The Midcoast Stewards Program public celebration and recruitment meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 26, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the River Grill on Main Street in Damariscotta. There will be a brief presentation about the value of volunteerism to local conservation organizations, time to ask questions about the program and a chance to learn about conservation and environmental projects available to volunteers. Attendees can also meet local citizens who have been involved in the program in past years to learn about their experiences. Refreshments will be served. Call the Maine Coastal Program at 287-1486 if planning to attend.
The Midcoast Stewards Program offers an opportunity to learn natural and cultural history from a variety of professionals in the field and a chance to serve a conservation organization by volunteering throughout the year. The program educates volunteers about local cultural and natural resources, giving them the knowledge they need to protect and conserve the coastal environment. Through these efforts a network of educated and committed volunteers is created who can work together to conserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of midcoast Maine. Curricula topics include coastal ecology, geologic history, sustainable fisheries management, marine mammals and birds, water quality monitoring and estuarine studies.
This spring the Midcoast Stewards Program will meet April 22 through May 20, on Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Class format includes lectures and discussions as well as many field trips and hands-on experiences. Participants will learn directly from professionals working for local land trusts, the Lobster Conservancy, the Maine Department of Marine Resources and the Maine Geological Survey. After completing the free course, participants commit to 30 hours of volunteer service during the next year with a conservation organization of their choice. The program is hosted by the Damariscotta River Association and sponsored by the Maine Coastal Program in the Maine State Planning Office.
The application deadline is Friday, April 4. Applications are available from the Maine Coastal Program at 287-1486 or the Damariscotta River Association at 563-1393. Applications are also available at www.maine.gov/spo/mcp.