Fall/Winter 2016 Volume 21 No. 3 A Magazine about Acadia National Park and Surrounding Communities Friends of Acadia Journal Fall/Winter 2016 1 President’s Message FOA AT 30 hen a handful of volunteers And the impact of this work extends at Acadia National Park and beyond Acadia: this fall I attended a Wforward-looking park staff to- conference at the Grand Canyon, where gether founded Friends of Acadia in 1986, I heard how several other friends groups their goal was to provide more opportuni- from around the country are modeling ties for citizens to give back to this beloved their efforts after FOA’s best practices place that gave them so much. Many were and historic successes. Closer to home, avid hikers willing to help with trail up- community members in northern Maine keep. Others were concerned about dwin- have already reached out to FOA for tips dling park funding coming from Washing- as they contemplate a friends group for the ton. Those living in the surrounding towns newly-established Katahdin Woods and shared a desire to help a large federal agen- Waters National Monument. cy better understand and work with our As the brilliant fall colors seemed to small Maine communities. hang on longer than ever at Acadia this These visionaries may or may not year, I enjoyed a late-October morning on have predicted the challenges and the Precipice Trail. The young peregrine opportunities facing Acadia at the dawn FOA falcons had fledged, and the re-opened trail of its second century—such as climate featured a few new rungs and hand-holds change, transportation planning, cruise and partners whom we hope will remain made possible by a generous FOA donor. I ship visitation, youth engagement, committed to the long-term stewardship of miraculously had the route all to myself— and habitat fragmentation—but they Acadia. until I approached the summit, where I anticipated perfectly that Acadia would I am often asked by our members if heard voices and a cell phone beeping. I benefit and thrive from greater community FOA’s success might tempt Congress to was trying not to feel grumpy about sharing involvement. They might not have pare back funding for Acadia in favor of the mountain, when I suddenly took in the predicted that FOA would grant more “needier” parks with less philanthropic or gist of the conversation: a young couple than $25 million to Acadia National Park volunteer involvement. Our experience has, had just gotten engaged atop Champlain, and surrounding communities over its first in fact, proven just the opposite. Since FOA and they were calling to tell their parents three decades. But they understood that raised funds to restore Acadia’s trail system the news. the needs going forward would be great, through the Acadia Trails Forever campaign Winded from my climb and more than and that an organization like FOA would more than a decade ago, the amount of a bit weary from this wild and wonderful need to be built to last. Thirty years is not a federal grants that the park has received for centennial year at Acadia, I felt a jolt of long time for an organization that is “in the trail work has increased dramatically. excitement for this new beginning and perpetuity business,” but thanks to all of Meanwhile, as appropriations for park raised my water bottle in a toast to the you, the collective impact we have already operating budgets have remained largely flat couple. I hope that 2016 will always be a had is significant and lasting. during that time, the only glimmer of hope special year for them, as it will be for me I have often thought of FOA’s founders for additional federal funding has been in and all of us at FOA. Thanks to everyone during 2016, as we work to make our the form of challenge grant opportunities. who has helped Friends of Acadia climb organization stronger and more sustainable FOA’s ability to provide dependable to new heights over its first thirty years— to carry on the mission they began. Our matching funds from the private sector and now, onward to the trail leading into Second Century Campaign, announced makes Acadia very competitive in applying Acadia’s second century! this summer, is providing vital financial for these new federal dollars. Last year, resources to protect our park from threats Acadia won a Centennial Challenge grant, posed by changes in our world, like growing which FOA matched, to help reclaim scenic visitation and a warming climate. And vistas from Acadia’s motor and carriage —David R. MacDonald our deep involvement in the community- roads; this year, we matched Centennial driven Acadia Centennial celebration is Challenge funding that helped to bring strengthening a network of businesses more Maine schoolchildren to visit Acadia. Friends of Acadia Journal Fall/Winter 2016 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Edward L. Samek, Chair Hank Schmelzer, Treasurer John Fassak, Vice Chair Emily Beck, Secretary Brownie Carson Gail Clark Linda Jensen Hannah