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Friends of Acadia

Friends of Acadia

Protecting One Of Earth’s Most Magnificent Places

Encompassing 45,000 acres on two islands and a mainland peninsula on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is a jewel of granite mountains, filigreed coastlines, unique cultural resources, dazzling night skies, and precious communities of plant and animal life. Drawing more than 2.5 million visitors each year, Acadia is one of the ten most popular national parks in the US. It is also one of the smallest and most vulnerable.

This is why Friends of Acadia exists. We are an independent organization of passionate people, inspiring those who love this magnificent place to make a real and lasting difference for Acadia. The first US national park originally created by private donations of land, Acadia today is protected and enriched by the members and volunteers of Friends of Acadia. Whether volunteering on one of Acadia’s historic hiking trails, making a donation to protect threatened park lands, helping to maintain the Wild Gardens of Acadia, or supporting Friends of Acadia through an annual membership, our members and volunteers participate in a tradition of private philanthropy that began long before George Bucknam Dorr established Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 and will continue as long as people love and appreciate Acadia National Park’s spectacular scenery, rich ecology, and abundant opportunities to experience nature.

Carriage Road in Acadia National Park/Rebecca Latson

                                                           Carriage Road/Rebecca Latson

Our Areas of Focus

Each year, Friends of Acadia works with Acadia National Park to identify places and projects where FOA’s effective mix of private philanthropy, volunteerism, innovative leadership, and strong partnerships will most benefit the park’s critical needs. Through conservation grants, volunteer mobilization, programs, and advocacy, we work in the following areas:

Wild Acadia: Protecting Acadia’s lands and natural resources

Trails and Carriage Roads: Preserving and protecting Acadia’s most beloved cultural resources

The Acadia Experience: Through transportation and related initiatives, ensuring a high-quality visitor experience today and forever

Tomorrow’s Stewards: Engaging today’s youth in Acadia and the outdoors

In addition, Friends of Acadia is providing leadership for the celebration of the 2016 Acadia Centennial. See www.acadiacentennial2016.org for history, visitor information, and more about the year-long celebration.

Friends of Acadia draws on that deep well of individual love for this remarkable place to help meet Acadia’s greatest and most pressing needs. Friends of Acadia has resources, nimbleness, and flexibility to accomplish things that the park cannot do on its own—not to replace, but to enhance the park’s federal support. With your help, we:

• Make crucial conservation grants to the park and communities

• Recruit and lead a corps of enthusiastic volunteers • Defend the area against emerging and ongoing threats

• Advocate for Acadia before Congress and the Maine legislature

Our mission includes the surrounding communities. This commitment to work toward the protection of Acadia, both inside and out of its boundaries, reflects the interwoven character of the park. Founded in 1986, Friends of Acadia is today a leading example of citizen stewardship at national parks, and a place where personal connections to the park are translated into a remarkable collective impact. We bring people together and find solutions that work—to benefit Acadia now and for all time.

“It is an opportunity of singular interest, so to develop and preserve the wild charm and beauty of this unique spot on our Atlantic coast that future generations may rejoice in it yet more than we…” —George Bucknam Dorr

Friends of Acadia volunteers/FOA
Volunteers play a huge role in helping the Park Service at Acadia National Park/FOA

Volunteering for Acadia

Acadia National Park was created by the individual efforts of people who loved this place and were motivated to care for it. Today, you can be a part of this legacy by volunteering in the park with Friends of Acadia. Whether you volunteer for a few hours, a few months, or year after year, you’ll see a new side of Acadia, feel a deeper connection to the park, and leave this national treasure a little better than you found it.

From drop-in trails and carriage road work projects and one-day volunteer events, to season-long or greater commitment to a specific project, Friends of Acadia has volunteer opportunities for everyone.

Learn more at this site

 

 

Support Acadia National Park, Donate To Friends of Acadia

With your gift to Friends of Acadia you are helping to protect the natural and cultural treasures of Acadia National Park for future generations.

Your gift is an investment in Acadia’s future, helping us to fund important ongoing programs and new initiatives—from carriage road and trail maintenance to land protection, youth-powered projects, and much more. You can even donate on behalf of someone, or give to our annual fund.

Simply joining Friends of Acadia helps us accomplish projects that benefit the park. Thank you!

Donate now by clicking here. 

Heart stone, Hunters Beach, Acadia National Park/FOA

Heart-shaped stone on Hunter's Beach, Acadia National Park/FOA

Friends of Acadia Journal

The Friends of Acadia Journal

With your annual membership-level donation of $35 or more, you will receive the Friends of Acadia Journal three times per year. With features about Acadia National Park’s history, resources, and programs, news about Friends of Acadia’s projects and activities, and information about how to get involved, the Friends of Acadia Journal is a great way to stay connected to Acadia National Park, all year long.

Through the Journal's articles you'll learn about interesting research being conducted in the park, fascinating places in Acadia, advocacy work being done on behalf of the park, and projects that you can help succeed.

Read more from the Journal.

 

 

 

Stewardship Volunteer Program

Carriage road tunnel at Acadia National Park/RLatson

A tunnel along the carriage roads in Acadia National Park/Rebecca Latson

Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park/Kurt Repanshek

 

Acadia National Park's coastline/Colleen Miniuk-Sperry

Acadia National Park's rocky coastline/Colleen Miniuk-Sperry Latson

 

Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park

Sunrise from Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park