 |
|
|
 Eco Practices
The staff at Aquaterra Adventures strives to provide quality services and products in harmony with the natural environment. We have been working within the industry to provide more environmentally friendly practices to not only maintain our industry as environmental sound, but to instill the passion for sustainability with our guests.
In 2003, we were awarded the Maine Sustainable Tourism Award as a member of the Maine Association of Sea Kayaking Guides and Instructors (MASKGI). In 2005, David Legere, the owner of Aquaterra Adventures, was invited to be a guest speaker at the 1st Annual Ecotourism Conference sponsored by the Ecotourism Society and National Geographic Magazine. At this conference, David explained how competing businesses can work together to provide better service to their guest while maintaining sustainable business practices.
Aquaterra Adventures has taken the extra steps necessary to meet the high demands of their customers, yet increased their sustainability in the industry. Aquaterra Adventures was the first kayak company in the state to eliminate the need for shuttling their guest to the waterfront. Although the rent is more expensive on the waterfront, Aquaterra Adventures has eliminated the additional cost of the labor that is required for a shuttle driver, but most importantly, they eliminated the emissions of a 15-passenger van operating throughout the day. The first best practice that is listed in “A Resource Guide to Sustainable Tourism: Down East Maine and Southwest New Brunswick” for outfitters and guides is to purchase hybrid vehicles. We have gone beyond that by cutting our yearly mileage of our transport van to less than 500 miles a year.
In 2004, we changed all of our regular florescent lights to energy efficient florescent lighting. We also changed the disinfectant that we use on the aqua shoes to an herbal cleaner that actually seems to work better and smell better than the previous disinfectants that we have used. To protect the islands that we paddle around, we have discontinued landing on them except on our longest trips do decrease the impact that these jewels of the Maine coast receive.
We always try to share our passion for stewardship to our guests. In 2006, we started an annual shoreline clean-up in the bay. To achieve this, we cancelled our regularly schedule sea kayak adventures and offered visitors from around the globe to join our shoreline clean-up by offering them the necessary equipment and guide staff, to ensure their safety, at no charge. The only catch to this free paddle around the Porcupine Island and Frenchman Bay was that they had to gather trash. We had over 20 participants the first year, ranging from age 8 to 83 and as far away as California.
|
|
Aquaterra Adventures
Located on the Waterfront in Bar Harbor
207-288-0007 | One West Street Bar Harbor, Maine 04609 | 1-877-386-4124
|
|
