Volunteer Groups Could Net Hundreds From Landowner Cleanup

Volunteers are needed to help clean up privately held spaces that landowners open up for public recreation, and they could win hundreds in gift cards.

Maine's recreational landscape would look much different if not for the generous spirits of private landowners. These folks allow sportsmen and women to access their properties, for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, and all sorts of fun activities. And all they ask is that those people respect the property and leave it as they found it.

Of course, that doesn't happen, in all cases. People dump all sorts of stuff on these properties, from food wrappers to couches. Seriously, furniture and appliances get dumped in the woods for someone else to clean up. So the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Forest Service are holding their annual Landowner Appreciation Cleanup Day, and they need volunteers this weekend.

Sunday, September 9th, folks are invited to roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty, cleaning up other people's messes. Organizers especially encourage clubs and organizations to volunteer, so they can be assigned a piece of land. Anyone interested in taking part can call 287-5240 to speak with Virginia Vincent, or email her at Virginia.Vincent@maine.gov.

In that email, include:

• Your club or organization's name
• How many will be participating
• The area of the state where you're willing to help
• A contact person, phone number, and email address
• Clean-up sites that you'll be working on, such as towns, locations, landowners, etc.

Just to make it a little more fun, Kittery Trading Post is providing some prizes, in the form of gift cards. First prize is a $1,000 gift card to Kittery Trading Post! Second place is a $750 card, third place is a $500 card, and fourth place is a $250 card. Winners will be determined by the measuring of pick-up loads of stuff that have been collected, at one of the designated drop-off spots by the Maine Warden Service or Forest Service Personnel.