Protecting One Of Earth’s Most Magnificent Places

Encompassing 45,000 acres on two islands and a mainland peninsula on the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is a jewel of granite mountains, filigreed coastlines, unique cultural resources, dazzling night skies, and precious communities of plant and animal life. Drawing more than 2.5 million visitors each year, Acadia is one of the ten most popular national parks in the US. It is also one of the smallest and most vulnerable.

This is why Friends of Acadia exists. We are an independent organization of passionate people, inspiring those who love this magnificent place to make a real and lasting difference for Acadia. The first US national park originally created by private donations of land, Acadia today is protected and enriched by the members and volunteers of Friends of Acadia. Whether volunteering on one of Acadia’s historic hiking trails, making a donation to protect threatened park lands, helping to maintain the Wild Gardens of Acadia, or supporting Friends of Acadia through an annual membership, our members and volunteers participate in a tradition of private philanthropy that began long before George Bucknam Dorr established Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916 and will continue as long as people love and appreciate Acadia National Park’s spectacular scenery, rich ecology, and abundant opportunities to experience nature.

Friends of Acadia draws on that deep well of individual love for this remarkable place to help meet Acadia’s greatest and most pressing needs. Friends of Acadia has resources, nimbleness, and flexibility to accomplish things that the park cannot do on its own—not to replace, but to enhance the park’s federal support. With your help, we:

• Make crucial conservation grants to the park and communities

• Recruit and lead a corps of enthusiastic volunteers • Defend the area against emerging and ongoing threats

• Advocate for Acadia before Congress and the Maine legislature

Our mission includes the surrounding communities. This commitment to work toward the protection of Acadia, both inside and out of its boundaries, reflects the interwoven character of the park. Founded in 1986, Friends of Acadia is today a leading example of citizen stewardship at national parks, and a place where personal connections to the park are translated into a remarkable collective impact. We bring people together and find solutions that work—to benefit Acadia now and for all time.

“It is an opportunity of singular interest, so to develop and preserve the wild charm and beauty of this unique spot on our Atlantic coast that future generations may rejoice in it yet more than we…” —George Bucknam Dorr