Midcoast Steward alumnus Caren Clark cares deeply about Midcoast Maine and community. During her nine years of service on the board of Medomak Valley Land Trust (MVLT), she coordinated education and outreach events and helped establish the Waldoboro Farmers' Market. "Over the years, Caren has helped expose many residents and visitors to the services our land trust provides," said Daniel Ungier, MVLT Executive Director.

It was through Damariscotta River Association’s (DRA’s) Midcoast Stewards program that Clark was initially exposed to the Midcoast land trust community. "She has a passion for Maine's beautiful lands,” Ungier explained, “and the Midcoast Stewards program helped deepen that passion by providing an awesome, experiential education in Midcoast Maine's unique ecology and natural history."

For over 15 years, Midcoast Stewards alumni like Clark have been contributing time, energy, ideas and enthusiasm to conservation organizations throughout Midcoast Maine. Upwards of 175 Midcoast Stewards have graduated from the biannual program since its inception in 2001, and DRA estimates these individuals have given a total of 81,200 hours of volunteer service to area conservation organizations and projects.

The purpose of the program is to provide participants with an overview of topics relating to the natural and cultural resources of Midcoast Maine, so that they can contribute to the protection and conservation of their coastal environment. It also gives people the opportunity to network with others who share their interests. Now coordinated by the Damariscotta River Association, Midcoast Stewards was developed by the Maine Coastal Program and sponsored by that organization for many years.

“Caren’s experience is a great representation of what often happens with Midcoast Stewards program participants, remarkable as it always seems to me,” remarked Sarah Gladu, DRA Education Director and coordinator of the program. “The program always attracts a diverse group of participants, including retirees, people changing careers, teachers, homeschool families with teenage children, and folks new to the area. They all bring their own interests and skills to the mix and are inspired in different ways,” she explained.

Midcoast Stewards program participants learn directly from professionals in a variety of organizations during the course, including scientists from the Darling Marine Center, Maine Natural Areas Program, Maine and National Audubon and Maine Geological Survey, as well as leaders from local land trusts. The class format includes a mix of lectures, discussions, field trips and hands-on experiences.

The 40-hour curriculum covers coastal ecology, Wabanaki culture, geologic history, sustainable fisheries management, birds, water quality monitoring, estuarine studies and much more. This year, the Midcoast Stewards Program will meet April 11 through June 10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., as well as a three Saturdays.

After completing the course, participants commit to “giving back” a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service to the protection of Midcoast Maine's natural and cultural resources over the next year with a conservation organization of their choice. Volunteer projects have included helping with events, serving on boards and committees, building trails, monitoring horseshoe crabs and a wide variety of other types of service.

The program application deadline is April 3. The materials fee for the 40 hour course is $100, payable to Damariscotta River Association. Limited scholarships are available. Applications and the program brochure can be obtained by contacting DRA.

For more information call 207-563-1393, email dra@damariscottariver.org, or visit www.damariscottariver.org.