Sistare Clark Jan Kärst Fall/Winter 2016 Andrew Davis Jack Kelley Bill Eacho Rob Leary Volume 21 No. 3 Dave Edson Story Litchfield Nathaniel Fenton Meredith Moriarty A Magazine about Acadia National Park and Surrounding Communities Elsie Flemings Lili Pew Jill Goldthwait Jack Russell C. Boyden Gray Nonie Sullivan Anne Green Christiaan van Heerden Cookie Horner Julie Veilleux Bill Zoellick HONORARY TRUSTEES Eleanor Ames Phoebe Milliken Robert and Anne Bass George J. and Heather Curtis and Patricia Blake Mitchell Sylvia Blake Joseph Murphy Frederic A. Bourke Jr. Janneke Neilson Tristram and Ruth Colket Nancy Nimick Gail Cook Jack Perkins Shelby and Gale Davis Nancy Pyne Dianna Emory Nathaniel P. Reed Frances Fitzgerald Ann R. Roberts Sheldon Goldthwait David Rockefeller Neva Goodwin Jeannine Ross Paul and Eileen Growald Howard Solomon Paul Haertel Erwin Soule Lee Judd Diana Davis Spencer FEATURE ARTICLES Debby Lash Julia Merck Utsch 7 A Lead Gift for Youth at Acadia Lisa Horsch Clark Linda Lewis Dick Wolf Liz Martinez The Second Century Campaign inspires Acadia’s future 8 30 Candles for Friends of Acadia Aimee Beal Church EMERITUS TRUSTEES We’re tooting our own (party) horn! W. Kent Olson Charles R. Tyson Jr. 10 Acoustic Ecology and the Acadia Soundscapes Frederick Bianchi FRIENDS OF ACADIA STAFF Student researchers stop to listen in the park Mary Boëchat David R. MacDonald Development Officer President & CEO 12 Where Science, Nature, and Beauty Co-Mingle Natalie Overton Sharon Broom Diana R. McDowell Two siblings forge a connection with Acadia Development Officer Director of Finance & Administration Aimee Beal Church 14 Men Can’t Move Mountains, but Mountains Do Move Men Charlie Jacobi Communications Director Carol Potter The summits of George Dorr and Percival Baxter Finance & Development Stephanie Clement Assistant Conservation Director 32 Why I’m a Friend of Acadia Al Wiberly Mike Staggs More is Hidden than Visible Lisa Horsch Clark Office Manager Director of Development Paige Steele Sarah Curts Conservation Projects Accounting & ACTIVITIES AND DEPARTMENTS Manager Administrative Associate Julia Walker Thomas 1 President’s Message FOA at 30 Shawn Keeley Communications Assistant Senior Development Officer 3 Superintendent’s View Getting There from Here in Acadia 5 Special People Brenda Beckett and Howie Motenko 6 Where in Acadia? 20 Updates PRST STD 30 Recommended Reading U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEWISTON, MAINE PERMIT #82 2 Fall/Winter 2016 Friends of Acadia Journal m Blagden To Friends of Acadia preserves, protects, and promotes stewardship of the outstanding natural beauty, ecological vitality, and distinctive cultural resources of Acadia National Park and surrounding communities for the inspiration and enjoyment of current and future generations. Friends of Acadia 43 Cottage Street PO Box 45 Bar Harbo r, Maine 04609 207-288-3340 800-625-0321 Superintendent’s View GETTING THERE FROM HERE IN ACADIA s I write this column, Acadia Na- funded the development of a model analyz- tional Park is releasing the prelimi- ing congestion on the summit of Cadillac Anary concepts for its long-needed Mountain, which will help us identify levels transportation plan. The transportation of traffic that lead to traffic problems there. plan represents an important moment for FOA’s Cadillac Summit Stewards have been Acadia as we try to determine how to best key to helping us manage visitor use on Ca- provide safe and efficient transportation dillac. Dollars raised through FOA’s Second and maintain a high-quality visitor experi- Century Campaign can help with potentially ence, while also protecting the integrity of significant costs of implementing pieces of park resources and values. the preferred alternative, once it is identified. This summer, I saw for myself just why Friends of Acadia is also an important and a transportation plan is so important to well-respected voice in the public discus- Acadia’s future. I saw parking lots overflow- sion about transportation in Acadia; as part ing with cars, visitors unable to park, and of the FOA community you are a part of Island Explorer buses jammed to capacity. that. Although the public comment period NPS/Kristi Rugg This summer we closed the Cadillac Sum- for the preliminary concepts will be over by mit Road on nine occasions due to extreme The preliminary concepts for the trans- the time this column is published, you will congestion. To me, these conditions indicate portation plan are conversation starters and have the opportunity to review and com- real issues that must be addressed. represent a variety of possibilities. Ideas in- ment on the draft plan and environmental In addition to the challenges we are expe- clude establishing a reservation system for impact statement in 2017. And I continue to riencing now, we also need to be prepared private vehicles, using queuing to manage benefit from the one-on-one conversations for the future.