Spring 2010 Volume 15 No
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Spring 2010 Volume 15 No. 1 A Magazine about Acadia National Park and Surrounding Communities JOIN ACADIA QUEST …AND HAVE A BLAST! Acadia Quest is a team challenge for kids and adults to learn, explore, and protect Acadia National Park. Here’s how it works: • Register your team (must include at least one person under age 18 and one adult)—and receive a free season pass to Acadia National Park ($40 value). • Choose six fun activities from our Acadia Quest List. • Complete your Quest and qualify to win a special grand prize from Acadia Quest sponsor L.L. Bean!* For more information and to register your team, visit www.friendsofacadia.org/events/quest, or contact Terry The Lewis Family of Marlboro, NJ, 2009 Acadia Quest winners, take Begley at 207-288-3340 or [email protected]. a break after a morning of volunteering in Acadia National Park. Sponsored by Acadia National Park, Friends of Acadia, and L.L Bean, Acadia Quest is a creative *Prizes will be awarded on Saturday, November 6, 2010, scavenger hunt that connects kids to the outdoors. at Take Pride in Acadia Day, the last Quest activity for 2010. President’s Column WORK WORTH DOING pring has come early to Acadia National Park this year, with leaves and blossoms Sunfurling at least two weeks ahead of “Far and away the best prize schedule. The season finds Friends in full swing, as well, as we celebrate national recog- that life has to offer is the nition and successful advocacy—and join chance to work hard at work partners near and far in response to an urgent new call for conservation of our national worth doing.” parks and other outdoor places. —Theodore Roosevelt On March 23, the National Parks Conserv- ation Association (NPCA) honored Friends with its annual Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Agriculture co-hosted the conference, Citizen Conservationist award in Washington, during which President Obama called on pri- D.C. The award recognizes Friends’ conser- vate citizens, communities, and organizations vation partnership with the National Park to join with his administration to conserve Service and our strong, effective advocacy for our outdoor spaces and protect our natural Acadia National Park (see page 21 for our resources. Tapping the legacy of Theodore latest success: Maine’s passage of legislation Roosevelt, who convened the first national regulating loaded firearms in the park). conference on conservation in 1908, this NPCA Board Chairman Alan Lacy pre- initiative for the 21st century is mandated sented the award, which cited Friends’ to build on conservation successes across the Hogan Noreen multifaceted work on behalf of Acadia. country, and supports the efforts of private that end, Friends continues to work to keep “From their financial support of the Island citizens and local communities. national park needs high on the new nation- Explorer bus system and the Acadia Friends of Acadia is committed to citizen al conservation agenda. Youth Conservation Corps to their much- stewardship, partnerships that engage pub- There is an opportunity for everyone to get emulated Acadia Trails Forever campaign, lic agencies and private non-profit organ- involved. Individuals working in partner- anyone who has visited Acadia National izations, and creative conservation that pro- ship as “Friends” of the park can accomplish Park has benefitted from Friends of Acadia’s tects our public spaces and communities. We great things. The Obama Administration efforts to protect and enhance that special commend this Administration for their stat- will hold listening sessions on the America’s place,” Lacy said. ed commitment to urge Congress to perma- Great Outdoors initiative around the coun- Lacy added that Friends’ impact extends nently fund the Land and Water Conservation try. We will keep our members posted about well beyond Acadia, noting our leadership, Fund by 2014 to at least $900 million a opportunities to tell their stories about the ability to inspire broad based philanthropy, year, as originally authorized 40 years ago. importance of our national parks—of Acadia and courage to lead effective advocacy cam- Naturally, we ask where our national parks National Park—to this administration. paigns. “We have benefitted from your lead- fit into the agenda for this new call to action. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Far and away ership and perspective in so many ways— These outdoor places—each stunningly the best prize that life has to offer is the from your amicus brief in the guns litigation unique—represent our shared inheritance. chance to work hard at work worth doing.” to your work on annual appropriations, Our care, attention, stewardship, and advo- We look forward to working hard with including the Land and Water Conservation cacy will ensure that these living treasures all of you, and as always, we extend our heart- Fund, and the Centennial Challenge.” will be handed down, healthy and intact, felt thanks for joining Friends in protect- While we are deeply honored by the award, to those who come after us. At Acadia, this ing and preserving Acadia—work well so much work remains to be done. On April means conserving the privately-held, un- worth doing. 