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:
Water Reporter shows brown river flowing to Bay
May 17, 2023“April showers bring May flowers” goes the old adage. This year, however, Maine’s spring showers were particularly intense, breaking rainfall records. Stephanie Noyes lives near the mouth of the Presumpscot River, where it runs along the Portland-Falmouth border. On May 1, after a day of heavy rains, Stephanie stopped in… Read more
Frame the Bay
May 16, 2023Announcing the Casco Bay Photo Contest We want to see your favorite photos taken of, near, or on Casco Bay. Show us what the Bay means to you! Winners of the contest will be announced at We Are Water: Friends of Casco Bay’s Members Annual Meeting on Wednesday, August 2.… Read more
Fact Sheet: Presumpscot River Discharge Moratorium, LD 1926
May 12, 2023Protect the restored health of the lower Presumpscot River: the largest freshwater source to Casco Bay LD 1926, An Act to Impose a Moratorium on New Point Source Waste Discharge Licenses on the Lower Presumpscot River, places a four-year moratorium on new pollution discharges into the river from downtown Westbrook… Read more
The Maine Ocean Climate Collaborative Provides a Model to Move Maine Forward
May 11, 2023Studying changing coastal ecosystems comes with unique challenges – Friends of Casco Bay and our partners are taking them on. Friends of Casco Bay is facilitating the newly formed Maine Ocean Climate Collaborative, a coalition of scientists and marine organizations from the University of New Hampshire to the border of… Read more
New staff: welcome aboard, Sara!
May 5, 2023Friends of Casco Bay is thrilled to announce the hiring of Sara Freshley as our new Community Organizer and Volunteer Coordinator. Sara’s passion for Casco Bay and its communities is lifelong. Growing up on the Maine Coast inspired her to earn a bachelor’s degree in marine science, followed by a… Read more
2023 Water Reporter Kickoff
May 5, 2023With 578 miles of shoreline, Casco Bay is large. It takes many of us working together to keep an eye on this special place we all love. By volunteering as a Water Reporter and taking photos of algal blooms, eelgrass, rising sea levels, pollution, and more, you can help us… Read more