Friends of Peary's Eagle Island 

​

There are many ways to volunteer with The Friends of Peary's Eagle Island.  Perhaps you would be interested in one or more of the following opportunites:

​

• Trail Day is held every year in July.  Volunteers work with the Eagle Island Park Manager to spruce up the trails and grounds.  No experience necessary and all levels of activities are available to suit any personal limitations. 

​

•  Gardening is ongoing on Eagle Island and our Friends' group is fortunate to have a master gardening program. Come learn about the flora of Eagle Island and help tend Eagle Island's historic gardens. Again no experience necessary, we can show you how to determine a plant from a weed.

​

• Maintenance of the structures, beaches, grounds and all around handy  work is performed by a Friends' work crew. We have jobs for all levels of experience. 

​

•  Fundraising and research are always needed. 

​

 Contact us through this link to learn more how you might help. 

​

​

​

•  Docent Program:  ​Would you like to be a docent?  Here is what you need to know: 

​

 Two miles off the coast of Harpswell, in beautiful Casco Bay, lies Eagle   Island, the summer home of Admiral Robert E. Peary, America's foremost   explorer, and the discoverer of the North Pole. This unique property is a   Maine Historic Site administered by the bureau of Parks and   Lands, and   has recently been designated as a National Historic Landmark.  Although   the state is responsible for maintenance and day to day operations, much   of the preservation work and operation is carried out by the non profit   group, The Friends of Peary's Eagle Island, who are the sponsors of the   Docent Program.

​

 "What is a docent?" you may ask. A docent is a guide, but at Eagle Island   we strive to go beyond that simple definition. Docents are the   ambassadors of the island, and we work very hard at making a visit to   Eagle Island as informative and enjoyable as possible for each visitor.   Last season, over 4000 people visited the island, and were met by one or   more docents who shared the history of the island, Admiral Peary, and   the unique home he built there--now a museum open daily to the public.

​

 A typical docent day begins at Dolphin Marina in Harpswell where we are   met by the Park Ranger for the twenty minute boat ride to the island. We   bring everything we will need for the day -- lunch, water, a book (in case   the day is slow), and warm clothing (the weather can   change quickly in   Casco Bay) -- because once there, we are there for the day until the   ranger brings us back to the Dolphin Marina at 5:00 pm. At the island,   one docent will man the Visitor's Center, showing the introductory video,   handing out the tour wands, answering questions, and selling souvenir   items at the Trading Post. Another docent is posted in the museum,   answering questions, managing traffic flow through the house,   demonstrating Admiral Peary's player piano, and sharing anecdotes     about the house, the Admiral and the Peary family. On weekends, a third   docent is present to help where needed. Some days are slow, with only a   few visitors, some days we have to scramble to even find time to eat   lunch, but all days are fun and rewarding experiences. And each day,   slow or harried, we enjoy the breathtaking scenery, the smell of salt air,   and the sound of surf and seagulls as a backdrop to the important work   we are doing.

​

 We have 35-40 volunteers in the program, some working only three or four   days per season, others signed up for a regular day each week.  The time   commitment is pretty much a matter of individual preference. Each year,     for various reasons, we lose people from the program, so we are   constantly recruiting for new volunteers to join us.  

​

 Do you need to be a history buff or an expert on Arctic exploration to be a   docent at Eagle Island?  No, not at all.  We provide training materials, and   always schedule new docents with veterans, from whom a great deal can   be learned.  We have people involved from a wide variety of backgrounds   and of various ages. Being a docent at Eagle Island is a unique   opportunity for a fun and rewarding volunteer experience.  If you are   interested in becoming a docent, please contact the website with your   name and contact information which will be forwarded to the program   coordinators.

                                                                        

​