Volunteers
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Maine Island Trail Association. MITA’s ongoing stewardship of hundreds of wild coastal islands and mainland sites would not be possible without the help of a legion of committed volunteers. Whether combating the human-generated marine debris that accumulates on island shores each year or spreading the Leave No Trace message to recreational boaters, volunteers continue to make a lasting, positive impact on the health and vitality of Maine’s coastal islands.
Volunteer Excellence
While every MITA volunteer contributes in a unique and meaningful way to our mission of caring for the coast, each year we like to recognize a select few that go “above and beyond” to help us ensure that our organizational goals are met and that our stewardship projects are successful. The following volunteers received MITA recognition awards this year.
David Shultz - Spirit of Stewardship: who volunteered to sort through countless boxes of accounting files for archiving, and for his work with the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust.
Lindsay Hancock - Spirit of the Trail: for her work to create a spring auction event that raised over $9,000 for MITA.
Old Quarry Ocean Adventures - Spirit of Partnership: for years of support as a base of operations for local stewardship efforts including hauling away truckloads of trash after the spring and fall cleanups.
Scotty Folger - Margaret C. Emerson Spirit of Giving: for her steadfast participation in spring and fall cleanups and for her creative, numerous and ongoing contributions to support the Trail, including a kayak this year.
Sid Quarrier - Dave and Dorrie Getchell Spirit of MITA: for his 22 years as one of MITA's elder statesmen, for mentoring generations of monitor skippers, for his encyclopedic knowledge of the coast, and for helping to make MITA what it is today!
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Awardees received custom MITA hats and a woven doormat from the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation made from floating groundline. Buying floating groundline from the lobstermen allows them to switch to sinking line, and helps prevent whale entanglements. For more information on the mats visit www.gomlf.org. Sid Quarrier also received a special custom plaque courtesy of Salt Water Workshop.
How Do I Get Involved? There are many ways to help keep Maine’s islands wild and pristine. Explore some of the exciting volunteer opportunities listed below to find out how to turn your passion for the coast into stewardship action.
