A volunteer team from the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) and L.L. Bean Freeport store cleaned up the Western Cuckolds Island off Boothbay Harbor. On a crisp, blue-sky, late September day, eight enthusiastic, environmentally minded volunteers stepped ashore at the Western Cuckolds, collected boatloads full of trash and debris, and hauled all of it off the island.

Intrepid volunteers came equipped with PFDs, sturdy, waterproof footwear, work gloves, picnic lunches and drinking water, knowing that landing a skiff on the island requires relatively calm seas, the right tides, low wind, and agility to climb in and out of the skiffs and scramble up slippery cobble rocks.

Keepers in residence at the Inn At Cuckolds Lighthouse provided a safe and secure dock to leave the work boat while the cleanup was underway.

“Heather and Mark let me tie up the MITA skiff to the dock, and offered a sit-on-top kayak to paddle over to the island for the cleanup. It was such a relief to not have to worry about the boat,” said Maria Jenness, Regional Stewardship Manager for MITA.

“The vast majority of the debris was foam and plastic bottles, much of it blown up into the bushes where birds had started trying to eat some of it,” Jenness said. “We certainly collected more than I expected, and everyone felt a great sense of satisfaction with how productive the day was.”

Thanks to great planning and hard work by wonderful volunteer crew members, the cleanup of the entire island shoreline lasted just a few short hours. Before heading back, they all enjoyed a picnic and shared desserts on the island.

Holly Guy summed it up: “It was such a satisfying day for me and to have camaraderie and splendid weather made it a great memory.”