BOOTHBAY REGISTER • June 5, 2023
Graduates of Coastal Rivers’ Midcoast Stewards program will soon be directing their interest and enthusiasm for the natural world and conservation to volunteer efforts in the Midcoast area. Offered by Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust every two years, Midcoast Stewards is a 40-hour course covering coastal ecology, Wabanaki culture, geologic history, sustainable fisheries management, seabird restoration, water quality monitoring, lobster biology, and estuarine studies, among other topics. The program is co-sponsored by the Maine Coastal Program and involves partnerships with area conservation organizations as well as state agencies. Stewards commit to volunteering a minimum of 40 hours of service with a local conservation organization. Between now and next June, program graduates will collectively donate at least 880 hours of their time to work on projects like trail maintenance, nature education programs, water quality monitoring initiatives, and more.