Scenic views and a park ranger revelation: Acadia day 2!

Somehow, the second day was even better than the first. Starting off strong with a visit to of the oldest lighthouses in Maine- Bass Harbor Lighthouse! Bought for $80 dollars in 1858, this space provided priceless premium cliff side views of the lobstermen heading back to shore and all the pink granite you can imagine. After wrapping up there, we made a quick detour to Seawall to skip some rocks into the Gulf of Maine and a group of common loons in their natural element on a seaside rock.

We then took a lunch break at Eagle Lake and got a chance to observe a portion of the John D. Rockefeller carriage roads, which sit beside breathtaking views of Eagle Lake. Just a quick stop there provided views of lily-pads, kayakers and several dozen MORE common loons having their morning social hour (I’m starting to understand the name with each day). 

After our morning views, it was time to get down to business. Like a real group of journalists, we sat down with three Acadia Park Rangers and chatted for an hour about all aspects of a national park- preservation, changing climate, extinction efforts, indigenous history and how to begin your journey working with the parks. I cannot thank them for their time and words more. Getting to speak with individuals who live and breathe this park was a strong reflection of how when you care so deeply about a space, this space will care for you back and work together- proving how alive nature is. 

We then zoomed back down to Bar Harbor to speak with the Friends of Acadia nonprofit group! Their passion and knowledge for Acadia was inspiring, to say the least. Each individual spoke about the park with such respect , consideration , and admiration that I left that space no longer feeling like a visitor but rather an interim steward of the park. 

Each of our stops and conversations with the local staff nudged me towards considering a career of environmental journalism. I now know I want to feel as passionate and knowledgeable about the great outdoors as the lovely women and men who spoke with us, and I feel compelled to join the National Park Service mentality of “being in the forever business”.