In celebration of 2011, we at the Maine Island Trail Association wanted to express our heartfelt appreciation for everything you have done for the Trail over the past year.

As winter settles over the coast, please allow us to bring a little bit of the Trail directly to your living room.

Please click on the movie below (or click here to view full-screen) and enjoy some images that remind us of what makes Maine's islands unique and so valuable to us.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2012!

Sincerely,
Doug Welch Executive Director

Andy Stewart circumnavigates the Fox Islands in his 15′ Chester Yawl. A short film featuring stunning scenery and a welcome reminder of the Trail as we enter into the winter ahead.

Maine Island Trail from Andy Stewart on Vimeo.

The Fall 2011 cleanups have been scheduled on the following dates:

• September 10 - Downeast (FULL)
• September 17 - MDI (FULL)
• October 1 - Stonington (FULL)
• October 8 - Muscongus Bay (FULL)
• October 15 - Casco Bay (CANCELED)

How Do I Sign Up?
To sign up for a cleanup please visit the signup form or if you have questions not addressed here, email pkenlan@mita.org. The cleanups tend to fill up fast so it is best to reserve your spot early. MITA trusts that all volunteers who sign up for a cleanup will honor their commitment (rain or shine) or cancel with sufficient notice so that we may offer your spot to another interested person. If you own a powerboat and would like to use it for a cleanup, please let us know.

Volunteers and staff spent an afternoon with Bill Green, of Bill Green's Maine paddling out to Little Snow Island to replace logbooks that had been removed and to add signage.

Thanks to people like you, the Maine Island Trail (MIT), is being recognized by Outside magazine as the Best Sea Kayaking Trail in the nation.

The MIT surpassed other premier sea kayaking routes, including Wisconsin's Apostle Islands and Washington State's San Juan Islands, to earn the Top Trail nod in Outside's "America's Best Trails" feature, which will run in the July issue.

"We are gratified that the Trail continues to receive national recognition as a one-of-a-kind boating destination," said Doug Welch, Executive Director. "It's a reflection of the hard work and support of our members, volunteers, and partners, who are all strive to make the Trail a world class recreational boating experience."

On Saturday June 4th, The Maine Island Trail Association worked with 24 volunteers to clear trails, pick up trash, clean campsites and post signs on two popular public islands in Casco Bay: Jewell and Little Chebeague. By the end of the day volunteers had filled three dumpsters with debris removed from the islands.

The study concludes that activity by visitors to the Trail contributes over $1.75 million per year in spending to the Maine economy. Spending by out-of-state visitors is particularly high, independently generating more in tax revenues than the State invests in the Trail each year. An extensive cover story in the April 17th Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram details how the study was conducted and presents an overview of the results.

READ THE ARTICLE >>

Check out the events calendar for a listing of our spring island cleanups. Be sure to sign up early - they tend to fill up fast!

• Stonington, June 18 (FULL)
• Downeast, June 25 (FULL)

Cleanups are generally scheduled to begin around 9:00am and return you to the launch point by 3:00pm. The Stonington and Downeast cleanups generally involve camping out the night before.

To sign up, or for more info, please e-mail pkenlan@mita.org.