Each year, volunteers contribute more than 25,000 hours to Acadia National Park. Visitors, residents, families, school groups, scouts, clubs, and businesses—people just like you—help care for the trails, carriage roads, campgrounds, museums, libraries, offices, summits, and shores of Acadia.

Almost 2,000 people annually make the time to give something back to the only national park in Maine. Most people work for half a day or more on the trails or carriage roads. A few spend several months working in various locations throughout the park.

The following questions will introduce you to Acadia’s Volunteers In Parks program. Discover why our volunteers are truly VIPs.

What types of work can volunteers do?
We have a wide variety of opportunities including, but certainly not limited to, the categories listed below. For details about current openings, visit the links above.

How long do volunteers work?
This depends on the specific projects, the requirements of the supervisor, and your schedule. Generally, supervisors are interested in working with volunteers who can stay with us at least one month and preferably longer. Most volunteers work with us for two to four months and many return year after year. Volunteers staying in the park can expect to work three to five days per week.

Where do volunteers live?
While the park would like to be able to provide housing for any volunteer who needs it, our housing is very limited and restricts the number of volunteers we can accept. Very few volunteers get park housing during the summer months. For volunteers with their own travel trailers or RVs, we can sometimes provide a trailer pad with utility connections. Camping in one of the park campgrounds may be an option for some. Local rentals can be difficult to find during the summer season and will, most likely, be very expensive.

What qualifications do volunteers need?
Requirements vary, depending on what role you would like to play in the park. Let us know your volunteer work interests, and the appropriate supervisor can tell you what qualifications we seek for that position. All applications will receive consideration without regard to race, creed, national origin, sex, age, color, political affiliation, or physical handicap.

How do I apply?
Please request a copy of Acadia’s Volunteer Application Form from the volunteer coordinator. On-line applications are not available at this time. Applications are reviewed and distributed to supervisors twice each year—usually March and September. Supervisors, not the volunteer coordinator, will contact qualified applicants directly, considering their needs and upcoming projects. Many more people apply to Acadia than we can possibly accept. Nor can we contact everyone who submits an application. Every effort is made to secure volunteers as early as possible, so if you don’t receive an initial call by late April (for summer positions) you should assume we are unable to offer you a position.

What does the park provide?
When required by the job, the park supplies uniform shirts, hats, and jackets. It is not Acadia’s policy to offer any stipends for volunteers.

Are there any short-term opportunities?
Friends of Acadia sponsors volunteer work crews every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings, meeting at 8:30 a.m. June through Columbus Day for work on the park’s trails and carriage roads. These crews, open to everyone, spend approximately four hours clearing drainage ways, brushing, clipping, blazing, and rebuilding stone cairns. Tools and work gloves are provided. For more information, call 207-288-3934.

What about groups?
Volunteer groups can tackle numerous jobs. Some will take only a few hours, while some are ongoing projects good for a full day or more. Most frequently groups assist Acadia's effort to restore the carriage roads. Work includes fixing stone retaining walls, which requires removing and replacing rocks by hand. This project requires a week’s commitment for several strong bodies and is not for the faint of heart. In other areas, vegetation, rocks, and other detritus need to be removed from alongside the roads to prevent leaf dams from forming and flooding the road. This ongoing project is good for all ages from young teens on up. Additionally many areas of carriage roads have encroaching vegetation, which must be removed before it grows into the roads. Past years' projects have also included trail work, picnic area restoration, beach clean-ups, and wood splitting in the campgrounds.

We have regularly scheduled work days and times that fit the needs of most groups. We can work together to schedule other times and projects.

Groups who want to camp and volunteer at Acadia should make their campground reservations first. Reservations are made in writing through the park's dispatch office, but are not accepted before March 15. Arrangements for volunteering should be made with the volunteer coordinator at 207-288-8716 after the campground reservation has been confirmed. In exchange for a half day of volunteering, the park can waive camping fees for one night (two nights for a full day, etc.). Campground fee waivers can only be granted if advance arrangements are made. Lead time of a month or two is usually plenty for scheduling volunteer work.

Who do I contact for more information?
To find out more about volunteering at Acadia, contact the volunteer coordinator at 207-288-8716 or by e-mail.