BAR HARBOR — Approximately 330 volunteers turned up on a chilly fall day to show their love for the park during the annual Take Pride in Acadia Day on November 2.

Volunteers cleared fallen leaves from drainage areas on nearly 10 miles of carriage roads in 21 locations. The effort focused on areas where clogged drainage ditches and culverts could result in significant damage to road surfaces during the freeze-and-thaw cycles of a coastal Maine winter.

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. Participants met on Saturday morning at pre-assigned parking locations to access the carriage roads.

Once done raking, volunteers came together at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center parking lot for a delicious hot lunch of the “four Cs” – chili, cornbread, cider, and cake. At lunch, remarks were given by Brandon Bies, deputy superintendent of Acadia National Park, as well as Stephanie Clement, vice president of conservation at Friends of Acadia.

Some of the hard-raking groups that participated include: Husson University Student Nurses, Footloose Friends, Jackson Labs, UMaine Green Team, Bar Harbor Savings and Loans, Maine Outdoor Adventure Club, DownEast Outing Club, UMaine Ultimate Frisbee, UMaine Tennis, LL Bean, Kappa Alpha Kappa & Psi Delta from UMaine Machias, UMaine Outing Club, and UMaine BackCountry Squatters.

“It’s wonderful to see the Acadia community come out to rake leaves and help put the carriage roads ‘to bed’ for the winter, and volunteers came out in force this year,” said Nikki Burtis, Friends of Acadia’s stewardship coordinator. “All that raking makes a difference, and it’s also excellent to see everyone come together afterward for a celebratory lunch and camaraderie. Thank you to each of the volunteers, park staff, and business sponsors whose dedication to the park made our annual Take Pride in Acadia Day so successful.”

Volunteers rake leaves onto tarps to then carry the pile into the woods and off the road during on Take Pride in Acadia Day. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Volunteers from L.L.Bean rake leaves from the carriage road during on Take Pride in Acadia Day. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

A group of volunteers gathers with rakes in hand during the 2024 Take Pride in Acadia Day.
(Photo courtesy Mike Staggs)

Volunteers from L.L.Bean rake leaves from the carriage road during on Take Pride in Acadia Day. (Evie Linantud/Friends of Acadia)

Take Pride in Acadia Day would not be possible without such wonderful support from the community. Thank you to this year’s sponsors:

Acadia Bike/Coastal Kayaking Tours, Acadia National Park, Acadia Park Company/Acadia Shops, Asticou Inn, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor Hospitality Group – A Division of Witham Family Hotels, Bar Harbor Savings & Loan, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, Beal’s Lobster Pier, Bluenose Inn, Burdick & Associates Landscape Design, Fiore Artisan Olive Oils & Vinegars, Galyn’s Restaurant, John Williams Boat Company, Jordan Pond House – ExplorUS, L.L.Bean, Machias Savings Bank, MDI Grows Landscape Services, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Orono Brewing, West Bay Acadia RV Campground, Wildland Trekking, William Blair & Company, Window Panes.

 
Additional Coverage:

Volunteers ‘show their love’ for Acadia National Park – via Mount Desert Islander

Hundreds of Volunteers Turn Out for the 34th Annual Take Pride in Acadia Day – via Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce