed to the inland side of the road, resulting in rocks encroachment on wetland, blocked culverts, and filling green spaces that were used by pedestrians to walk safely out of the roadway. 12 volunteers from the general public came and worked in three different locations to remove the rocks. To support these efforts, the entirety of the Schoodic Maintenance Team came out with heavy equipment, and road flaggers to assist with the work and to make sure everyone was safe.

Event co-leaders talk to volunteers during a volunteer clean-up. (Photo by Brady Richards/NPS)

Volunteers work alongside the Schoodic Maintenance Team to move rocks from Schoodic’s outbound road. (Photo by Brady Richards/NPS)

Seawall Picnic Area Clean-up on May 3

The picnic area suffered extensive tree damage, cobbles blocking roadways, and displaced picnic tables. 28 volunteers from the general public came out to move all of the cut tree debris to an accessible location for park Maintenance teams to remove.

A volunteers drags a fallen tree toward a nearby stack at Seawall picnic area. Volunteers helped remove the fallen trees after they were processed by the Acadia maintenance staff. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Two volunteers remove fallen trees after they were processed by the Acadia maintenance staff. (Photos by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

A volunteers carries branches to a pile a Seawall picnic area. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

Group photo featuring volunteers and event co-leaders from Acadia National Park and Friends of Acadia at Seawall picnic area. (Photo by Julia Walker Thomas/Friends of Acadia)

If you’d like to lend a hand, volunteers will be assisting in many other ways with storm damage clean-up through the park as integrated into the Drop-in Stewardship Volunteer Program, run by Friends of Acadia in partnership with Acadia National Park. The program gears up again the first week of June and runs three days a week through October. No experience necessary. Learn More.