Volunteer - Become an MVP

"Making a Difference..."

  • A Partnership in the Care of Maine's Great Resources

What is MVP?

Maine Volunteers in Parks (MVP) is a program designed to assist the Bureau of Parks and Lands in preserving our cultural and natural resources while providing for public use and enjoyment. Maine's State Parks and Historic Sites boast numerous volunteer opportunities for nearly every age group and interest.

View the Volunteer Applications

Discover the Volunteer Spirit

Volunteers are a welcome addition to our State Park system. While experiencing personal benefits such as companionship, a sense of responsibility, work experience, and learning new skills, MVPs help to enhance the quality and provide a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors to Maine State Parks and Historic Sites. Whether you're interested in photography, history, art, maintenance work, public relations or office work, the MVP program can provide you with a meaningful volunteer experience.

Who are MVP Volunteers?

Today's volunteers are dynamic, creative, energetic individuals. Through their enthusiasm, abilities and concern, a wide variety of tasks can be accomplished. MVP Volunteers are people who care about Maine's outdoors and include:

  • Civic organizations
  • Scouting groups
  • Corporations wishing to contribute to the resource management needs of their communities
  • College students
  • Retired persons
  • Individuals
  • Outdoor organizations like snowmobile, trail and ski clubs

The Bureau of Parks and Lands, in recognizing volunteers as unique and valuable assets, invites you to become part of our MVP program.

Age of Volunteers

People of all ages may volunteer; however, they must be at least 14 years old to be eligible for insurance.

What do MVP Volunteers do?

A wide variety of tasks and projects are accomplished by MVP volunteers, such as:

  • "Adopt-a-Trail" projects
    • Maintain a section of hiking trail over a several day or several year period.

  • "Adopt-a-Park" projects
    • Assist in the year round general care and maintenance of a State Park facility

  • "Adopt-a-Campsite" projects
    • Assist in the general care and maintenance of remote campsite areas

  • "Adopt-a-River" projects
    • Help keep rivers and streams clean in our State Park areas

  • Historic Site Host
    • Assist visitors with historic information and interpretation

  • Campground Host
    • Be a "resident" volunteer that assists visitors at our State Park campgrounds

  • Volunteer Park Naturalist
    • Lead visitors through a wide variety of natural history programs

  • Volunteer Environmental Specialist
    • Help gather information about the physical or biological environment of a specified area

  • Visitor Service
    • Aid guests with information on local activities and sites and share information about other State Parks

  • Guest Speaker
    • Help provide informational and educational programs to park visitors

What Skills Do I Need to Qualify?

Many projects do not require specific skills; others may necessitate the ability to work with people, have knowledge of flora and fauna, or have skill in the use of hand tools. The diversity of project opportunities means that a large variety of skills are potentially useful. But MVP projects can be a learning experience for the volunteers as well, and skill development is often an unexpected reward for those who volunteer.


What Does MVP Offer?

  • A wide range of experiences that can enrich or build skills in the care of the outdoors...
  • Liability and accident insurance...
  • An opportunity to meet and work with people who are dedicated to the preservation and use of natural and historical resources...
  • The Chance to Make a Difference...

Why is Volunteering Important?

The Maine Volunteers in Parks (MVP) Program is a resource that has proven invaluable in assisting parks in the accomplishment of work goals that may not be otherwise met. Projects such as facility maintenance, interpretation, photography, trail work, architectural work, visitor hosting, and special programs to educate and entertain park guests in historical and cultural events are examples of what volunteers continue to do at State Park areas.

The Bureau of Parks and Lands encourages the use of volunteers at State Park and historic sites in an effort to fulfill the Bureau "mission" of providing services at the highest quality possible.

Northern Region Parks include: (Northern Region Office contact information is listed below)
Allagash Wilderness Waterway
Aroostook State Park
Birch Point Beach State Park
Camden Hills State Park
Cobscook Bay State Park
Damariscotta Lake State Park
Fort Kent State Historic Site
Fort Knox State Historic Site
Fort Point State Park
Holbrook Island Sanctuary
Lake St. George State Park
Lamoine State Park
Lily Bay State Park
Moose Point State Park
Owls Head Light State Park
Peaks-Kenny State Park
Penobscot River Corridor
Quoddy Head State Park
Roque Bluffs State Park
Swan Lake State Park
Warren Island State Park

Southern Region Parks include: (Southern Region Office contact information is listed below)
Androscoggin Riverlands State Park
Bradbury Mountain State Park
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
Crescent Beach State Park
Eagle Island State Historic Site
Ferry Beach State Park
Fort Baldwin State Historic Site
Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site
Fort McClary State Historic Site
Fort Popham State Historic Site
Grafton Notch State Park
Kettle Cove
Mackworth Island
Mount Blue State Park
Popham Beach State Park
Range Pond State Park
Rangeley Lake State Park
Reid State Park
Sebago Lake State Park
Two Lights State Park
Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park
Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park

How Can I Become Involved?

The Bureau of Parks and Lands welcomes people to become involved in park and historic site programs and recognizes volunteer service as a particularly valuable aspect of community life. We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who become MVPs and help us to fulfill our mission to the people of the state and its visitors.

Applications:

To read the the PDF files you will need to have Adobe Reader software. Download a free copy here.

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For more information about the individual parks or the Maine Volunteers in Parks Program, please contact:

Northern Region Office:
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
106 Hogan Road
Bangor, Maine 04401
Telephone: (207) 941-4014
Fax: (207) 941-4222
Email: matthew.hamilton@maine.gov

Southern Region Office:
Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands
107 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0107
Telephone: (207) 624-6080
Fax: (207) 624-6081
Email: gary.best@maine.gov

Discrimination
The laws and policies of Maine and the United States prohibit discrimination in any Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry programs and/or employment because of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Any person who believes discrimination has occurred, should contact the Commissioners Office, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, 22 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333. Tel. (207) 287-2211. For TTY: Maine Relay 711.