Going Green

Make Less Wake

Plan Ahead

Through careful planning and sensible practices, we can lessen our ecological impact outdoors—enjoying places without diminishing them in the process. One metaphor that works well in Maine – being a place rich in water—is to envision yourself as a boat and reduce your “ecological wake.” Striving for “no wake” means generating less noise and fewer waves and being sensitive to how your presence affects others in the vicinity. Every boat—and every person—produces some wake, but through conscious effort we can greatly reduce our impact.

Approach travel with a spirit of humility, cultivating your curiosity about the human and natural communities you visit. Ask questions and try to listen and observe carefully, without making judgments. Please follow the Natural Choices Code of Ethics when you travel.
Find out who owns the land you’d like to visit and ask permission in advance of private landowners.
When staying at State-owned sites, confine your visit to less than three days.
One of the most important ways to reduce your impact is to keep group size small (ideally, 6 or fewer people on islands and 10 or fewer on the mainland). For larger groups, always contact the landowner ahead of time for permission and use guidelines.
Cookstoves are preferable to campfires, and Maine law requires a permit for any open fire (contact the Maine Forest Service for one at 207-287-2275). If building a fire, use a designated ring and make sure the fire is completely extinguished.

Reduce and Remove Waste

Carry out ALL trash, human waste and leftover food. Food and human waste can go in a bucket with a tight-fitting lid (sawdust, lime or sand can help minimize odors), a waterproof “ammo” cannister with a garbage bag liner, or a doubled-up plastic bag filled with kitty litter. For more tips, see the Maine Island Trail Association website.
Seek to reduce your resource use (e.g., avoid disposable products, travel by foot or bicycle where possible, and make purchases deliberately and for the long-term). Carry reusable bags to minimize use of plastic bags.
Consider contributing to a carbon offset program to compensate for the CO2 produced during your travels.
Keep vehicle and boat engines tuned and tires properly inflated to reduce fuel consumption.
Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. In lodgings, inform staff that you do not need sheets and towels changed daily.

Step Light

Camp and picnic at established sites whenever possible. Stay on marked trails and avoid lichen-covered rocks, boggy areas and settings prone to erosion. An inch of soil can take centuries to replace.
Minimize trail creep by walking in the center of the trail (even when it’s wet and muddy!).
Take away only pictures and memories: leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you found them. Do not cut or clear vegetation.

Be Courteous

Before taking photographs or videos of people, ask their permission. Respect local norms and laws, and avoid behavior that might offend others.
Recognize that all places have a limited “carrying capacity” (the number of people that the place can absorb without long-term damage to its resources). If you find a parking lot full, go on to another setting and return to the first attraction at a quieter time.
Be careful not to introduce invasive plant species (e.g., on a boat propeller). Introduced plants can rapidly disrupt whole ecosystems.
Keep voices down to protect the peace and quiet of others in the vicinity.
Be considerate of those who live and work in the area. Give a wide berth to working boats if you’re on the water and to logging trucks if traveling back roads.

Respect Wildlife

Observe wildlife quietly from a distance: do not follow, feed or approach wild animals. Avoid areas with nesting birds, dens or young animals between early April and mid-August. If you see wildlife from a road, it is best to remain in your vehicle: use binoculars or a spotting scope to get closer views.
Avoid seabird nesting islands (often denoted with signs) between early April and mid-August.
Please leave pets at home (especially during the nesting months of April through August). On those properties that allow leashed dogs, keep them restrained at all times. Clean up after your dog near trails or water sources.

Spend Wisely

Patronize locally owned accommodations, restaurants and retail establishments when possible. According to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, “every dollar spent at a locally owned business creates more than three times as much economic activity as a dollar spent at a national chain.” Consider shopping for locally made products from sustainable resources, rather than goods and foods that could be bought anywhere. Pack several canvas (or recycled plastic) bags to use when shopping—to avoid gathering disposable bags.
Choose establishments (accommodations, boat and tour operators, restaurants, etc.) that are committed to green practices (e.g., energy efficiency, recycling, waste reduction, nontoxic building products and local, organic foods). See our Resources section for more information and Maine’s list of certified Green hotels
When possible, purchase fuel from oil companies that have received the highest ratings for environmental performance (most recently, BP, Amoco, Sunoco and Shell).
Don’t fall for “greenwashing” by businesses that market themselves as environmentally friendly but don’t walk the talk. Ask for detailed information about a company’s environmental practices, policies and philanthropic contributions. If you find program providers on this site that aren’t abiding by the Natural Choices Code of Ethics, please e-mail us.

Help Out

Consider ways that you can help sustain the places you enjoy visiting by assisting with stewardship projects, contributing a financial gift or volunteering for work days.

Be Generous

We encourage all our site visitors to participate in Contribute to Place, a philanthropic program that invites Maine visitors and residents to help out the natural environment—without a large investment of time or money. Participating businesses invite their clients, guests or customers to contribute a small amount to support local land protection and stewardship. Guests or customers can opt not to participate, but most are pleased to make a small gift toward the good of the larger place. Businesses pass through all Contribute to Place contributions to nonprofit land trusts for land protection and stewardship projects. For more information, contact the Maine Land Trust Network.

By participating in the programs listed on the site, you are choosing to be a responsible visitor. All of the organizations and businesses that offer activities on Natural Choices have signed our Code of Ethics indicating that their programs are gentle on the environment and benefit the local community.

Beyond participating in responsible outdoor offerings and supporting Contribute to Place, there are many ways that you can give back to Maine through volunteer work (sometimes known as voluntourism or traveler’s philanthropy. Experience in a place can be far more meaningful when you share your time and talents to help enrich those communities. (If most of your trip time is spent volunteering with a nonprofit organization, you may be able to take a tax deduction for part of your vacation expenses—if certain criteria are met. Consult an accountant or tax specialist for more information.)

For volunteer opportunities, check that icon on the Activity Search pageand you will see both ongoing needs (such as being a land trust preserve steward or monitoring water-quality) and periodic opportunities with limited time commitments (such as Maine’s annual coastal cleanup or Christmas bird count). Consider approaching nonprofit organizations whose work interests you to create opportunities tailored to your unique set of skills and interests.