Going Green
Tips for Good Trips
Choosing a Program
With so many wonderful programs on this site, it can be hard to choose what’s most appropriate for you and your traveling companions. These simple tips may help:
- Contact the program hosts. Listings on this site are necessarily brief so get more information (and confirm the time and location). There are few accreditation or certification programs currently for ecotourism businesses, so you may want to consider ask some questions about the philosophy and practices of the program hosts, such as:
- their mission/philosophy;
- the company or organization’s practices in terms of environmental responsibility and waste reduction, local hiring and purchases, and philanthropic giving;
- safety records/procedures in a medical emergency;
- background/qualifications of the guides/leaders;
- the extent of interpretation (e.g., sharing lots of natural history information en route versus answering questions when asked);
- guides’ expertise in areas of particular interest to you;
- weather contingency plans;
- any food and dietary concerns you have;
- any physical/medical issues you have;
- types of accommodations;
- group size (and amount of time spent in large group/small group/solo);
- age limitations (e.g., some trips may not be suitable for young children);
- equipment or supplies needed (and whether any is available for rent);
- what is/is not included in the “package” price;
- whether any special pricing or discounts are available;
- opportunities for customized programs (some program hosts can—upon request—tailor a trip to meet the needs of your family or group);
- special programs or opportunities for children (and how those are structured and staffed);
- policies regarding pets, smoking, cell phones, etc.;
- what pre-trip information is provided;and
- provision of references from past participants.
- If you are traveling as a group, share your initial research and have everyone participate in a collective decision. Try to clarify misperceptions and give people time to consider their options.
- We make every effort to include reputable, professional program providers on this site. However, we cannot guarantee that everyone listed here is a model of environmental and social responsibility. You can help improve the practices of program providers by giving them constructive feedback, and encouraging them to continually improve their practices. If you believe that a program listed on this site is not adhering to our Code of Ethics, please contact us. We value your feedback.
Trip Planning
If you are setting out on your own outdoors, please follow these tips to help ensure your safety and comfort.
- Listen to weather and marine forecasts Maine is notorious for sudden shifts of weather so be prepared for different conditions—even in the course of a few hours.
- Be wary of river and ocean currents. Maine has a large tidal range (up to 30 feet downeast) which can create powerful currents—some of which are not readily visible at the surface.
- Confirm that you have permission to travel on a property if the land is not publicly owned. Know the regulations and guidelines for the place you are visiting and follow them.
- In planning your route, consider the experience level of your group. Have a fallback plan in case of bad weather or an injured or tired group member.
- Before setting out with others, review guidelines for safety (such as staying together and what to do in an emergency). Make sure you know the abilities, expectations and medical needs of each participant.
- Agree on how the group will make decisions (e.g., honoring the preference of the most cautious party). If you are hiking, follow the Hiker Responsibility Code.
- Make sure you have first aid supplies, navigational tools, water and extra clothes. If you’re paddling or bicycling, wear bright clothing. When boating, dress for the water temperature—not the air temperature.
- Before you head out, leave an itinerary or float plan with a trustworthy individual. For a printable float plan form, click here.
- Write down emergency contact information and keep by your cell phone or VHF radio. In an emergency, contact the Maine State Police at 1-800-452-4664 or *77 on cellular phones.
Staying Healthy and Safe
- Be prepared for unexpected temperature drops: dress in layers with materials that repel dampness (i.e., wool, fleece and Gore-Tex), and keep your head covered. Hypothermia is a real concern for those who venture outdoors in Maine—particularly around the water and on windy days. Symptoms include the “umbles” (stumbling, fumbling, bumbling/disorientation), shivering and cool skin. To warm a hypothermia victim, wrap him/her in a warm blanket or sleeping bag—covering the head and using another person as a “warming buddy” if possible. Do not rub the skin. Provide high-sugar snacks and warm drinks but no alcohol.
- Drink plenty of water but always treat or filter water from backcountry sources. This precautionary measure is a critical way to avoid Giardia and other water-borne illnesses.
- No place on earth is exempt from the increasing strength of solar rays reaching through the earth’s atmosphere. Wear hats and apply sunscreen as needed – particularly around water and snow and during June and July when sunlight is most intense and prolonged. To learn more about safe and effective sunscreens with few or no chemical ingredients, visit the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database created by the Environmental Working Group.
- Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by the bite of infected deer ticks, has been increasing in Maine over recent years. Most cases of Lyme disease begin with an expanding red rash that occurs at the site of a tick bite within a few days or weeks of being bitten (though many people with the rash do not notice the tick bite when it occurs). Fever, joint pain and headache may accompany the rash. When Lyme disease is recognized at this stage, it can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. If it goes untreated, the infection can cause more serious problems affecting the joints, nervous system, or heart (requiring longer treatment, sometimes with IV antibiotics).
The greatest threat of contracting Lyme disease in Maine occurs between May and October (and is highest in June and July). Deer ticks tend to be concentrated in coastal areas and the river valleys of southern and midcoast Maine, but can be found elsewhere throughout the state.
To help prevent infection, avoid areas with lots of ticks (such as long grass or deep leaf litter). Use insect repellents on clothing, and wear long pants (tucked into long socks), long sleeves, and hats to help keep ticks off your skin. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.
Check skin every day for attached ticks —particularly on the scalp, in and around ears, and around the navel, armpits and groin. Remove any that you find with fine-tipped tweezers by pulling on them slowly without twisting. If you experience a rash or unexplained fever within several weeks of being around ticks, make sure to see a doctor. - Incidence of rabies also has increased among Maine’s wild animal population (most commonly raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes). Do not approach these animals, particularly if they are acting suspiciously (either lame, confused or aggressive). Keep your dog(s) current on their biennial rabies vaccinations.
- Fall hunting season in Maine runs from October through Thanksgiving Weekend (with deer season usually beginning around the first of November). To be safe in the woods during this time, wear two items of blaze orange clothing (available at hardware stores, sporting good stores and department stores). Put blaze orange items on pets that accompany you outdoors. Do not wear brown clothing or white accessories such hats or mittens. For added safety, confine your expeditions to parks and land trust preserves that are closed to hunting and go out on Sundays when no hunting is permitted. Check the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website for current information on hunting season dates and regulations.
- Make sure you have these essential supplies when you head outdoors:
- compass or GPS
- cell phone (remember the latter may not work in remote areas) and/or VHF radio
- adequate water supplies
- pocket knife
- extra clothing/rain protection
- sunscreen (and insect repellent if needed)
- a well-stocked first-aid kit in a waterproof ammo box or dry bag. At home and during your travels, keep the first aid kit away from young children.
- For more information on boating safety and traveling with children by boat, see the informative articles on the Maine Island Trail Association website
