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Community Engagement

Get Involved: Volunteering, Action, and Education

Our volunteers are an integral part of our community. They help us collect observational data, lend their voices in support of our advocacy, and help rally the region around Casco Bay. In addition to working with volunteers, we host a variety of events throughout the year to engage and educate the public about the Bay.

Water Reporter

Volunteer Water Reporters help us act as the eyes and ears of Casco Bay. Water Reporters use their smartphones to photograph algal blooms, sea level rise, pollution, eelgrass, wildlife sightings, and other notable observations from on and around the Bay. Their photos are shared with our staff through the Water Reporter app, creating an archive of observational data on how the Bay may be changing over time.

 

Volunteer

In addition to Water Reporter, there are many ways to volunteer with Friends of Casco Bay. Coastal cleanups, storm drain stenciling, and helping out at events are all great ways to make a difference. We can also organize volunteer events for larger groups. Head to our volunteer page to sign up and learn more.

 

Advocacy and Action Alerts

When we need help showing public support for advocacy actions that will improve and protect the health of Casco Bay, we ask you to lend your voice. By signing up for our emails, you will receive periodic action alerts that ask you to write testimony, contact your elected officials, and more in support of the health of Casco Bay.

 

Events

Our events are a great way to get involved in our work and learn about Casco Bay. We host a range of events throughout the year, like presentations about our water quality data, discussions about marine policies and advocacy, and community science events. Recordings of our events are available for those who could not attend or want to revisit a discussion.

 

Read about our community engagement work:

A Grassroots movement in South Portland is a model for the Bay

November 20, 2023

If you drive around South Portland these days, you may have noticed yard signs that read “100 Resilient Yards, Revitalizing South Portland One Yard At A Time.” The residents and businesses who are proudly posting these signs took part in a forward-looking program that provided hands-on assistance to build healthy… Read more

Ever-Changing Casco Bay

November 12, 2023

Casco Bay is ever-changing. The Bay changes with each tide, each day, and each season. And now, because of climate change, our coastal waters are transforming in different ways and faster than we thought possible. Do you want to learn about how these changes impact the health of Casco Bay?… Read more

Thank you for making Film Fest for Casco Bay a success!

November 8, 2023

Last Saturday’s Film Fest for Casco Bay was our most well-attended event of the year. As Executive Director Will Everitt said at the event, “This afternoon is about community.” We were able to share an afternoon with more than 350 Friends watching enlightening films, enjoying local food, and connecting with our mission… Read more

We are hiring: Communications Coordinator

September 8, 2023

A full time position with a comprehensive benefits package and professional development opportunities Friends of Casco Bay is hiring a Communications Coordinator to join our team. The Coordinator translates our scientific data, policy positions, and community engagement work into news our community can use, generates stories about our efforts, and… Read more

Film Fest for Casco Bay

September 1, 2023

November 4, 2023, 2-6 p.m.  University of Southern Maine’s Abromson Auditorium, Portland We hope to see you at our Film Fest for Casco Bay, an afternoon of movies curated by Maine Outdoor Film Festival. The event will feature a twelve environmental and adventure films curated just for us. You won’t… Read more

Join us! Stormwater impacts and water sampling

August 30, 2023

Want to know how heavy rainfalls, like those we have experienced this summer, impact Casco Bay? Join Friends of Casco Bay staff in South Portland on September 8 at 10 a.m. to learn about the impacts of stormwater on our local waters using both observational and scientific data. What: Stormwater Impacts and Water… Read more