Stewardship

A Commitment to Stewardship

The mission of the Maine Island Trail Association is:

To establish a model of thoughtful use and volunteer stewardship for the Maine islands that will assure their conservation in a natural state while providing an exceptional recreational asset that is maintained and cared for by the people who use it.

We hope that you will be a thoughtful steward of Maine’s islands by acting as a respectful visitor, adhering to island use guidelines and following Leave No Trace practices. It is MITA’s belief that we all need access to remote places for renewal and inspiration and that we all share an ethical responsibility to protect and care for these lands. In addition to practicing responsible recreation and supporting the work of MITA and other environmental nonprofits, there are many ways that you can engage actively in stewardship on the coast. For more information on the following, please visit: www.mita.org/connect/volunteer.

Participate in an Island Cleanup

Join a MITA work party to clean island shorelines of marine debris, maintain walking trails, and complete seasonal stewardship tasks. The cleanups are open to everyone and offer a chance to experience new islands and enjoy good company while helping provide vital stewardship services.

Sign up to Adopt an Island

Through MITA’s Adopt an Island Program, volunteer members can sign up to serve as steward for one or more Trail island. Adopters make occasional visits to the island using their own boat to clean shorelines and campsites, dismantle unauthorized fire rings, record information about island conditions, and educate visitors about low-impact practices.

Become a Monitor Skipper

MITA monitor skippers are experienced small boaters who volunteer to use MITA workboats to check groups of Trail islands throughout the recreational use season. Skippers typically talk to visitors about low-impact practices, walk shorelines and trails, inspect and clean campsites, and record information about recreational use activity on the islands.

Volunteer at Events or Help in the Office

We are always looking for energetic and outgoing volunteers to help represent MITA at trade shows and other events. Also we often need help with mailings, data entry, and other tasks in our Portland office.

Sign an Island Logbook or Submit a Coastal Island Use Log

Many Trail islands contain island logbooks. By registering your visit you help provide valuable information to guide our management and stewardship efforts. Alternatively, you could report your experience using a Coastal Island Use Log, which can be submitted electronically or printed and mailed to the office. Visit www.mita.org/connect/ciul to submit a report or download a paper copy.