January 9, 2006
Out of the woods | Registered Maine Guides form an industry group to protect the wild places in which they do business
By Sean Donahue
Maine's wilderness guides are the quintessential independent contractors. Often working for and by themselves, they lead single clients or small groups deep into the Maine woods for hunting, canoeing, hiking and other trips. Now, though, a group of these solo operators has created a new industry group to represent what its founders see as their common interests regarding the future of Maine's wilderness.
"[Guides] would often run into each other out guiding parties or at events like an annual canoe symposium, and we'd always say 'We've got to get together more often,'" says Greg Shute, the wilderness programs director at Chewonki in Wiscasset and co-president of the new Maine Wilderness Guides Organization. "The group that came together to form this organization found they were very like-minded about how they perceive the state of the state's wilderness areas and the future of guiding in Maine."
Officially launched December 1, the MWGO is a membership organization that wants to give Maine Guides and outdoor outfitters a unified voice when weighing in on state and private sector projects that would impact Maine's wilderness areas. These aren't just the places that make Maine unique, says Shute, they're also guides' places of business. So the MWGO wants a say in how Maine protects and allows for sustainable use of those resources. "We want to make sure that, as recreational plans and tourism plans are formalized in Maine, there's recognition of the fact that there's a place for remote, human powered recreation in these areas," says Shute.
Though new, the impetus for the group actually dates back several years, he says, stemming from a controversial proposal in 2000 to create a new boat ramp at John's Bridge on the Allagash. Many guides opposed that plan, saying the new access point would increase traffic on the scenic river and potentially threaten one of the state's prime recreation areas. After lobbying to defeat that plan, several guides ˆ some of whom now make up the MWGO's advisory board ˆ began talking about a more unified group to address similar concerns in the future.
After discussing the plan for a few years, last June the group hired consultant Marsha Greenburg of the Greenshoe Group on Peaks Island to help to develop an organizational structure and management plan. According to that plan the MWGO hopes to sign up as members about 500 guides, outfitters and other individuals interested in the fate of Maine's wilderness. So far, the MWGO has signed up about 50 members, says Shute.
With its organization structure and first members in place, the MWGO is preparing to establish itself as both an educational organization to strengthen the training standards for Maine Guides, and a lobbying group for land-use issues in the Maine Legislature, such as discussions involving the Land for Maine's Future program. The group also wants to have a say in the development or revision of state forest management plans for areas such as the West Branch lands north of Moosehead Lake. An even bigger concern for the group, says Shute, is potential private development of timberlands in Maine such as Plum Creek Timber Co.'s proposal for partial development of some 400,000 acres it owns in the Moosehead region.
Ultimately, the MWGO hopes its organization will provide a statewide voice for individuals whose livelihoods depend on the direction of private land development and state stewardship initiatives in Maine ˆ giving those independent operators more clout than they could achieve on their own. "The only way we can do this is on the state level and through Augusta," says Shute, "to ensure that 100 years from now our kids and grandkids can be registered Maine Guides and lead Allagash trips."
"[Guides] would often run into each other out guiding parties or at events like an annual canoe symposium, and we'd always say 'We've got to get together more often,'" says Greg Shute, the wilderness programs director at Chewonki in Wiscasset and co-president of the new Maine Wilderness Guides Organization. "The group that came together to form this organization found they were very like-minded about how they perceive the state of the state's wilderness areas and the future of guiding in Maine."
Officially launched December 1, the MWGO is a membership organization that wants to give Maine Guides and outdoor outfitters a unified voice when weighing in on state and private sector projects that would impact Maine's wilderness areas. These aren't just the places that make Maine unique, says Shute, they're also guides' places of business. So the MWGO wants a say in how Maine protects and allows for sustainable use of those resources. "We want to make sure that, as recreational plans and tourism plans are formalized in Maine, there's recognition of the fact that there's a place for remote, human powered recreation in these areas," says Shute.
Though new, the impetus for the group actually dates back several years, he says, stemming from a controversial proposal in 2000 to create a new boat ramp at John's Bridge on the Allagash. Many guides opposed that plan, saying the new access point would increase traffic on the scenic river and potentially threaten one of the state's prime recreation areas. After lobbying to defeat that plan, several guides ˆ some of whom now make up the MWGO's advisory board ˆ began talking about a more unified group to address similar concerns in the future.
After discussing the plan for a few years, last June the group hired consultant Marsha Greenburg of the Greenshoe Group on Peaks Island to help to develop an organizational structure and management plan. According to that plan the MWGO hopes to sign up as members about 500 guides, outfitters and other individuals interested in the fate of Maine's wilderness. So far, the MWGO has signed up about 50 members, says Shute.
With its organization structure and first members in place, the MWGO is preparing to establish itself as both an educational organization to strengthen the training standards for Maine Guides, and a lobbying group for land-use issues in the Maine Legislature, such as discussions involving the Land for Maine's Future program. The group also wants to have a say in the development or revision of state forest management plans for areas such as the West Branch lands north of Moosehead Lake. An even bigger concern for the group, says Shute, is potential private development of timberlands in Maine such as Plum Creek Timber Co.'s proposal for partial development of some 400,000 acres it owns in the Moosehead region.
Ultimately, the MWGO hopes its organization will provide a statewide voice for individuals whose livelihoods depend on the direction of private land development and state stewardship initiatives in Maine ˆ giving those independent operators more clout than they could achieve on their own. "The only way we can do this is on the state level and through Augusta," says Shute, "to ensure that 100 years from now our kids and grandkids can be registered Maine Guides and lead Allagash trips."
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