Monitor skippers are experienced small boaters who check on groups of Trail islands using MITA workboats during the summer season. On their monitoring runs, skippers land on several islands and record a range of information on island health, campsite condition, and recreational use. Monitor skippers also perform valuable stewardship services while they are on the islands such as cleaning shorelines, tidying campsites and trails, and educating island visitors about Leave No Trace practices. Skippers are trained in island monitoring techniques, boating safety, Leave No Trace, and stewardship procedures during an annual skipper meeting. Working with the skippers, MITA sets up a coordinated schedule of monitoring runs for each region of the coast in accordance with each volunteer’s time and location preference and availability. Skippers also serve as boat drivers for MITA island cleanups and work projects.

Why Monitor The Islands?

MITA began actively monitoring a few dozen Trail islands in 1993 as part of a multi-year study of recreational use on the Maine coast. Since that time, we have expanded our monitoring and stewardship activities and the breadth of the monitoring program to include most of the islands on the Maine Island Trail. Through monitoring, we are able to get a steady stream of data on recreational use of the islands and frequent input on the condition of the islands, their campsites and walking trails. In addition to recurrent information gathering, regular monitoring allows us to keep up with island stewardship efforts such as addressing shoreline flotsam and unauthorized fire rings, and to provide on-site Leave No Trace education to island visitors.

How Do I Become A Monitor Skipper?

Volunteers interested in becoming a monitor skipper should contact the MITA office at 207-761-8225 or stewards@mita.org to get more information. Prospective skippers should be experienced boaters and must complete an apprenticeship training. The training includes:

• Completion of a skills and experience questionnaire
• Attendance at the annual spring skipper meeting
• Multiple training runs with veteran monitor skippers
• Final “check-ride” by a seasoned skipper or MITA staff