Neither rain nor temperatures in the 40s could keep hundreds of volunteers from fanning across Acadia National Park’s carriage roads Saturday, to rake leaves and clear drainage ditches, and help protect against winter’s erosion.

A rite of fall for 23 years, the Friends of Acadia’s Take Pride in Acadia Day is considered one of the most important volunteer efforts in the Maine national park, held the first Saturday every November. By preventing the damage of freeze-thaw cycles, the effort helps maintain the park’s iconic carriage roads for the enjoyment of bikers, walkers, joggers and riders on horse-drawn carriages.

The reward for the volunteers: Pride in a job well done; a traditional “CCC meal” of chili, cornbread and cider (plus a fourth “C” of cake), in a nod to the Civilian Conservation Corps that helped build the carriage roads during the Great Depression; and perhaps a fifth “C” of camaraderie.

If you missed this year’s Take Pride in Acadia Day, there are plenty of other chances to volunteer in Acadia National Park, and help care for a park that brings joy to more than 2 million visitors a year.

Among some of the rewards of these other volunteer opportunities, beyond the satisfaction of giving back: A free 12-month “America the Beautiful Volunteer Pass” to the park and other federal recreation lands, if you donate a cumulative 250 hours of time; the right to be a “VIP” (Volunteers in Parks) and wear a special patch, if you’ve applied for one of the formal volunteer programs; or a free 2- to 4-week stay in housing on the Schoodic Education and Research Center campus, if you are accepted as an Artist-in-Residence and offer public programs in your particular art form.

Here are some of the other ways to volunteer, depending upon your skills, interests and schedules, as listed on the Friends of Acadia’s Web site:

Stewardship volunteers – Drop in on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning from June through October and help out with outdoor projects on some of the more than 120 miles of hiking trails or 45 miles of carriage roads.

– Drop in on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning from June through October and help out with outdoor projects on some of the more than 120 miles of hiking trails or 45 miles of carriage roads. Acadia Winter Trails Association – Groom carriage roads in winter for cross-country skiers.

– Groom carriage roads in winter for cross-country skiers. Advocacy network – Get e-mail updates about issues to contact lawmakers about, to advocate on behalf of Acadia.

– Get e-mail updates about issues to contact lawmakers about, to advocate on behalf of Acadia. Friends of Acadia volunteers – Staff a membership sign-up table at the Jordan Pond House or help in the office or at special events.

– Staff a membership sign-up table at the Jordan Pond House or help in the office or at special events. Schoodic Committee – Work on projects specific to the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia, the only part of the park on the mainland.

– Work on projects specific to the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia, the only part of the park on the mainland. Trenton Village Connector Trail Committee – Help maintain a public walking and nature trail behind the Acadia Gateway Center.

– Help maintain a public walking and nature trail behind the Acadia Gateway Center. Wild Gardens of Acadia Committee – Be a docent and help interpret the gardens to visitors, among other opportunities.

Youth, citizen scientists and artists can all be volunteers of Acadia

The Acadia National Park, Schoodic Institute and volunteer.gov Web sites offer these listings:

If your schedule doesn’t permit signing up for any of the volunteer opportunities, there are always other ways to show your appreciation. Both the Friends of Acadia and the Schoodic Institute, as non-profits, accept tax-deductible donations, and Acadia National Park accepts direct donations.

Take pride in Acadia, whether as a donor or volunteer, or simply as someone who relishes and respects all the park has to offer.