16, Friends was invited to join 200 leaders protected properties within the park’s of nonprofit organizations, communities, and boundaries; hiring park rangers to share state and federal agencies to participate in the the wonder of Acadia’s story with all visitors White House Conference on America’s Great and to keep visitors safe; and protecting Outdoors. The Departments of the Interior Acadia’s fragile resources from threats. To —Marla O’Byrne Friends of Acadia Journal Spring 2010 1 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lili Pew, Chair Edward L. Samek, Vice Chair Joseph Murphy, Treasurer Michael Siklosi, Secretary Emily Beck Gail Clark Andrew Davis John Fassak Spring 2010 Nathaniel Fenton Volume 15 No. 1 Debby Lash Ed Lipkin Liz Martinez Barbara McLeod A Magazine about Acadia National Park and Surrounding Communities Joe Minutolo Marla S. O’Byrne Andrea Perry Jack Russell Howard Solomon Nonie Sullivan Christiaan van Heerden Sandy Walter Bill Whitman Dick Wolf Bill Zoellick HONORARY TRUSTEES Eleanor Ames Robert and Anne Bass Edward McCormick Blair Curtis and Patricia Blake Robert and Sylvia Blake Frederic A. Bourke Jr. Tristram and Ruth Colket Shelby and Gale Davis Dianna Emory Frances Fitzgerald FEATURE ARTICLES Sheldon Goldthwait Neva Goodwin 8 The Gateway Breaks Ground Stephanie Clement Paul and Eileen Growald Marking the threshold to a sustainable future John and Polly Guth Paul Haertel 10 Maine’s First Lake Catherine Schmitt Lee Judd Plumbing the secrets of Sargent Mountain Pond Julia Merck Gerrish and Phoebe Milliken 10 Membership Survey Mike Siklosi George J. and Heather Mitchell Results affirm mission and direction Janneke Neilson Nancy Nimick 14 Horsing Around in Acadia Liz Weston Jack Perkins Exploring the park by carriage or on horseback Nancy Pyne Louis Rabineau Nathaniel P. Reed Ann R. Roberts ACTIVITIES/HIGHLIGHTS David Rockefeller 7 Member Stories Patricia Scull Erwin Soule 20 Updates Diana Davis Spencer Beth Straus 21 Advocacy Corner 27 Book Review EMERITUS TRUSTEES W. Kent Olson Charles R. Tyson Jr. DEPARTMENTS FRIENDS OF ACADIA STAFF 1President’s Column Work Worth Doing Marla S. O’Byrne Theresa Begley, Projects & Events Coordinator Mary Boëchat,Development Assistant 3 Superintendent’s View Every Waking Minute Sheridan Steele Sharon Broom, Development Officer 5 Special People Mike and Mary Ann Siklosi Sharon Broom Sheree Castonguay, Accounting & Administrative Associate Stephanie Clement, Conservation Director 6 Poem On the Ridge Trina Gaynon Lisa Horsch Clark, Director of Development Diana R. McDowell, Director of Finance & Administration 28 Chairman’s Letter Working Hard to “Restore-a-Nation” Lili Pew Marla S. O’Byrne, President Mike Staggs, Office Manager 2 Spring 2010 Friends of Acadia Journal Superintendent’s View EVERY WAKING MOMENT ave you seen the television ad where and math. Furthermore, outdoor play a family is having dinner and one reduces stress and promotes weight loss. The Hchild sends a text message to the American Academy of Pediatrics recently pro- other to “pass the catsup”? Funny as it is, this claimed that outdoor and unstructured play- may not be far from reality for many teens. time is essential for children. I would like While adults spend approximately 50 hours pediatricians to prescribe at least an hour a a week working, children are spending over day of outdoor play for all children—with- 53 hours a week—more than seven-and- out an electronic gadget, of course! a-half hours a day—using electronic media, But just as importantly, kids watch and according to a recent study by the Kaiser learn by example from their parents. When Family Foundation. That’s virtually every we check e-mail, play a computer game, or waking moment outside school. Texting, watch TV instead of going for a walk, we send instant messaging, cell phones, and the a powerful message. On the other hand, Internet have become the foundation of social when we commit to making exercise and time interactions for kids today. Should we be outdoors a priority, kids take notice. They just concerned? I certainly am! Not only do these won’t admit it. electronic devices discourage direct com- Friends of Acadia, volunteers, and private munication, they consume the unscheduled donors are helping Acadia National Park time that kids could be exploring the out-of- develop a wider range of interesting and fun doors, engaging in physical activities, and Peter Travers programs to encourage young people and developing healthy life skills that they will their families to get outside. The annual need as adults. Family Fun Day, Junior Ranger, Teacher- When you were a child, your parents prob- “Not only do electronic devices Ranger-Teacher, Acadia Youth Conservation ably kicked you out of the house to play discourage direct communica- Corps, and Ridge Runner programs, in addi- outside until dinner, as mine did.