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)

BAR HARBOR, MAINE – More than four hundred enthusiastic volunteers have registered to rake leaves and clear drainage ditches along miles of Acadia National Park’s carriage roads in the 32nd Annual Take Pride in Acadia Day to be held Saturday, Nov. 5th.

The annual event is designed to bring the community together and prepare the carriage roads for overwintering. The well-coordinated volunteer effort focuses on areas where clogged drainage ditches and culverts could result in considerable damage to road surfaces during the freeze-and-thaw cycles of a coastal Maine winter. This work is vital to the park’s ability to keep the carriage roads in pristine condition.

Take Pride in Acadia Day is sponsored by Friends of Acadia and facilitated by Acadia National Park to support maintenance of the historic carriage roads. Because of the size and format of the event, pre-registration was required and is now closed.

This year’s event is a hybrid-model with assigned groups meeting at their assigned carriage road work sites at the beginning of the day and then all coming together at Noon at Acadia National Park Headquarters for the traditional lunch of hot chili, cornbread, cake, and cider. Volunteers will also hear from Acadia National Park Deputy Superintendent Brandon Bies and Friends of Acadia President and CEO Eric Stiles.

Take Pride in Acadia Day would not be possible without generous support from the community.

Thank you to this year’s event sponsors:
A.B. & J.R. Hodgkins
Acadia Bike & Coastal Kayaking Tours
Acadia Park Company/Acadia Shops
The Asticou Inn
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
Bar Harbor Savings & Loan
The Bluenose Inn
Burdick & Associates Landscape Design
Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars
Galyn’s
John Williams Boat Company
Jordan Pond House – ExplorUS
The Knowles Company
The Lynam Agencies
Machias Savings Bank
MDI Grows
Mount Desert Island Hospital
Nelson F. Goodwin Company
Windowpanes

See all the event details: Take Pride in Acadia Day: Nov. 5, 2022!

• Annual Take Pride in Acadia Day draws more than 400 volunteers – via Mount Desert Island